Starting in 2018, pioneering journalist Bruce Koon will join the Center on Communication Leadership & Policy (CCLP) as a Senior Fellow. The Center will benefit from his leadership in the industry at media companies such as KQED and at non-profits such as the Online News Association.
Over the years, Koon has led the successful transformations of print and broadcast organizations into digital news operations. He was News Director for KQED, one of the largest NPR- and PBS-affiliated public radio/television stations in the nation, for nearly 8 years, and held several editor positions during 11 years with Knight Ridder’s digital divisions, including Executive News Editor.
He was a founding board member of the Online News Association and served two terms as president. His newspaper career as reporter and business editor included posts at the Wall Street Journal, the National Observer, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner and the Oakland Tribune; he was Managing Editor of the San Jose Mercury News’ Mercury Center.
“CCLP is thrilled to be able to benefit from Bruce’s exceptional background in and knowledge of digital infrastructure and online news,” CCLP Director Geoffrey Cowan said. “Bruce spent time at USC as a consultant to the Knight Digital Media Center and it’s great to have him back in this new role.”
Koon has also served as an adviser for the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, and J-Lab (The Institute of Interactive Journalism) at American University. He has taught journalism at San Francisco State University. He is currently a media consultant-writer on media technology, the digital economy and the sustainability of local news.