February 12, 2024 — Prison Journalism Project (PJP), a national initiative that trains incarcerated writers to be journalists and publishes their stories, today announced that it has appointed award-winning journalist John X. Miller to its Board of Advisors and Jennair Rennie as treasurer. These two additions bring invaluable skills and expertise to the PJP team, helping to advance the organization’s mission to strengthen the prison-journalism pipeline.
“PJP has incredible, ambitious work planned for 2024, and we are thrilled to have John and Jennair on board for this exciting time in our development,” said Yukari Kane, Founder and CEO of PJP. “Their decades of combined experience will play key roles as PJP works to elevate the voices of more incarcerated writers to an ever-growing audience of readers.”
John X. Miller draws from a 45-year career in newsrooms and nonprofits across the country to support the work of PJP through its advisory board. As a veteran journalist and editor, Miller has shaped the national reporting landscape, beginning with his time as a founding staff member of USA Today in 1982. In later years, Miller held leadership positions at the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal, where he was the first African American managing editor, and ESPN’s “The Undefeated,” where he was an original staff member and led coverage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ sports, alongside other beats. He currently serves as board chair at the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education.
“We know that criminal justice reform relies on thoughtful, rigorous reporting, but the picture is incomplete without the involvement of people who are incarcerated,” said Miller. “I’m looking forward to working with PJP to continue to bridge this critical area of representation in news media.”
Jennair Rennie brings over 20 years of wide-ranging business experience to her role as treasurer. Before joining PJP, Rennie held a variety of leadership positions at legacy media companies, including Director of Finance at The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times’ “Wirecutter,” managing P&Ls and executing long-range, cost-effective budgetary plans. She earned her MBA from Rutgers Business School and currently serves as Head of Finance & Accounting for the boutique management company Colture Holdings.
“Throughout my career, I’ve considered it a personal and professional duty to bring about positive social change,” said Rennie. “It is a genuine point of pride to join an organization like PJP that works tirelessly to empower individuals who so often go unseen and unheard.”
ABOUT PRISON JOURNALISM PROJECT
Prison Journalism Project is a national, independent, nonpartisan initiative that trains incarcerated writers in the tools of journalism and helps them reach an outside audience via their own publication as well as through partnerships with mainstream media organizations.
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