Michael Bolden - Journalist Profile | Connect with top journalists

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Biography

Michael Bolden is CEO and executive director of the American Press Institute, an educational nonprofit that helps journalists and news organizations navigate disruptive change and build sustainable businesses that serve diverse communities. Previously, Bolden was director of culture and operations at The San Francisco Chronicle. As a member of The Chronicle’s executive team, he supervised a range of coverage, including business, housing, immigration, race and equity, technology, transportation, and urban design and development. As part of his responsibilities, he promoted an internal culture that valued diversity and belonging and developed support for journalists facing online abuse and harassment, cultural trauma and workforce stress. Earlier in his career, he was a journalism lecturer at Stanford University and managing director of the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships, where he advised media change agents from around the world. He also served as editorial director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, a leading funder of journalism and media innovation. For more than a decade, he was an editor at The Washington Post in positions across the newsroom, including head of the award-winning transportation and development team. He’s also been a reporter and editor in Florida and Louisiana. Bolden is a graduate of the University of Alabama, was a Maynard Media Academy Fellow at Harvard University and is working on his Master of Liberal Arts thesis at Stanford. He is a longtime member of the National Press Club, NABJ, NAHJ, ONA, SPJ and the Sigma Tau Delta honor society. He serves on the boards of directors of the SPJ Foundation, the nonprofit that supports a free press, and the Student Press Law Center, the nonprofit that promotes, supports and defends the First Amendment rights of high school and college journalists. He lives in the Washington, D.C., area.

Content

Total articles 19

• Available on paid plans

  Beyond Election Day: Building journalism that sustains community

  By Michael Bolden

  Nov. 04, 2024

• Available on paid plans

  Local journalists should bring light

  By Michael Bolden

  Jul. 12, 2024

• Available on paid plans

  Stench ruins Carpinteria charm

  By Michael Bolden

  Jan. 17, 2024

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Company Info

American Press Institute

The American Press Institute (API) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing journalism through research, training, and strategic support. Founded in 1946, API has evolved to meet the changing needs of media organizations, focusing on innovation, inclusivity, and community engagement. It serves as a hub for journalism professionals, providing resources to foster resilient, community-oriented news organizations. API's services are structured around four key areas: Civic Discourse & Democracy, Culture & Inclusion, Community Engagement & Trust, and Revenue & Resilience. These initiatives equip news organizations with the tools to deliver essential information, integrate diversity into practices, build trusted relationships with audiences, and enhance financial sustainability. API primarily serves local and community-based media organizations, supporting professionals at all career stages with a commitment to lifelong learning and adaptability. In recent years, API has modernized its visual identity and messaging to reflect its dedication to accessibility and clarity in supporting journalism's evolving role.