KC-based public service news outlet selects longtime nonprofit leader as its new CEO

A nonprofit news source focused on public service journalism for Kansas City and Wichita has selected a new CEO with more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience.

Stephanie Campbell, a former executive team member at Leanlab Education, will lead the online Kansas City-based publication, The Beacon, tapping into her expertise in operations, marketing and fundraising.

“I could not be more honored to lead this incredible organization,” Campbell said. “At its core, The Beacon is a collection of inquisitive and creative professionals who care deeply about the communities we serve and the people who call those communities home. As CEO, I will work to grow support for our newsrooms, so our reporters can serve our audiences through deep community engagement and informative local journalism that safeguards a healthy democracy.”

The Beacon is a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and Missouri Business Alert.

Its reporting centers around health care, education, economics, environment and civic engagement issues. The Beacon’s mission is to spur reforms in the public interest through in-depth, solutions-driven journalism.

Click here to explore the Kansas City Beacon.

“Stephanie made a lasting impression on the board with her creative vision. We’re confident in her ability to sustain and grow The Beacon as it continues to expand its reach and impact across the region,” said Brittany Barrientos, chair of the board. “She’s the right person to secure and grow partnerships that will be integral to The Beacon’s future, and we are excited for her to join the team.”

Campbell brings deep experience in nonprofit leadership roles spanning the education, startup, philanthropy, technology and performing arts industries, the publication said in a press release, emphasizing skills in budget management, venture philanthropy, strategic planning and employee engagement.

She previously served as vice president of operations and communications at Kansas City-based Leanlab Education, a nonprofit working towards equity in K-12 education, and associate director of the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Missouri Kansas City.

“We are thrilled to have Stephanie in the CEO role,” said board member Mark Horvit, a professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. “The journalism produced by The Beacon plays a vital role in informing and empowering the Kansas City and Wichita communities. Stephanie brings a passion for local news and a belief in its importance that will help us build on the strong core of committed journalists in our newsrooms.”

Campbell succeeds Karin Sabey, interim CEO, and Kelsey Ryan, founder and publisher. Her appointment comes after an extensive selection process by the board.

Founded in April 2019, The Beacon first started publishing in Kansas City in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2021, it launched a sister newsroom in Wichita to become a regional nonprofit news network serving Kansas and Missouri.