About me
Bonnie Newman Davis is an award-winning journalist with a demonstrated history of leadership success in the American news industry. She is the author of Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960 (published in 2022).In September 2024, Davis became Editor-at-Large at Charlottesville Tomorrow, a community-driven, socially conscious news organization that serves its neighbors by connecting them to each other and to the issues that affect them most.From May 2022 to May 2024, Davis served as managing editor of the Richmond Free Press, a Black-owned weekly newspaper with a staff of approximately 10 full-time staff members and several freelance writers and copy editors. In that role, she oversaw the production of the newspaper, managed the day-to-day operations of the newsroom, assigned stories to reporters, edited content, wrote articles, took photographs and ensured that deadlines were met. She also developed editorial strategies and managed the overall editorial direction of the paper. During her Richmond Free Press tenure, Davis communicated and met regularly with civic, elected and political officials in Richmond and surrounding communities. Her strong work ethic and tenacity garnered the Free Press wide recognition, including more than two dozen Virginia Press Association awards.A graduate of North Carolina A&T State University (B.A., English) and the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (M.A., Journalism), Davis has extensive experience in print and digital journalism as a reporter, copy editor and editor spanning several decades. Prior to joining the Richmond Free Press, she spent nearly 20 years with the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Richmond News Leader in various reporting and editing positions. She also has worked for newspapers in Louisville, Kentucky; Greensboro and Wilmington, North Carolina; and Ann Arbor, Michigan, as well as for MSNBC’s theGrio.com and BlackAmericaWeb.com.Bonnie has served in leadership positions for several journalism organizations, including the National Association of Black Journalists and the Society of Professional Journalists. She has taught courses in journalism, media ethics and strategic communications at several colleges and universities including Virginia Commonwealth, Hampton, North Carolina A&T State University, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Washington & Lee.
