creating a future for local journalism
Photo by Edward Boches
The mission of the Local Journalism Project is to educate aspiring journalists, provide opportunities and support for in-depth fact-based reporting that goes beyond what ordinary small newspapers can do, encourage civic engagement, and research and promote new ways to make community journalism sustainable.
Aspiring journalists enter the real world of reporting at the Provincetown Independent.
Our events shine a light on the relationship between local journalism and democracy.
Promoting the principles, ethics, and practice of community journalism.
Staff & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JANET LESNIAK, executive director
Janet has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of wellness, creativity, and community engagement.
With a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy from Boston University, she began her career using the creative arts as a tool for healing.
In 1988, Janet moved to California, where she managed her family’s business, the historic Big Sur River Inn, for more than 20 years. She was a board member of the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Big Sur Marathon, and the California Tourism Alliance, and was co-founder of the Big Sur Jazz Festival.
Janet became the first executive director of Wellfleet Preservation Hall in 2011. There she has fostered wide-ranging collaborations and oversees some 700 events each year that embrace the arts, culture, and community. She also serves on the boards of the Cape Wellness Collaborative and the Community Development Partnership.
Willow Shire, President
Willow brings 30 years of corporate governance experience to the Local Journalism Project. She was an independent director of the TJX Companies, Inc. from 1995 through 2021. She has also served as an independent director of public Silicon Valley tech companies. Prior to working in corporate governance, she spent 20 years as an executive in the computer industry, working in both marketing and human resources.
Willow has educated directors at several national organizations, including Board Leaders, Women Corporate Directors, and the National Association for Corporate Directors.
She lives in Eastham and currently serves on the boards of the Eastham Public Library and the Cape Cod Art Association in Barnstable. She is also a member of the board of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
Willow holds a bachelor of science degree from Boston University and a master’s degree from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.
Dean Stein, TreAsURER
Dean has managed several nonprofit organizations, overseeing the essentials of their healthy growth — from budgets and professional development to impact and ethics.
He was for 15 years CEO of the American Psychoanalytic Association based in New York City, which brought together some 6,000 psychoanalysts for institutes and advocacy. He served as executive director of the Dyson Foundation, managing the $300 million family foundation’s growth and grantmaking to support community nonprofits and an array of cultural projects.
Before that, Dean was for 15 years the executive director of Chamber Music America, a national membership organization of musicians. During his tenure, the organization’s budget, participation, and impact grew exponentially.
Dean has a bachelor of arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. and an MBA from New York University.
Since retiring in 2018, Dean has lived in Provincetown.
ED MILLER, CLERK
Ed is the co-founder and editor of the Provincetown Independent. He has more than 35 years of experience in journalism and publishing as a founder of two other independent weekly newspapers in Massachusetts, the Harvard Post and the Bolton Common. He co-authored How to Produce a Small Newspaper: A Guide for Independent Journalists. His work has been honored by the Educational Press Association of America.
Before moving to Cape Cod in 2011, he served as editor of the Harvard Education Letter and taught writing at Harvard and at Sarah Lawrence College.
Ed’s nonprofit experience includes co-founding the Alliance for Childhood, an organization that advocates for children’s right to play. Before that, he organized a campaign to restore music in the public schools in New York City, where his work brought national attention and support to an exemplary program now called the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s in education, both from Harvard University.
JONATHAN MURRAY
Through his creative work with his late partner, Mary-Ellis Bunim, Jonathan is widely credited with helping to usher in the modern reality television genre. He is founder of and executive consultant at Bunim-Murray Productions.
Since the launch of The Real World on MTV in 1992, Jonathan has created and executive produced some of the television industry’s most innovative, unscripted entertainment programs, including Born This Way (A&E) and Autism: The Musical (HBO), both Emmy-award winners.
Now focused primarily on producing documentaries, Jonathan’s work continues to inspire, influence, and entertain television audiences around the world.
He serves on the board of RespectAbility, a national disability rights organization, and is vice chairman of the board of the Television Academy Foundation. In 2012, he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Jonathan graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He lives in Los Angeles and Provincetown.
The Local Journalism Project is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization. Donations to the LJP are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. We are thankful to our donors, who are listed here.
To become a supporter, visit our donate page.