As someone who values the future of our community, we'd like to invite you to an exclusive virtual Local News Initiative Insider Event, where you'll have the opportunity to learn more about our public policy work and hear from experts already having success in their communities.
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Emily Bradbury has served as executive director of the Kansas Press Association since July 30, 2018, becoming the first woman to lead the organization. A native of Haysville, a suburb of Wichita, she graduated from Washburn University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in history.
Bradbury began her career as executive assistant to former Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, where she became involved with the Kids Voting Kansas program. She was named executive director of Kids Voting Kansas in 2002, a position she held until 2008 and again from 2011 to 2015. In 2008, Bradbury joined the Kansas Press Association as director of member services. She was named assistant director in 2015 before being appointed executive director.
Bradbury’s professional achievements include being named one of Topeka’s 30 Under 30 in 2005 and a Washburn Alumni Fellow in 2023. She serves as co-president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government, treasurer of the Wellsville Community Library Board, and vice president of the Newspaper Association Managers. She also serves on the boards of the Kansas Historical Society Foundation and the Northeast Kansas Library System Foundation. Bradbury is a member of PEO International.
She is a strong advocate for the importance of newspapers in their communities and believes a free and robust press is essential to democracy.
Bradbury and her husband, Ryan, who is superintendent of USD 289, live in Wellsville. They have two children, Kyle and Cassie. In her free time, Bradbury enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and reading newspapers from across the state.
Rashad Mahmood, Executive Director of the New Mexico Local News Fund, works to support local journalism in New Mexico. His focus is on local news equity, ensuring that people and communities all over the state have access to the news and information they need. Before coming to New Mexico a decade ago, he worked in international development in Washington, D.C., Egypt, and Iraq. He has worked in print, online, and radio journalism. In New Mexico, he worked for the youth media organization Generation Justice and KUNM 89.9 FM Radio.
Jess brings over 15 years of experience in policy advocacy, specializing in advancing and defending progressive legislation at the state and local levels. Her work spans reproductive health and rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, sex education, healthcare, and environmental justice. Jess has also worked to strengthen and sustain local news ecosystems in Michigan, North Carolina, Illinois, Washington, Pennsylvania, New York, and Arizona. Her work in local news has included policy research and strategy, coalition development, stakeholder engagement, and designing state and local advocacy campaigns to build durable public support for local journalism.
Jess has led campaigns and coalition efforts in politically diverse states including Alaska, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, and Washington. As Vice President of Political Operations at Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, she oversaw multi-state political strategy and helped secure expanded access to reproductive healthcare in the wake of Roe v. Wade's overturning.
