Tesnim Zekeria joins The Lenfest Institute as Program Manager, National Programs

November 18, 2024

The Lenfest Institute is home to a dynamic portfolio of programs that support business sustainability for news organizations across the country. As these efforts grow, we’re excited to welcome Tesnim Zekeria as our new Program Manager, National Programs. 

Our national work includes our Communities of Practice, which offer free support and resources for more than 3,000 journalism professionals; Beyond Print, a program to guide publishers away from print-centric revenue models toward a sustainable digital future; the Local News Summit, an annual gathering of industry executives; and the Lenfest Local News Infrastructure Fund, which subsidizes critical technology infrastructure and services for local news publishers in the United States.  

Tesnim brings a wealth of experience to the national programs team. Most recently, Tesnim helped run a Google-sponsored program with the Fund for Equity in Local News that accelerated the digital transformation of community publishers. Prior to that, she worked on programs at the Google News Initiative and in advisory roles at Atlantic Media.  

We recently caught up with her to learn a bit more about what she hopes to accomplish in her new role here at the Institute. 

Tell us about what you’ll be doing as the program manager.  

As the new program manager, I will be managing a portfolio of initiatives that support the sustainability of local news organizations nationwide. This includes Beyond Print and The Lenfest Institute’s latest collaboration with OpenAI and Microsoft, among other exciting projects. I will also be working with Tristan Loper, head of national programs, to launch new efforts across the Institute’s home state of Pennsylvania. 

What made you interested in this role and joining The Lenfest Institute? 

It’s estimated that in 2023, an average of 2.5 U.S. newspapers shut down every week. As the decline of local news accelerates, I’m drawn to The Lenfest Institute’s unwavering commitment to supporting the local news ecosystem. To me, the Institute offers the industry more than a lifeline – it’s investing in the future of local news and creating a blueprint for what it could look like. I’m very excited to contribute to this effort.    

What does local news mean to you?   

Local news is accessible, high-quality information that reflects and serves a community. It empowers me, brings me closer to my community, and humbles me to the complexities of my social environment. 

Anything else we should add? 

I’ve been reading The Lenfest Institute’s newsletter, Solution Set, for years and highly recommend those who want to stay up to date on the latest in local journalism to check it out! You can sign up here.