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Category: Speakers

Arthur Jones

ARTHUR JONES

Producer, ABCNews

A native Washingtonian, hailing from Southwest D.C., Arthur Jones II attended college at Indiance University.

The Media School at IU, was the perfect proving grounds for Arthur as he became passionate about all forms of journalism, and decided to pursue the field as a career. He interned for the Athletics Compliance Office, was an analyst for the Big Ten Network’s BTN Student U program, co-hosted a weekly, online sports talk show, and produced many reports about the Bloomington community for radio, TV and the web. In December, 2016, he graduated from IU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and an outside concentration in Spanish.

Arthur is currently based in DC as a producer/reporter at ABC News. He was one of seven IU alums honored with a 2023 Exemplar Award by the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club. Prior to ABC, he was a producer, reporter and podcaster at CBS News. In 2022, he won a News Emmy for his contributions to CBS Mornings, the network’s daily morning show, which won Outstanding Live News Program. Additionally, Arthur’s stories have been featured on CBSNews.com, ESPN’s Andscape (formerly The Undefeated), AFRO and more.

ARTHUR JONES

Producer, ABCNews

A native Washingtonian, hailing from Southwest D.C., Arthur Jones II attended college at Indiance University.

The Media School at IU, was the perfect proving grounds for Arthur as he became passionate about all forms of journalism, and decided to pursue the field as a career. He interned for the Athletics Compliance Office, was an analyst for the Big Ten Network’s BTN Student U program, co-hosted a weekly, online sports talk show, and produced many reports about the Bloomington community for radio, TV and the web. In December, 2016, he graduated from IU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and an outside concentration in Spanish.

Arthur is currently based in DC as a producer/reporter at ABC News. He was one of seven IU alums honored with a 2023 Exemplar Award by the Neal-Marshall Alumni Club. Prior to ABC, he was a producer, reporter and podcaster at CBS News. In 2022, he won a News Emmy for his contributions to CBS Mornings, the network’s daily morning show, which won Outstanding Live News Program. Additionally, Arthur’s stories have been featured on CBSNews.com, ESPN’s Andscape (formerly The Undefeated), AFRO and more.

Joanna Zelman

Joanna Zelman

Executive Producer, The Dodo​

Joanna Zelman has been Executive Producer at The Dodo, the world’s #1 animal brand, for 10 years. She previously worked at The Huffington Post as a front page editor and running the Green page. She’s been an Executive Producer for My Pack Life” on Discovery+, Consulting Producer for “Rescued by Roman” on Disney+, and producer for “Dodo Heroes” on Animal Planet. Favorite projects include working with First Lady Jill Biden and First Cat Willow Biden, and rescuing a skunk (without getting sprayed!)

Christian Devine

CHRISTIAN DEVINE

Director, Defense Press & Media Operations, Office of the Secretary of Defense

Colonel Devine currently serves as the Director for Defense Press Operations for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs), serving as a senior military communication strategist and spokesperson for the Department of Defense.  He directs the daily coordination and release of all external communication for Department of Defense and support to national security press assigned to the Pentagon. 

 A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Colonel Devine joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1989 and later graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1996, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in International Politics.

Since 1997, Chris has served the Marine Corps as a Public Affairs Officer—spanning a wide gambit of national security and defense-related professional public relations, crisis communication, and strategic engagement assignments in the U.S. and overseas.  Over the course of over three decades of military service, he has held a variety of key organizational leadership roles directing and coaching diverse groups of professional communicators, military strategists, marketing/advertising creatives, journalists, and visual storytellers—all driving towards connecting national and international publics to the men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense.

Colonel Devine holds Master’s Degrees in Public Administration & Organizational Management from the Pennsylvania State University, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Marine Corps War College in National Security Strategy. Additionally, Chris completed an Executive Certification in Strategic Marketing Management from Harvard Business School (Boston, MA

Gillian Brassil

GILLIAN BRASSIL

Reporter, Bloomberg Law​

Gillian Brassil covers securities litigation for Bloomberg Law. Prior to joining Bloomberg, she reported on federal politics for McClatchy’s California papers in DC. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University. 

GILLIAN BRASSIL

Reporter, Bloomberg

Gillian Brassil covers securities litigation for Bloomberg Law. Prior to joining Bloomberg, she reported on federal politics for McClatchy’s California papers in DC. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University.

Sami Gibbs

SAMI GIBBS

Newsroom Administrator, The Hill

Sami works in operations and PR as The Hill’s Newsroom Administrator, where she plays a role in bolstering their non-partisan journalism and the people who make it happen. In working both behind-the-scenes and as a brand ambassador for the outlet, her responsibilities encompass strategic communications, streamlining newsroom workflows, and managing external outreach, including coordinating media bookings on local and national scales. She also contributes to fulfilling circulation requests for the weekly print editions, primarily centered in Washington, D.C., and collaborates with The Hill’s events team to facilitate discussions on diverse policy topics with influential figures in the political arena.

 

Sami is from California and received her BA from George Mason University, where she served as the student-led paper’s Co-Editor-In-Chief before graduating. She credits her passion for all-things news and emerging media trends to WJMC, where she attended as a correspondent in 2017, an intern in 2018 and a JFA in 2019. 

