David Stuckey is the Audience Growth Manager for Word In Black publishers. David is a journalist and photographer with over 20 years of experience telling stories to capture the eye of an audience. He has worked as a digital news editor at USA TODAY and as a senior producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting, where his team designed the operations for the public media company’s transition from primarily radio to digital first. Most recently, he served as the Director of Audience and Engagement at KMHD Jazz Radio in Portland, Oregon. David also loves to read literary fiction from across the world, travel and paint.

Tell us a little about what you will be working on.

I will be working with WIB and the 10 legacy Black publications to help grow their audiences by any means necessary. This may include everything from collaborating on Best Of initiatives to launching social media campaigns or reimagining newsletters. Ultimately, I will be aiding these publications in finding and refining their voice for the moment at hand.

What excited you most about joining us?

When I met with the team at LMA, I saw people who genuinely care about local journalism and have no ulterior motives. Being around true journalists from all walks of life was incredibly exciting. As a student of history and journalism, I am especially excited to work with the Black press, which has played a significant role in the foundation of American democracy — for all people.

Tell us a little about your background and how you came to this role.

My first journalism job was at USA TODAY in the news department, where I worked with everyone from page designers to war correspondents to managing editors. I eventually moved into digital, serving as a homepage editor (before iPhones) and curating our digital coverage during several historic election nights — I wrote the Bush and Obama headlines — along with countless daily breaking news stories.

After that, I moved into public media, serving as Senior Digital Producer at Oregon Public Broadcasting. I collaborated with leadership to hire a team of digital experts and designed a unique newsroom operating structure as the organization transitioned from a radio strategy to a digital-first approach.

I later served as Director of Audience Engagement at KMHD radio, the #1 jazz station in the country, where we elevated the station to new heights, secured a wave of investments, and became an internationally recognized brand in the world of jazz.

Then the itch for journalism came back — and here I am.

What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities in the local media industry today?

The biggest challenge for local media publications is standing out in an oversaturated content environment. Ironically, because so many outlets are trying the same approaches, there is an opportunity to transition from being “publications” to becoming “cultural institutions,” rooted in journalism.

When I first entered the field, veteran journalists sometimes referred to the public as “civilians.” I think it’s time we start thinking of the public as “comrades.”

Trying to produce totally unique ideas in a unique moment — ideas that will keep local media companies economically viable and thriving — is what keeps me up at night.

What gets me up in the morning is knowing I have an opportunity, no matter how small, to help change things for the better.