My final note as CEO: Gratitude, reflections, and Sahan’s future

Last week, I attended a journalism conference in Chicago for newsroom leaders wrestling with the potential of artificial intelligence. This Joyce Foundation gathering was my last conference representing Sahan Journal as its CEO and publisher. Not to bury the lede, but today, September 3, I’ll be stepping aside and welcoming a new executive director for our amazing nonprofit news organization.

But first I want to tell you about that AI conference and a moment that brought my journalism career full circle. Over the 10 years I’ve spent in journalism, I’ve grown from a young immigrant captivated by the power of the printed word to a nonprofit leader exploring how AI may support — or derail — the growth of local news.

The conference agenda previewed the power of AI tools to support reporting functions like data analysis, transcription, social media production, and more. And it laid out the real challenges and threats: fake news, plagiarism, credibility erosion, job loss — the list goes on.

As I took in this dazzling and confusing landscape, I found myself thinking back to my early days as a student journalist at the University of Minnesota, and the hours I spent sitting around at my overnight job, poring over the ink-stained pages of local newspapers. That passion led me to become a reporter. And before too long, it began to show me all the stories that weren’t getting written — news about immigrant communities like mine. That was the seed that inspired me five years ago to found Sahan Journal.

Over just the past decade, I’ve watched the world of journalism undergo a profound transformation. Thousands of local newsrooms have contracted or shuttered altogether — leaving small towns and sizable cities without reliable news and information. But in just the past five years, a new crop of nonprofits has started emerging, with new ideas and a greater commitment to include underserved communities. I’m so proud and grateful to have led Sahan Journal as it’s become a pioneering model for this more inclusive local newsroom.

That new model demands new approaches to reporting and revenue. At Sahan, we recognized the potential of AI early on and embraced it, becoming one of the first nonprofit news organizations to hire a dedicated AI specialist. We’ve used AI tools to analyze huge data sets, such as 240,000 state death records that exposed racial gaps in fentanyl deaths; we’ve used it to offer audio voiceovers of our feature reporting (a medium that matches the news preferences of our local communities); and we’ll soon be experimenting with using AI to present our advertisers with a clearer picture of Sahan’s young, dynamic readership.

I think projects like this will spark the talents of Sahan’s new leader, Vanan Murugesan, and I am filled with immense excitement for the future of both Sahan and our industry.

Vanan is a visionary nonprofit leader with a background in mechanical engineering and an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. He served as the head of transformation at Pillsbury United Communities, a multifaceted nonprofit with a $16 million budget and 120 employees.

Vanan is a proven organizational builder who excels at fostering community-centric initiatives, driving innovation, and navigating complex challenges.

His leadership at Pillsbury includes launching innovative programs for underserved communities, such as the creation of a community grocery store, steering a workforce development program for diverse youth, and developing business plans for community media organizations. He also served an interim chief financial officer for Pillsbury during one of the most challenging times in recent memory: the pandemic and the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve gotten the chance to spend time with Vanan and hear about how Sahan’s mission of inclusivity and innovation matches his own talents and aspirations. We even discovered a shared obsession with Liverpool Football Club, which sparked some playful brainstorming about the (admittedly far-fetched) idea of pursuing a groundbreaking partnership between Sahan Journal and the legendary football club.

I’ve come away with a sense of Vanan’s passion for, and belief in, the important work we do at Sahan. Under his guidance, Sahan is poised to embrace new opportunities and navigate the ever-changing media landscape with creativity and agility.

Vanan couldn’t be more excited to introduce himself and share his story. But before that, I want to take a moment to share a few words about what Sahan Journal has meant to me.

The last five years have been the most rewarding of my career. That experience — and success — has evolved in partnership with so many of you. You believed in me, an immigrant with a simple but powerful idea: to change how Minnesota newsrooms cover immigrants and communities of color.

With your support, we have quickly placed Sahan on a path to becoming a trusted and critical civic institution that can serve the next generation of Minnesotans: immigrants and communities of color who will become future leaders in education, health care, business, government, and more.

We have set the agenda for other local newsrooms and produced groundbreaking journalism: stories and investigations that have changed policies, helped clean up the air in south Minneapolis, brought needed oversight to charter schools serving immigrant families, and uncovered how grifters in the housing market have exploited immigrant homebuyers.

I am proud of the team that enthusiastically signed on to do this fulfilling and meaningful work. Their dedication, talent, and passion are unmatched. I have no doubt they will continue to produce impactful journalism under Vanan’s leadership.

My heart overflows with gratitude for each and every one of you who has supported me along the way. Your contributions, big and small, have made Sahan’s success possible. Whether you’ve been a loyal reader, a generous donor, an advertiser, a funder, or a passionate advocate, your belief in our mission has fueled our growth and inspired us to push boundaries.

As I embark on a new chapter in my career, I remain a supporter of Sahan Journal’s mission. For the next six months, I will serve as an advisor to Vanan and Sahan Journal, offering strategic guidance to help the organization achieve its ambitious goals in the dynamic ecosystem of nonprofit news.

I am confident that Vanan, with his impressive experience and deep understanding of our community, will lead Sahan to even greater success.

I may be stepping aside, but it’s probably clear that I can’t quit the news. During this crazy election season, I’ll be picking up my phone every couple of hours to check out Sahanjournal.com and learn more about what’s at stake for all our communities. I hope you’ll be reading it with me.

With gratitude,

Mukhtar

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