Rachel Jones Joins JAWS Board, Returning 26 Years After Serving as President

Rachel Jones, the seventh president of Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) is joining the group’s board for a two-year term.

Appointed by JAWS President Angela Greiling Keane to fill a vacant board seat, Jones received unanimous approval from the board at its Nov. 13 board meeting.

A longtime JAWS member, Jones served as JAWS’ president in 1997.

“Rachel brings tremendous institutional knowledge and demonstrated commitment to JAWS as well as to the journalism industry overall throughout her accomplished career,” Greiling Keane said. “I’m thrilled to be working with her on the board as we continue to advocate to bring equity and advancement for women in journalism today.”

Jones is the Director of Journalism Initiatives for the National Press Foundation. She has worked as a journalist and media consultant for more than 30 years in the US and Africa, for places including the Detroit Free Press, National Public Radio, Internews, the International Center for Journalists, Kenya’s Nation Media Group and Voice of America.

From 2007 to 2016, Jones also trained and mentored East African journalists to produce news and analysis on topics including peace and reconciliation, child and reproductive health, health care policy, climate change and sustainability. During her nine years in Nairobi, Jones received a $43,000 grant from the U.K.-based Wellcome Trust, to develop the Kenyan Alliance of Health and Science Reporters journalism training project. She also advised UNICEF Kenya’s Polio Advocacy Working Group partners in developing a communications strategy to stimulate insightful coverage of polio-related issues, as well as a broader range of child health and development areas. From October 2014 to September 2015, Jones served as Editor/Stringer Coordinator for Voice of America’s “South Sudan in Focus” nightly radio broadcast.

Based now in Washington, Jones has produced content for National Geographic’s digital platform since 2018. She was also a media consultant for the U.K.-based Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases coalition, Malaria No More UK and Women Deliver. From 2019 to 2023, Jones worked with The Aspen Institute as a writing mentor for their Healthy Communities, New Voices and SOAR Fellowship programs.

At the National Press Foundation, Jones directs the Widening the Pipeline fellowship program for early career journalists of color, the Future of the American Child fellowship program and the Covering Rare Diseases fellowship program.

Another former JAWS president, Patricia Sullivan, who served as JAWS’ 10th president in 2000, also rejoined the JAWS board this year as deputy vice president. JAWS member Keeley Webster is also a new board member. Learn more about the entire JAWS board.