In December 2023, INMA and Google News Initiative (GNI) awarded their fourth annual Elevate Scholarship to 50 news media professionals from 31 countries. This series features these impressive media professionals who are shaping our industry.

As journalism trends have changed, Evan Berbette has remained ahead of the curve, learning new skills and focusing on what the future of the industry holds. His excellence stood out early on, earning him the Atlanta Press Club’s Rising Star Award and a host of local news awards shortly after his graduation in 2016.

Eager to add to his knowledge base, Evan returned to school and earned his master’s degree in journalism, concentrating on emerging media. His emphasis on research, data, and design tools equipped him with strategies to improve editorial products, and he also has worked on academic research to identify product and design solutions that will increase reader trust in news organisations and their reporting using eye-tracking devices and software.

“My goal is to continue learning more skills around data visualisation and identifying insights to grow the ways I can assist my team and organisation in increasing engagement and trust in our news,” Evan said.

Since becoming part CNN Digital’s off-platform and news audiences team, he has turned his attention to the strategy of the company’s newsletters, including working with partners in ad sales, reader acquisition, and the product team to help improve the profitability of newsletters.

As an Elevate Scholar he said he would like to grow his understanding of how those aspects of the business work to learn what metrics and feedback will be most useful in helping the company grow acquisition and monetisation opportunities.

And the team he works with is eager to support his ambitions, according to Anika Palm, director, off-platform and new audiences programming for CNN Digital: “Evan is one of the most valuable members of CNN Digital’s off-platform and news audiences team,” Palm said, explaining that he spends much of his time parsing data about the team’s newsletters and their subscribers.

“His work informs editorial, revenue and technical decision-making about this important part of our business. This programme will bolster the strong and growing analytical work he regularly provides for our team.”

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