Byline: How Local Journalists Can Improve the Global News Industry and Change the World is a groundbreaking book published in 2023.
The book challenges the conventions of foreign correspondence and reimagines journalism from the ground up putting local women journalists at the center of international storytelling.
Written by award-winning media entrepreneur Cristi Hegranes, the book has been used in university classrooms and at library book talks across the U.S. On release, the book became a niche best seller in several Amazon categories including Media and Communications Industry and Newspapers and Magazine Writing Reference categories.
With its bold ideas and real-world case studies, Byline has become essential reading for journalists, students, and changemakers who believe in the power of local voices to transform global narratives.
What People Are Saying about Byline
“Byline is many things, prescient, erudite and timely but it is especially an affirmation of the value of journalism when it is done well.”
— Khadija Patel, Journalist in Residence, International Fund for Public Interest Media
“Byline is an essential book for anyone who cares about international journalism. Drawing on 17 years' experience building and running one of the most transformative models for journalism to be found anywhere in the world, Hegranes is uniquely
positioned to explain what’s wrong with the current system and, most importantly, how it can genuinely be improved.”
— David Bornstein, Co-founder, Solutions Journalism Network
“Cristi Hegranes's Byline upends the idea of foreign reporting as historically practiced, and thoughtfully offers better, accurate ways forward. Her oft-amusing examples of "parachute journalism" are eye-opening, expose dangers and limitations of mainstream media, and inspire all of us to do better. Where this book most shines is in proffering solutions, such as how communities can tell their own stories or how audience feedback can be revolutionary. There's nothing parochial about Hegranes's vision for local news; indeed, it's an essential guide to committing and consuming journalism in the new world order.”
— S. Mitra Kalita, CEO, URL Media
“Byline is an urgent plea for international reporting that does justice to the incredibly diverse planet we all inhabit. It is at once passionate and thoughtful, powerful and reasoned. Along the way it frankly names names about what has gone wrong in too much of global journalism, and is hopeful and detailed about how it can be done better.”
— Richard Tofel, Past President of ProPublica
"In Byline, Cristi Hegranes offers a necessary and critical look at the broken system of international reporting and a compelling vision for what we can do to make it representative and equitable."
— Tanzina Vega, journalism professor and former host of The Takeaway
About Cristi
Cristi Hegranes (pronounced HEG-ruh-ness) is the CEO of Global Press, a nonprofit news organization she founded in 2006 to train and employ local women journalists in some of the world’s most challenging places. At a time when many people have lost trust in the media, she is working to rebuild it by connecting readers with diverse local journalists who have the proximity and access to tell their communities’ stories in dignified and precise ways.
Cristi has been recognized many times for her innovative approach to combating inequities in journalism. She has received the Society of Professional Journalists’ Journalism Innovation Prize, the Ida B. Wells Award for Bravery in Journalism, the Women Who Dare Award, the Jefferson Award for Public Service, and the Grinnell Prize for Social Justice Innovation, among others. The innovative Duty of Care program she created to protect local journalists received the Chester M. Pierce Human Rights prize from the American Psychiatric Association in 2020 and was named a Fast Company World Changing Idea in 2022.
Cristi has taught journalism courses nationwide, most recently at Georgetown University. She is an Ashoka Fellow, an Emerson Collective Dial Fellow and was a Social Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Stanford University. Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Cristi now lives in Washington D.C. with her toddler son Henry and their mischievous English Bulldog, Louise.
Order Now
Press for Byline.
Watch Byline author Cristi Hegranes on King5 Seattle New Day talking about the future of local news.
Read an interview with Byline author Cristi Hegranes about how local journalists are the key to rebuilding trust in the news industry.
Read an excerpt from Byline by Cristi Hegranes about the future of safety and security in journalism.
In this review, EKR reviews Byline after attending a bookstore event in NYC.
Listen/watch Byline author Cristi Hegranes on E&P reports, the vodcast of Editor & Publisher magazine.
What does a truly global press look like? Cristi Hegranes talks to Moira Gunn about the future of global news.
About Global Press
Global Press creates a more informed and inclusive world by training and employing local women reporters in some of the world’s least-covered places to produce ethical, accurate news for local and global audiences.
Global Press transforms global narratives by shifting power away from foreign media outlets and providing high-quality employment to local reporters, so they can create exceptional news coverage in, of and for their own communities.
Get in touch
All press and event inquiries should be sent to Annmarie Pisano at Grey Horse. For other inquires, please fill out the form and someone will be in touch with you shortly.