Eli Wohlenhaus

ELI WOHLENHAUS

Executive Editor of Digital Content, APG Media of Chesapeake

Eli Wohlenhaus has been with APG Media of Chesapeake since 2018, serving in several different roles managing award-winning magazines, eight websites and more than two dozen social media channels. Eli has also been working for the Washington Capitals since 2016, and also worked several years for the Washington Wizards, Commanders and Nationals. He graduated from Missouri State University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.

ELI WOHLENHAUS

Executive Editor of Digital Content, APG Media of Chesapeake​

Eli Wohlenhaus has been with APG Media of Chesapeake since 2018, serving in several different roles managing award-winning magazines, eight websites and more than two dozen social media channels. Eli has also been working for the Washington Capitals since 2016, and also worked several years for the Washington Wizards, Commanders and Nationals. He graduated from Missouri State University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.

Jada McClure

JADA MCCLURE

Donor Communications Manager, Institute for Justice

Jada McClure is a passionate marketing professional specializing in government communications and omni-channel marketing. Previously, she was a communications specialist at ICF Next, where she produced award-winning documentary-style content for FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and managed digital paid media campaigns across the United States. Throughout her career, she has worked with organizations such as ICF Next, Yes& Agency, and Sage Communications. Each role has honed her ability to navigate complex projects, develop innovative strategies, and deliver impactful results. Originally from North Carolina, Jada is a proud alum of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC). Her journey began at WJMC in 2014 and continued at George Mason University, where she graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, specializing in Public Relations. She is excited to come back to where it all began as a speaker at this year’s conference.

JADA MCCLURE

Donor Communications Manager, Institute for Justice​

Jada McClure is a passionate marketing professional specializing in government communications and omni-channel marketing. Previously, she was a communications specialist at ICF Next, where she produced award-winning documentary-style content for FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and managed digital paid media campaigns across the United States. Throughout her career, she has worked with organizations such as ICF Next, Yes& Agency, and Sage Communications. Each role has honed her ability to navigate complex projects, develop innovative strategies, and deliver impactful results. Originally from North Carolina, Jada is a proud alum of the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC). Her journey began at WJMC in 2014 and continued at George Mason University, where she graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, specializing in Public Relations. She is excited to come back to where it all began as a speaker at this year’s conference.

Bria Lloyd

BRIA LLOYD

Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Public Radio

Bria Lloyd is a journalist with experience in local, national and international news. She has worked in radio and television producing a wide array of projects including investigations, documentaries and narrative podcasts. Her work has taken her to Norway where she produced a documentary about prison reform. That story received an Edward R. Murrow Award and was nominated for a regional Emmy. She is also the co-host and producer of the podcast “In Absentia,” which explores the history of government scandals in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She is currently managing a documentary project that explores Black history in Virginia. She is getting her master’s degree in media management from The New School in the hopes of one day becoming a media executive.

BRIA LLOYD

Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Public Radio

Bria Lloyd is a journalist with experience in local, national and international news. She has worked in radio and television producing a wide array of projects including investigations, documentaries and narrative podcasts. Her work has taken her to Norway where she produced a documentary about prison reform. That story received an Edward R. Murrow Award and was nominated for a regional Emmy. She is also the co-host and producer of the podcast “In Absentia,” which explores the history of government scandals in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She is currently managing a documentary project that explores Black history in Virginia. She is getting her master’s degree in media management from The New School in the hopes of one day becoming a media executive.

Jenna Cohen

JENNA COHEN

Visual Journalist and Associate Product Manager, PBS NewsHour

Jenna Cohen is a visual journalist with a passion for producing top tier graphics, web designs, data visualizations and news products. Currently an Associate Product Manager at PBS NewsHour, she works alongside the digital team on various product development and design projects. She started at the NewsHour as the first undergraduate selected to be a Roy W. Howard fellow. 

She has a B.A. in Journalism from University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, where she was on the digital design team for the award–winning Printing Hate and Nowhere To Go investigations. She attended WJMC in 2017 and returned as an intern in 2018 and is thrilled to be back and meet this year’s National Youth Correspondents.

Annie Mae Weiss

ANNIE MAE WEISS

Arena Host, Washington Capitals and Reporter/Anchor, FOX 5

Annie Mae is in her third season in the NHL and second season in Washington, D.C. with the Capitals as the In-Arena Host. While hosting for the Capitals, she was also a Social Contributor for Bleacher Report: Open Ice in her opening season. Additionally, Annie Mae works for the Fox 5 morning team reporting morning news and traffic, and anchors Good Day DC. Prior to coming back to the DMV area where she grew up, she was a Broadcast Associate for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2021-22 season. She then went on to be a Social Correspondent on the NHL’s YouTube show “Third P3riod Live” covering Eastern and Western Conference Finals. Annie Mae has a B.A. in broadcast journalism from Penn State. 

ANNIE MAE WEISS

Arena Host, Washington Capitals and Reporter/Anchor, FOX 5

Annie Mae is in her third season in the NHL and second season in Washington, D.C. with the Capitals as the In-Arena Host. While hosting for the Capitals, she was also a Social Contributor for Bleacher Report: Open Ice in her opening season. Additionally, Annie Mae works for the Fox 5 morning team reporting morning news and traffic, and anchors Good Day DC. Prior to coming back to the DMV area where she grew up, she was a Broadcast Associate for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2021-22 season. She then went on to be a Social Correspondent on the NHL’s YouTube show “Third P3riod Live” covering Eastern and Western Conference Finals. Annie Mae has a B.A. in broadcast journalism from Penn State.