C. Zawadi Morris is the founder and driving force behind the New York City Association of Local and Ethnic Media (NYCALEM), an organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for independent news outlets across New York City.
A champion for community news, Zawadi also founded The Brooklyn Reader, an online news source for Central Brooklyn. Her passion for local journalism and her understanding of the challenges faced by independent publishers fuel her work with NYCALEM.
With a background in communications and public relations, including serving as bilingual communications director for Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Zawadi brings extensive experience to her leadership role. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Illinois.
Our Mission
NYCALEM’s mission is to build sustainability for independent, local news publishers in New York City. We will do this through:
Advocacy with key stakeholders
Creating a central hub that builds the capacity of local news owners through networking, sharing best practices, strategies, resources and audience information
Innovating new business models, new news products and new approaches
Cultivating newsroom diversity, culture and leadership
Making available representatives who advocate on members’ behalfs with key stakeholders
Creating for potential business partners and clients a database they can access directly
Fundraising to sustain operational costs and provide a safety net– emergency micro-grants– when needed
Providing an annual report on the state of local news owners in New York City
