The Land names Chris Mosby as its new executive director

The Land, a three-year old nonprofit news organization covering economic development and social equity issues in Cleveland, has named Chris Mosby as its new Executive Director. The solutions journalism organization launched its search for a new leader in early fall. Mosby will begin work with The Land on January 15, 2024.

Victor Ruiz, Board Chair of The Land and Executive Director of Esperanza, Inc. led the organization’s Executive Director Search Committee. He states, “We are pleased to welcome Chris Mosby to our organization. Chris has deep experience in local journalism and has led newsrooms in the past. We are happy to have him join our team and look forward to his leadership as The Land grows into a mature journalism force here in Cleveland.” 

Mosby most recently served as Communications Coordinator for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Prior to that, he was the Ohio Editor for Patch, a nationwide digital news company. Mosby has been in journalism and communications for over a decade, including time writing for Cleveland.com. Mosby is a native northeast Ohioan, and he and his family reside in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

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“I’m thrilled to be joining the Land, an organization I’ve admired since its beginning. I believe now, more than ever, that vibrant and authentic community journalism is essential to our city. Under my leadership, we’ll continue to highlight economic and community development, social equity issues, and support Clevelanders as they become reporters through our community journalism program. Most importantly, we’ll continue to showcase solutions-oriented journalism that considers pathways forward to a better future for Cleveland and its residents,” states Mosby. 

Mosby joins four other professional journalists on staff at The Land. They are balanced by a pool of professional freelancers and community journalists that contribute articles to The Land, which publishes multiple stories weekly across its digital channels. 

The Land’s innovative Community Journalism program is a 12-week training course for community residents that want to cover important topics and issues in their neighborhood. Staff members and mentors work with these aspiring journalists, teaching the basics of covering a hard news story and working with participants until their story is published. Upon publication, Community Journalists are paid freelance rates and encouraged to pitch additional stories. The Land hosts four cohorts each year. To date, 75 community journalists have completed the program and more than 100 articles have been shared with the Land’s audience.

Mosby adds, “One of the Land’s most unique and vital features is its Community Journalism program, which allows us to share the authentic voice of Clevelanders. We mentor, train and pay aspiring journalists as they report on their communities and the issues that matter to them and their neighbors. When it comes to the challenges our city is facing, we want Clevelanders leading the conversation on the best way forward.” 

The Land is a paywall-free news publication. It was founded by Lee Chilcote and a host of community leaders. Chilcote remains on staff as an Editor and leads the Community Journalism program. Former Board Chair of The Land and nonprofit consultant Jeff Kipp has been serving as Acting Executive Director of the organization since May 2023. The Land is currently involved in its year-end #NewsMatch fundraising campaign, where donations made to the organization through December 31^st will be matched by national partners. 

For more information on The Land, visit www.thelandcle.org.