Maribel Perez Wadsworth: Guides Knight Foundation to aid communities, journalism

When Maribel Perez Wadsworth became the first female president and CEO of the Knight Foundation in January 2024, she brought decades of newsroom experience and a deep commitment to community engagement to the role. Leading the foundation, which invests in journalism, arts and culture, and the cities where the Knight brothers once published newspapers, she continues a legacy of informing and empowering communities.

Born and raised in Miami to Cuban immigrant parents, she developed an early appreciation for the power of local stories and civic involvement. She attended Coral Gables Senior High and went on to study journalism at the University of Miami, where she wrote for the student newspaper. Her passion for journalism led her to the Associated Press, where she began as an editorial assistant in 1994, and to Gannett Media, where she spent more than two decades shaping the digital future of American news.

During her tenure at Gannett, Ms. Perez Wadsworth held roles ranging from reporter and editor to the company’s first chief strategy and transformation officer, ultimately serving as president of the USA Today Network and publisher of USA Today. Under her leadership, Gannett newsrooms across more than 200 communities were recognized with five Pulitzer Prizes.

Under her leadership at Knight, the foundation has supported initiatives ranging from local news ecosystems in South Florida to the Freedom Tower restoration, reflecting a belief that thriving communities are built on informed citizens, engaged residents and equitable access to culture and opportunity.
Ms. Perez Wadsworth spoke with Miami Today reporter Genevieve Bowen.

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