South Jersey native Vanessa Maria Graber, Free Press’s senior director of journalism and media education, works on journalism policy and First Amendment issues. She also co-founded Philly Boricuas, which organizes to educate and empower the Puerto Rican diaspora.
At Free Press, Graber leads Future of Journalism education initiatives and coordinates Philly Comunicadores, a mutual-aid group supporting Spanish-speaking Latiné media workers. She is also a reporter and co-owner of The Philadelphia Hall Monitor and co-founded PhillyCAM’s community radio station, WPPM 106.5-FM.
Graber says representation matters because communities need to see themselves in media and have power to shape their narratives. She has warned that press freedom and First Amendment rights are vulnerable and urged support for local news outlets and journalists.
