Journalism Director
Microsoft
Emily Brown is Microsoft’s Journalism Director, focused on advancing a world where local journalism is trusted, sustainable and resilient in the age of AI. She leads partnerships that help newsrooms responsibly apply technology, build AI skills and strengthen trust with their communities.
Her work includes placing engineers in newsrooms, supporting AI tools that can transform editorial workflows and creating cohorts that help journalists prototype AI projects while shaping editorial policy.
Before joining Microsoft, Emily was USA TODAY’s Managing Editor for Audience and Digital Platforms, where she led teams focused on social strategy, audience growth and data‑driven engagement. She began her career as a features reporter in northern Virginia and remains passionate about helping newsrooms reach audiences and sustain high‑impact journalism.
In 2018, Emily was selected for the Poynter Leadership Academy for Women in Digital Media, a competitive program designed to develop rising leaders in journalism. She graduated from the University of Lynchburg with a degree in communications and a concentration in journalism, followed by a master's degree from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in Magazine, Newspaper and Online Journalism. Emily lives in Washington, D.C.
Steal This: AI Projects Newsrooms Actually Shipped and How They Got It Over the Line
Monday, March 30, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT