Release from CivicStory
CivicStory Welcomes New Senior Editor and Co-Director
South Orange, NJ —CivicStory is pleased to announce the appointment of Ayushee Roy as its new Senior Editor and Co-Director, effective July 2025. Roy is a multimedia storyteller with experience in journalism, poetry, and narrative nonfiction. She will be shaping CivicStory’s editorial direction, mentoring emerging writers and volunteers, and providing input on hiring a development co-leader this fall.
A recent graduate of Columbia Journalism School, Ayushee’s work is rooted in rigorous inquiry and elevated by a sensitivity to culture, identity and civic responsibility. Her multinational upbringing and global perspective inform her commitment to highlighting nuanced narratives within richly complex communities across New Jersey.
“Ayushee brings a fresh and timely voice to CivicStory,” said Marian Glenn, Trustee and Secretary of CivicStory. “Her justice-oriented approach to journalism deeply resonates with our mission to empower citizens and nurture a more informed readership.”
With a background in Marketing Analytics and in Communications, Ayushee blends editorial insight with audience-focused strategy, an exciting combination for CivicStory as it looks to expand its multimedia initiatives and statewide civic engagement efforts.
“In the current era of steeply polarized media, it is refreshing to see CivicStory emphasize community action and narratives that inspire hope rather than fear,” said Roy. “There are so many high-quality ecological efforts unfolding across this region that go wholly unnoticed, and I am keen to bring them to the forefront.”
Her leadership marks a new phase for the organization as it focuses on building its professional team, and strengthening its digital presence. Since 2019, CivicStory has worked to accelerate New Jersey’s shift toward environmental sustainability through incentivizing news coverage of ecology and civics.
Search committee member John DeGood, a computer science lecturer at The College of New Jersey, added: “We were deeply impressed by Ayushee’s genuine spirit of collaboration and her creative vision. Her ability to engage meaningfully with people of all ages stood out to us, and we are excited to see how her leadership will guide CivicStory’s next chapter.”
CivicStory is a nonprofit news organization advancing solutions-based coverage of civics, ecology, and sustainability to build inclusive communities. Its NJ Sustainability Reporting Hub, launched in 2019, has supported 45 fellows to date, partnering with newsrooms to co-publish over 230 stories highlighting New Jersey’s path toward environmental sustainability.