Center for Investigative Reporting Announces Additions

BERKELEY, CA - The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) today announced that Mark Katches has been promoted to editorial director, and Chase Davis is assuming a new role as director of technology. In addition, Hearst executive Phil Bronstein has been elected chairman of the board at CIR.

Founded in 1977, CIR is the nation's oldest, nonprofit investigative news organization. CIR distributes its stories directly and through respected partners in television, print, radio and web outlets.

"Mark and Chase bring unique skills to their new roles. Their leadership will accelerate our evolution and innovation in all facets or our work," said Robert J. Rosenthal, executive director of CIR. "Mark's journalistic and management leadership as editorial director of our California Watch project has been successful beyond our expectations. Chase has a sophistication, curiosity and entrepreneurial mind-set that will be crucial as we meld technology into all we do around audience growth, revenue opportunities and engagement."

As editorial director of CIR, Katches will oversee the combined California Watch and CIR reporting staffs, direct and help guide daily news coverage and work closely with the digital and web operations teams to help produce content that can be effectively distributed to news partners in California and around the globe on multiple platforms.

As director of technology, Davis will be responsible for technology strategy and digital entrepreneurship at CIR, including journalistic software development, database applications and technology-driven distribution and revenue strategies. He also will work with Rosenthal and the development team to build relationships with partners that better connect CIR to the Bay Area technology community.

As chairman of the board of directors of CIR, