Staff

Craig Aaron, President and CEO, took the leadership of Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund in April 2011. Craig joined Free Press in 2004 and previously served as managing director, senior program director and communications director. He works in the Washington office and speaks across the country on media, Internet and journalism issues. Craig is a frequent guest on talk radio and is quoted often in the national press. His commentaries also appear regularly in the Guardian and the Huffington Post. Before joining Free Press, he was an investigative reporter for Public Citizen's Congress Watch and the managing editor of In These Times magazine. He is the editor of two books, Appeal to Reason: 25 Years In These Times and Changing Media: Public Interest Policies for the Digital Age. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Kimberly Longey, Chief Operating Officer, oversees organizational development, strategic planning, staffing and financial management activities. She is also a key member of our fundraising team. Kimberly has 23 years' experience building, growing and reinventing nonprofit organizations. Before joining Free Press, Kimberly served as deputy director of the Proteus Fund and executive director of Hilltown Community Development Corp. She has held numerous elected and appointed local government positions. Kimberly currently volunteers as a director of the Frances Fund and treasurer of the See Forward Fund, two related philanthropic organizations promoting justice, equity and sustainability with thought leadership and grant making. She holds a master's degree in community economic development from the University of Southern New Hampshire.

Bill Brown, Graphic Designer, creates Web designs and interfaces, graphical elements for campaign websites and print-ready campaign materials. Before joining Free Press, Bill served as an AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader and graphic designer with the Digital Arts Service Corps at the Transmission Project. Bill earned his B.A. in studio art from Wake Forest University.

Candace Clement, Advocacy and Organizing Manager, works with community-based organizations, public interest groups, academics and other allies to encourage participation in Free Press campaigns and events. She also co-hosts the weekly Media Minutes radio show. Candace served as a longtime Free Press intern and volunteered for Northampton area community radio station Valley Free Radio before joining the staff. She earned an associate's degree in communications, with highest honors, from Holyoke Community College and holds a B.A. in American studies from Smith College.

Amy Altwarg Clough, Development Coordinator, works with the development team to implement all fundraising efforts for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Amy comes to Free Press with more than 12 years of management experience in community-based as well as national for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Before joining Free Press, Amy served for eight years as the grants manager and special events coordinator for the Proteus Fund. She holds a master’s degree in counseling from the University of San Francisco.

Stevie Converse, Multimedia Manager, oversees in-house video and audio productions, the Free Press newswire and the Media Reform Daily. She also writes, produces and co-hosts the weekly Media Minutes radio show. Stevie is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College's Critical Social Thought program, with a concentration in political ideas and communication technology. Stevie worked in health research at the American Health Foundation and Mount Sinai Hospital and was a shiatsu therapist and teacher for many years.

Mary Alice Crim, Organizing and Events Manager, conducts a variety of outreach, organizing and public education activities to broaden the movement for media reform and advance Free Press' campaigns and policy initiatives. She develops, plans and implements Free Press events, including the National Conference for Media Reform; manages speaking opportunities and participation in conferences and events across the country; assists with the development of educational materials, fact sheets and issue briefs; and is responsible for recruiting and engaging activists both on and offline. Before joining Free Press, Mary Alice received bachelor's degrees in media studies and Spanish, with a minor in women's studies, from Southern Connecticut State University.

Carrie Cuthbert, Development Director, oversees all fundraising activities for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Before joining Free Press, Carrie served for more than eight years as founding co-director of the Women's Rights Network, a human rights organization working to end violence against women, and for three years on the development team at Amherst College. She has served on the board of a local battered women's organization and on the founding coordinating committee of the U.S. Human Rights Network. Carrie earned a B.A. in anthropology from Amherst College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Elizabeth Dubuque, D.C. Office Coordinator, provides executive support to the president and CEO of Free Press while coordinating office operations, including IT support, for the D.C. office. Elizabeth works closely with the Massachusetts-based program team on deployment and outreach events. In addition, Elizabeth manages Free Press’ Green Team and leads the organization’s sustainability efforts. Before joining Free Press, Elizabeth was the successful owner of an award-winning gardening business in San Francisco. Before moving to the East Coast, she worked as an office assistant for a nonprofit charter school while simultaneously serving as program manager for the school’s gardening program. Elizabeth earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Francisco State University.

Lindsy Embree, Online Communications Manager, aggregates news, updates the Free Press newswire and creates and sends the Media Reform Daily to thousands of activists every weekday. Lindsy assists with media relations and maintains media-related databases. Lindsy is also responsible for Free Press’ paid advertising strategies and coordinates audio-visual details for many of our events. Before joining Free Press, Lindsy was the office coordinator for Redpoint Marketing PR in New York City. Lindsy received a bachelor's degree in sociology with minors in African-American studies and women's studies from Eastern Illinois University.

Jenn Ettinger, Media Manager, drafts and distribute press releases, makes pitch calls to reporters, and assists with media scheduling and promotion. Before joining Free Press, Jenn was a media and communications specialist at Campaign for America’s Future and worked as an assistant account executive at Rubenstein Communications. She was also a sports editor and the editor-in-chief of FSView, Florida State University’s independent student newspaper. Jenn earned her B.S. in studio art and her M.A. in media and communication studies from Florida State University.

Lee Feldscher, Information Technology Director, studied astrophysics at the University of Pennsylvania and then stayed on for seven years after graduation to work on a handful of very interesting particle physics and astrophysics projects, two of which garnered Nobel Prizes for his bosses. He next spent eight years running a computer consulting firm in Hawaii. Lee returned to the East Coast to raise a family and spent six years in Manhattan as an IT director for the film industry. Lee has been tending to the computer needs of Free Press as the IT director since 2007.

Katie Gay, Development Coordinator, works with the development team to implement all fundraising efforts for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. She supports the team's database, prospect research, foundation relations, communications and special events work. Katie was previously a special projects coordinator for Free Press' InternetforEveryone.org campaign. She also served as a grants and special projects associate for Girls Incorporated of Holyoke, where she worked with the director of development and public relations, researched and wrote grant proposals, and conducted program evaluation. Katie earned her B.A. and M.A. in public sociology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she focused on the effects of media on society.

Heather Higgins, Finance Director, ensures sound financial management of Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Heather works to develop and refine financial systems, oversee budgets, and coordinate with other professional financial service providers. Before joining Free Press, Heather was director of finance and administration, and later, director of operations, for the Western Massachusetts Enterprise Fund. She has also been a program coordinator at Harvard University’s School of Public Health and an administrative manager at MIT.

Sara Joseph, Development Officer, helps plan and implement individual donor fundraising efforts for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. She works to bring new financial resources to both organizations by connecting philanthropists with Free Press’ compelling work. Before joining Free Press, Sara served as a communications liaison for corporate and foreign policy watchdog groups in Boston and Nicaragua. She earned a B.A. in international studies at the University of North Carolina through the Robertson Scholars Program.

Timothy Karr, Senior Director of Strategy, oversees all Free Press campaigns and online outreach efforts, including SavetheInternet.com and our work on public broadcasting, propaganda, and journalism. Before joining Free Press, Tim served as executive director of MediaChannel.org and vice president of Globalvision New Media and the Globalvision News Network. He has also worked extensively as an editor, reporter and photojournalist for the Associated Press, Time Inc., New York Times and Australia Consolidated Press. Tim critiques, analyzes and reports on media and media policy for the Huffington Post and on his personal blog, MediaCitizen.

Joel Kelsey, Political Adviser, works closely with the policy team to create Free Press' legislative agenda, to develop and implement political strategy, and to work with the FCC and Capitol Hill on media policy issues. Before joining Free Press, Joel was a policy analyst of federal and international affairs for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, where he managed the organization’s advocacy efforts on cable, wireless, telephone and Internet policy. Before joining Consumers Union, Joel served as chairperson for the New York Public Interest Research Group and later worked as NYPIRG's New York City outreach director and then as the statewide campaigns coordinator.


Amy Kroin, Editor, edits all Free Press and Free Press Action Fund communications. She also edits and monitors the Free Press website, oversees and edits all blogs and creates campaign, educational and outreach materials. Before joining Free Press, Amy served as a writer and editor for a division of Pearson, the media and education company, and earlier served as the arts editor of the Valley Advocate. Amy has also worked as a freelance writer and editor, contributing reviews of books, film and popular culture to publications including the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post and Salon. Amy holds a B.A. in English from Vassar College and an M.F.A. in English from UMass Amherst.

Josh Levy, Internet Campaign Director, develops and implements Internet-based campaigns, programs and projects to encourage online activism, advocacy and fundraising. Before joining Free Press, Josh was managing editor of Change.org, a social action network where he supervised the launch of more than a dozen issue-based blogs. He previously worked as an associate editor for techPresident.com and Personal Democracy Forum, and was an adjunct lecturer in media studies at Hunter College in New York City. Josh holds a B.A. in English and religion from the University of Vermont and an M.F.A. in Integrated Media Arts from Hunter College.

Sara Longsmith, Foundation Relations Manager, works to secure financial support for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. She is responsible for all aspects of institutional funding and coordinates all grantwriting and reporting efforts. Sara has more than 10 years' experience helping nonprofits obtain resources to carry out their work. Before joining Free Press, she was a senior development associate for Community Action! in Western Massachusetts and a grant proposal writer and organizational consultant in Brattleboro, Vt. Sara’s media reform roots are in community media: She was an organizer and program host for radio free brattleboro and helped to launch Vermont Independent Media. Sara earned her B.S. in biology at Davidson College and her M.A. in intercultural and international management at the SIT Graduate Institute.

Amy Martyn, Administrative Director, is responsible for managing human resources and complying with state and federal regulations for employment, nonprofit corporation and advocacy. Amy has more than 20 years of nonprofit administrative experience, including as administrative director of the Solidago Foundation and administrative manager of the Western Massachusetts Planned Parenthood Center.

Kate McKenney, Digital Communications Director, manages the constituent relationship management systems at Free Press that provide the tools and intelligence to help strengthen and grow the media reform movement. Kate also helps plan the National Conference for Media Reform. Before joining Free Press, Kate served as the assistant director of the Center for Tropical Ecology in Keene, N.H., and as a research associate at the University of Massachusetts. Kate has a master’s in conservation biology, a B.S. from Earlham College, and works as a cheesemaker in her spare time.

Feyla McNamara, MA Office Coordinator, works with the office manager and operations team to ensure that the Massachusetts office functions smoothly and to support the ongoing work of Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Feyla is responsible for incoming and outgoing communications; disseminates educational materials; manages inventory; helps staff prepare for deployment to conferences and events; and provides general administrative support. Before joining Free Press, Feyla served as a transition facilitator and prior to that, as a counselor and office manager, for ServiceNet through AmeriCorps. She earned her bachelor's degree in social thought and political economy from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Yesenia Perez, Associate Development Director, works with the development team to implement all fundraising efforts for Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. She has over seven years of experience in content management and fundraising. Yesenia comes to Free Press from the Institute for Community Economics. She received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Bernard M. Baruch College.

Misty Perez Truedson, Advocacy and Organizing Director, conducts strategic communications, offline and online organizing and outreach activities to advance Free Press’ legislative and movement building initiatives. She works with community-based organizations, public interest groups, academics and other allies to encourage participation in Free Press campaigns and events, with a particular focus on the SaveTheInternet.com campaign. Before joining Free Press, Misty was the statewide grassroots organizing coordinator for Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. She holds a master’s degree in community development and planning from Clark University.

Libby Reinish, Advocacy and Organizing Manager, works to build public support for Free Press' campaigns and initiatives, including the media ownership and public media campaigns. She organizes local hearings and events, conducts public outreach, and collaborates with local and grassroots allies on Free Press events. Before joining Free Press, Libby was a co-founder of WXOJ-LP, Valley Free Radio, in Northampton, Mass. She also coordinated Prometheus Radio Project's Full Power campaign and was a consultant to Radio Vieques. Libby has also served as communications coordinator for the Historic Santa Fe Foundation. She writes about urban agriculture and simple living; her work has appeared in Urban Farm and Make Magazine. Libby earned her B.A. from Hampshire College in American Studies/Media Studies.

