Three new officers are named to the board

At its March 2024 annual meeting, the Tiny News Collective board and staff recognized and thanked André Natta for serving on the board since November 2020. Natta recently became the executive director of the Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism, which publishes BirminghamWatch, and his board service with Tiny News ended on March 20, 2024.

“André is a skilled, thoughtful teammate who brought his love for journalism, dedication to diversity in media and sense of humor to the organization,” said outgoing board chair Kara Meyberg Guzman.

In its resolution of appreciation, the board noted Natta’s role in launching the Tiny News Collective as well as his role as the founding chair of the board, a position from which he stepped down in March of 2023.

His experience as a founder and publisher/editor of The Terminal in Birmingham, Alabama, was invaluable to both the Tiny News Collective staff and members, the latter of which are founders of their own news organizations across the country.

“There is a need in the world of journalism, and we need to fill it,” Natta said in his parting comments.

Natta also brought many years of experience in the nonprofit sector broadly and in nonprofit journalism, specifically.

“We will miss André’s wisdom and generosity, but we know he won’t be far away,” said Amy L. Kovac-Ashley, executive director of the Tiny News Collective. “He will remain a close confidant.”

During the annual meeting, three new officers were voted in for the 2024-26 term. They include Lillian Ruiz as chair, Tyler Fisher as secretary and Jillian Bauer-Reese returning as treasurer. Tiny News Collective also thanks Meyberg-Guzman and Aron Pilhofer, outgoing chair and treasurer, respectively, for their service. They will remain on the board for another term.