AMY s. MITCHELL
Acting Director
Amy Mitchell is acting director for the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. She manages all aspects of the project including the design, analysis and writing the project's in-depth research reports. This includes the Annual Report on the State of the News Media, research into how technology is changing the flow of news information today and what this all means for the way news outlet gather and report the news. Prior to joining PEJ, Mitchell was a congressional research associate at the American Enterprise Institute where she researched public policy and the relationship of the press, the public and government. She has authored and co-authored several works including Thinking Clearly: Case Studies in Journalistic Decision Making. She has also won awards for PEJ's groundbreaking research, including two SPJ awards and the Bart Richards award. Mitchell, who has been with PEJ since its inception in 1997, speaks frequently to groups including the New England Newspaper Association, U.S. Federal Judges, Pontifical Council on Social Communications, Edward Jones and European Union Press Counselors. She also makes regular appearances in the news media, speaking on research findings of PEJ and broader trends in news information.
MARK JURKOWITZ
Associate Director
Mark Jurkowitz, Associate Director of the Project, has spent nearly two decades covering the news media. He was the press critic and author of the Boston Phoenix’s “Don’t Quote Me” column from 1987-1994 and again from July 2005 until June 2006. In between, he spent 10 years at The Boston Globe, initially as the paper’s ombudsman and then as its first full-time media beat writer. A graduate of Boston University, Jurkowitz has taught a course on media ethics at both Northeastern University and Tufts University and has been a commentator on media-related issues on outlets ranging from CNN’s “Reliable Sources” to NPR’s “On the Media.” He has also made more than 300 appearances as a regular panelist on “Beat the Press,” a weekly program on Boston’s WGBH-TV that scrutinizes the journalism profession. In the 1990’s, he spent a number of years as a radio talk host on WHDH-AM and WRKO-AM in Boston.
PAUL HITLIN
Senior Researcher
Paul Hitlin supervises PEJ's content coding operations, assists with the design of content analysis research, and helps write the weekly New Media Index. He earned an M.A. from Georgetown University's Communication, Culture, and Technology program where his thesis was an analysis of television political pundits. Prior to joining PEJ in 2005, he worked for the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and the Center for Media and Public Affairs. Paul is a graduate of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.
cheryl Elzey
Administrative Manager
Cheryl Elzey manages PEJ’s office in Washington, tracks the finances, and supports the Director and Deputy Director. Cheryl has worked in the news industry for the past 20 years in both the news and business sides. She comes to us from The Washington Post and prior to them the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, NY. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY.
Dana Page
Communications and Creative Design Manager
Dana Page manages PEJ's communications efforts and oversees all design projects. She earned her master’s degree in Broadcast, Telecommunications and Mass Media from Temple University. Prior to graduate school, she worked in the corporate communications department of a major credit card company in Wilmington, Delaware. Dana holds a B.S. in magazine journalism from Syracuse University.
Emily Guskin
Research Analyst
Emily Guskin recently moved back to the DC area after completing a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Edward J. Bloustein School at Rutgers University. She conducts research on ethnic news media for PEJ and received bachelors' degrees from the University of Maryland in both Communication and Government and Politics. Previously, Emily worked in the Polling Unit of ABC News and as a researcher at Rutgers University.
Jesse holcomb
Research Associate
Jesse Holcomb’s research focuses on cable news trends and religion in the media. He also helps to write PEJ's News Coverage Index. Jesse has taught courses on media and public affairs at George Washington University and has written on media, culture and religion topics for Sojourners magazine. Before joining PEJ, Jesse was a writer at the Fund for Public Interest Research. He holds an M.A. from George Washington University and a B.A. from Gordon College.
KAterina Matsa
Research Analyst
Katerina Matsa was most recently an intern in the office of Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), where she assisted with constituency work and conducted research. Prior to that, Katerina worked as a Corporate and Brand Communications Services intern for Ketchum in Athens, Greece and was a Department of Press and Information Services Trainee for the European Commission. She received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from Panteion University, a master’s degree in Politics and Government from the London School of Economics, and a master’s degree in Communication, Culture and Technology from Georgetown University.
Laura houston Santhanam
Research Analyst
Laura Houston Santhanam graduated with a master’s degree in public policy from American University’s School of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a newspaper reporter at The Arizona Republic in Phoenix, Ariz., and at the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Chattanooga, Tenn. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and history from the University of Mississippi and is from Tupelo, Miss.
Kenny Olmstead
Research Associate
Kenny Olmstead gradated from Skidmore College in May 2006 with a B.A. in Government. He has interned in the government relations office at the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, has been a research assistant on a book on the European Union, and has worked in web design at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is currently studying at Georgetown's Communications Culture & Technology masters program.
Steve Adams
Researcher/Coder
Steve Adams earned an M.S. from Iowa State University’s Greenlee School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he served as a research coder and wrote his thesis on American press coverage of the 2009-2010 health care reform debate. He presented his thesis at the annual conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, and co-authored a journal article on the topic that was published in the Newspaper Research Journal. Steve also holds a B.A. in political science from Union College.
Monica Anderson
Researcher/Coder
Monica is originally from Texas where she received her B.A. from Southwestern University in Political Science and Feminist Studies. She completed her M.A. at Georgetown University, majoring in Communication, Culture, and Technology. Her expertise lies within the realms of media and politics, with a particular interest in the role that media plays inthe lives of women and minorities.
Nancy Vogt
Researcher/Coder
Nancy Vogt has degrees in Anthropology from American University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Previously, she worked and volunteered with the U.S. Committee for Refugees, the Indonesia Project of Peace Brigades International, and the Humane Society of the United States.
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