Peter Sax, Web Developer, works to plan and implement new features, functions and applications on Free Press' websites and to develop and build new sites. Before joining Free Press, Peter was a freelance Web developer for Rainbow Media/Sundance Channel, Fstopimages.com, Metropolis Magazine, thejailbreak.com and Edible Manhattan. Peter earned his B.A. in music from Wesleyan University.

Tessa Simonds, Online Campaign Manager, implements Internet-based campaigns, programs and projects to encourage online activism, advocacy and fundraising. Before joining Free Press, Tessa was an online communications associate with the U.S. PIRG network. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she double majored in English and Social Thought & Political Economy. Tessa also has an Associate of Arts degree with high honors from MassBay Commmunity College.

Trish Smith, Office Manager, works to ensure that the Massachusetts office functions smoothly and to support the ongoing work of Free Press and the Free Press Action Fund. Before joining Free Press, Trish worked as an independent consultant and project manager for MBL Housing and Development in Springfield, Mass. She was also a project manager for the development of the Lead Hazard Education and Abatement Research Program for the Hampden Hampshire Housing Partnership in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Trish earned her B.A. in politics and environmental studies from Mount Holyoke College and her M.S. in communications and information management from Bay Path College.

Josh Stearns, Journalism and Public Media Campaign Director, manages Free Press' journalism, public media and media consolidation campaigns. He develops campaign strategy, outreach and organizing efforts and works with partner organizations on events and actions designed to amplify the voices of people and communities around the country. Josh directs the Free Press internship and fellowship programs and speaks regularly about media policy and activism. He was a co-author of Saving the News: Toward a National Journalism Strategy, and writes regularly for Free Press' blogs. Before joining Free Press, Josh provided communications consulting for a range of nonprofit organizations, and served as a policy and communications associate for National Campus Compact.

Joseph Torres, Senior External Affairs Director, lobbies in Washington to ensure that our nation’s media and telecommunications policies serve the public interest. He also works to build new coalitions to broaden the base of the media reform movement. Joseph writes frequently on media and Internet issues and is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling book News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media. Published by Verso, the book examines the history of people of color in the mass media. Joseph also serves on the board of directors of the Center for Media Justice and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers. Before joining Free Press, Joseph worked as deputy director of communications and media policy at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and was a journalist for several years.

S. Derek Turner, Research Director, oversees our research and policy analysis efforts in Washington. Derek has written extensively on a wide range of media and technology issues, and regularly testifies before Congress and the FCC. His reports have examined the state of broadband competition in America, the role of the Universal Service Fund in the 21st century, and the lack of female and minority media ownership. Derek holds a master's degree in public policy from the Goldman School at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was awarded the 2006 Smolensky Prize for Outstanding Advanced Policy Analysis. He is the lead author of the book Changing Media: Public Interest Policies for the Digital Age.

Chancellar Williams, Government and External Affairs Manager, represents Free Press’ members by lobbying to ensure that media and telecommunications policies serve the public interest. He works to make Washington more accessible by preparing and engaging key allies in lobbying and advocacy on Capitol Hill and at the FCC. Chancellar also builds and sustains collaborative projects that advance Free Press’ policy and movement building goals. Before joining Free Press, Chancellar worked extensively with the public interest media reform and media justice communities as advocacy manager for the Media and Democracy Coalition.

Matt Wood, Policy Director, helps shape our policy team’s efforts to preserve the open Internet, prevent media concentration, promote affordable broadband deployment, and prioritize a revitalized public media. Before joining Free Press, he worked at the public interest law firm Media Access Project, and in the communications practice groups of two private law firms in Washington, D.C. Before that, he served as editor-in-chief for the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, worked for PBS, and spent time at several professional and college radio and television stations. Matt obtained his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2001, and his B.A. from Columbia University in 1994 with a degree in film studies.

Coriell Wright, Senior Policy Counsel, advises Free Press on legal matters related to our policy, research and campaign work; helps to craft our regulatory agenda; and represents Free Press on our issues before the FCC and Congress. Before joining Free Press, Corie served as senior counsel and adjunct clinical professor at the Georgetown University Institute for Public Representation in Washington. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan and holds law degrees from the American University Washington College of Law and the Georgetown University Law Center.