Penelope (Penny) Muse Abernathy is a journalist, former media executive and author of two books and six major reports tracking the state of local news in the U.S. After senior business leadership roles at The New York Times, Harvard Business Review and Wall Street Journal, she served as Knight Chair in Journalism and Digital Media Economics at the University of North Carolina from 2008 to 2020, and, most recently, as a visiting professor and researcher at Northwestern University’s Medill School.

Matt Davison, a seasoned media executive with nearly three decades of industry experience, has navigated the evolving landscape of journalism since beginning his career at The Bulletin in Bend, Oregon in 1995. His strategic leadership roles across the Pacific Northwest, including positions at the Medford Mail Tribune and Ellensburg Daily Record, culminated in his transformative decade as Regional Publisher & President of the Idaho Press, where he grew it into the state's largest newspaper.

Currently serving as Publisher of NewsData LLC, Davison leads the company's strategic direction in delivering specialized journalism to the energy sector. His passion for preserving journalism's vital role in democracy drives his approach to developing innovative solutions that ensure sustainable, comprehensive, and accurate coverage of today's critical issues.

A Communications graduate from Western Oregon University, Matt resides in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, Julia, and three daughters. 

Susan Ferris has a 38-year career in consulting, working with clients such as Georgia-Pacific, Weyerhaeuser, McDonald’s Corporation, Longview Fiber, Arco Chemical, PIPE, Inc., Volunteers of America, Sen. Mark Hatfield, and Cow Creek Indians. 

Ferris was raised as an Air Force pilot’s daughter, living in numerous locations. She received a B.A. in English literature from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Minnesota State University. Ferris did postgraduate work at the University of Wisconsin and taught in Minneapolis high schools for several years until she left teaching.

Heidi Wright presently holds the esteemed positions of Publisher at Central Oregon Media Group and Chief Operating Officer at EO Media Group. In her role as COO, Heidi oversees many roles within this family-held company, which encompasses a variety of digital and print products, alongside commercial print facilities situated in two Oregon cities: Pendleton and Astoria.