Policy Matters names Caitlin Johnson communications chief
Posted November 28, 2016 in Press Releases
Johnson previously worked as an organizer, funder and journalist
Caitlin Johnson, a former community organizer and journalist, is the new director of communications at Policy Matters Ohio.
Johnson most recently led environmental justice campaigns in Cleveland and the Ohio Valley for the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC). At OOC, Johnson formed Communities United for Responsible Energy and Clevelanders for Public Transit. She led campaigns to shut down an illegal fracking waste recycling facility, to restore city tipping fees on the world’s largest hazardous waste incinerator and to save bus routes for some of Cleveland’s most vulnerable residents.
Before entering the social justice arena, Johnson worked as a journalist for ABCNews.com, CBSNews.com, WCPN/ideastream and NOW on PBS. At NOW, she belonged to a team that produced “Taxing the Poor,” which won the 2008 Emmy Award for outstanding analysis of a business news story. She served as the 2011-2013 fellow at the George Gund Foundation, focusing primarily on sustainability. Johnson has an undergraduate degree in government and English from Cornell University, a master’s of science in journalism from Columbia University and a master’s of public administration from Cleveland State University.
“Caitlin Johnson has had a lifelong commitment to making policy work for everyone in our economy,” said Policy Matters director Amy Hanauer. “She’s driven, passionate, a beautiful writer and a great editor. I simply could not imagine a better fit for this position.”
Johnson said she first learned about Policy Matters in 2008, after she moved to Cleveland while working in journalism. “I often used Policy Matters' reports for stories and shows I produced,” she said. “I thought 'wow, what an amazing organization. Maybe someday I could work for them.' Landing here as director of communications is literally a dream come true.”
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Policy Matters Ohio is a nonprofit, nonpartisan state policy research institute with offices in Cleveland and Columbus.