Journalism Summit

Jim Brady

Jim Brady, VP of Journalism at the Knight Foundation, is a digital media innovator whose experience ranges from leading major brands such as washingtonpost.com and Digital First Media to starting a company that built local news sites in three cities.

Julie Sidoni

Juile Sidoni currently serves as WVIA's News Director. Julie began her award-winning journalism career in public radio, at the NPR affiliate WDUQ-FM in Pittsburgh. Julie has also spent nearly 20 years at WNEP-TV in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and as an anchor/reporter.

Evan Smith

Evan Smith is a senior advisor at Emerson Collective, whose media team he works with closely on initiatives that support the local news ecosystem around the country. He’s also a senior advisor at The Texas Tribune, the pioneering nonprofit digital news organization he cofounded in 2009.

Tracey Matisak

Tracey Matisak currently serves as the moderator of WVIA's award-winning Mind Over Matter series. With more than 30 years of major market television and radio experience, she has also anchored numerous special projects for WHYY-TV/PBS in Philadelphia.

WVIA’s mission is to educate, inspire, entertain and foster citizenship, diverse cultures, and perspectives to nurture community. WVIA News strives to meet this mission by furnishing individuals with the relevant, civic information needed for thriving families, neighborhoods, and cities.

What we read and hear shapes how we understand the places we live in and come from. That’s why fact-based journalism is an essential tool for those seeking to inspire growth in our region.

WVIA News is filling critical information needs reporting on issues that impact the quality of life in our community.

We've assembled a panel of industry experts including Jim Brady, VP of Journalism at the Knight Foundation; Julie Sidoni, WVIA News Director; Evan Smith, senior advisor at Emerson Collective and The Texas Tribune; and Award-Winning Journalist & Moderator Tracey Matisak.