Wei brings a decade of changemaking leadership in journalism to The Markup’s mission-driven newsroom
NEW YORK, August 2, 2022 — The Markup, a nonprofit media organization investigating how powerful institutions are using technology to change our society, has named Sisi Wei as its new editor-in-chief.
With more than a decade working to create equitable change in journalism, Wei will assume editorial leadership and operational oversight for all functions of The Markup’s newsroom. As a seasoned leader, investigative journalist and editor, Wei brings bold expertise in investigative, data and visual journalism, and a deep, technical background to the role of editor-in-chief. Wei’s diverse experience across technology and journalism will help bolster The Markup’s ambitious reporting, development of new tools, and continue to expand collaborative efforts with other news organizations and the public.
“The Markup’s mission to investigate and hold to account how technology is shaping our society is absolutely crucial, especially at this moment in history. I cannot wait to continue The Markup’s powerful focus on genuine impact, and ensure that as a newsroom, we’re working deeply with communities to hold powerful institutions and algorithms accountable, and equipping the public with the information and tools we all need to make change,” said Wei.
Wei joins The Markup from her role as co-executive director of OpenNews, a community of developers, designers, journalists, and editors solving problems to create a stronger, more representative, and ascendant journalism field. As part of her work, Sisi founded the DEI Coalition For Anti-Racist, Equitable, And Just Newsrooms in 2020, and led more than 100 members of the journalism community in co-creating and launching the DEI Coalition Slack space in March 2021.
Previously, she was the assistant managing editor at ProPublica, during which she edited and managed news apps, graphics, visual investigations, and large, interdisciplinary projects — including co-editing a project that went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2020. In 2021, Wei won the Gwen Ifill Award, which honors a remarkable woman journalist of color whose work embodies Ifill’s legacy of supporting and elevating women of color in news media.
“Sisi will solidify The Markup’s position as a leader in the world of investigative journalism and as a changemaker in the tech and journalism fields,” said David Boardman, board chair for The Markup and dean of the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple University. “Under her leadership, we know The Markup will continue its growth and build upon its established mission of pursuing meaningful, data-driven investigations.”
The appointment of Wei follows a search led by CEO Nabiha Syed and The Markup’s Board of Directors. Wei succeeds Julia Angwin, who remains with The Markup as founder and editor-at-large. Stephen J. Adler, formerly the top editor at Reuters, has been serving as interim editor-in-chief at The Markup in recent months.
“In true Markup fashion, Sisi excels at the intersection of technology and journalism – and works to hold both industries accountable to the people they must serve,” said Syed. “Technology is reshaping our world in unexpected areas from reproductive health to education. Sisi’s vision to bring that critical information to communities who can use it for change is exactly what we need right now.”
The Markup was recently named to the 2022 list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. Its reporters have produced data-driven investigations on privacy and data abuses by technology companies, stories that have led to congressional action. Its engineers have produced consumer tools that reveal website privacy violations and measure how disinformation travels across social-media platforms.
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About The Markup
The Markup is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates how powerful institutions are using technology to change our society. The Markup is a new kind of media organization, staffed with an unparalleled roster of quantitative journalists who pursue meaningful, data-driven investigations.