Tiny News Collective is delighted to welcome Diane Sylvester as its acting membership director, bringing to the role more than three decades of experience as a journalist, editor, newsroom leader and consultant. Throughout her career, Diane has centered equity in her work, helping news organizations build sustainable systems, strengthen community connections and develop strategies that support both their missions and their teams.
Over the past decade, Diane has worked alongside diverse, community-centered newsrooms, coaching founders and leaders as they navigated growth and change. She has worked directly with several Tiny News members through the Tiny Vitals metrics program. She has also supported newsrooms such as Report for the World, Type Investigations and the New York Amsterdam News, helping to develop revenue strategies, deepen community engagement and strengthen organizational capacity. Her experience makes her uniquely positioned to support TNC’s growing network of independent local newsrooms.
“TNC's newsrooms are at the forefront of what journalism can and should be — and they are doing it at exactly the moment when it matters most,” Diane said. “I've learned so much from this community already. Now I get to work alongside them every day, helping them navigate real challenges and giving them the support their work deserves. That's not just a job — it’s a privilege.”
In addition to her consulting and leadership work, Diane currently reports on newsroom innovation, journalism safety, philanthropy and technology for Editor & Publisher. Earlier in her career, she held senior roles at CNN and the Wall Street Journal and served as the founding executive producer of Futuro Media’s Investigative Unit, where she secured $4 million in funding and built the team from the ground up. Her work has been recognized with an Overseas Press Club Award, an IRE Award for Audio Investigation and an Emmy.
“Diane brings a rare combination of editorial leadership, systems thinking and deep commitment to community-centered journalism,” said Amy L. Kovac-Ashley, executive director of Tiny News Collective. “She understands both the challenges independent newsrooms face and the care, creativity and collaboration required to help them thrive. We’re excited to welcome her into this role to work alongside our members as they build durable, impactful news organizations rooted in service to their communities.”
Tiny News is thrilled to have Diane’s experience, insight and commitment to strengthening local journalism. Welcome to the team, Diane! 💖