CALmatters is pleased to announce that Janet Clayton, senior vice president of corporate communications for Southern California Edison and its parent company Edison International, has joined the nonprofit news organization’s Board of Directors.
“I have known Janet for many years at the LA Times, where she was a highly respected editorial page editor and Assistant Managing Editor for California coverage,” said Dave Lesher, CALmatters co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief. “Janet shares our commitment to the important mission at CALmatters. She will bring extensive, high-level experience in journalism, the nonprofit world, and business, and a substantial network of contacts to CALmatters.”
Clayton leads internal and external communications, corporate and brand positioning, and community relations and philanthropic programs. Before joining Edison, Clayton was president of ThinkCure, a community-based nonprofit that raises funds for cancer research and is the official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior to ThinkCure, Clayton had a distinguished career at the Los Angeles Times as a key member of the newspaper’s leadership team. She held numerous positions, including editor of the editorial pages, where she determined the Times’ official opinions, and California section editor, where she managed the largest news staff at the newspaper. Clayton has received many accolades for excellence in her profession, including recognition as the editor of two Pulitzer Prize-winning series. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California.
“I’m delighted to join the CALmatters board in its important societal mission,” Clayton said.
The CALmatters board is now eight people, including Clayton, Simone Coxe, Board Chair & Co-Founder; Director, KQED & Internews; Chris Boskin, Co-Founder; Director, NPR, Internews & Gladstone Institute; Gregory Favre, Former Vice President of News, McClatchy; Executive Editor, The Sacramento Bee; Jeff Klein, Executive Chairman, 1105 Media; Tony Ridder, former Chairman, Knight Ridder; Leo Wolinsky, former Executive Editor, Los Angeles Times; and Richard Koci Hernandez, Multimedia journalist and Associate Professor at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
“We know Janet will be an excellent addition to our board as we work together to chart CALmatters future growth,” said Coxe. “In particular, her experience in the foundation and corporate worlds will add value to our earned revenue strategies.”
CALmatters also has an Advisory Board, including Ann Grimes, Lorry I. Lokey Professor of the Practice in the Stanford Journalism Program, Stanford University; Douglas McGray, Editor in Chief, The California Sunday Magazine; Mekahlo Medina, President of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and anchor/reporter for KNBC News; John Thornton, Founder, Texas Tribune; Richard Tofel, President, ProPublica, and Carlos Watson, Co-Founder and CEO of OZY Media, Inc.; and Ernest Wilson, formerly Dean, The Annenberg School of Communications, and now professor of communication and political science, and founder and director of the USC Center for Third Space.
*********
Launched in 2015, CALmatters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. Environmental regulation, education, health care, criminal justice, economic inequality – the debates on these issues and others have a profound impact on the lives of 38 million Californians and beyond. Our team of 20 experienced journalists, with the time and resources to dig deep, is committed to meaningfully informing Californians about the players, politics, and interests that shape the issues that affect their lives. To ensure we reach many Californians, we work with more than 130 media organizations throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences. CALmatters is based in Sacramento, CA.
Media outlets interested in becoming CALmatters media partners should contact Editor-in-Chief Dave Lesher at dave@calmatters.org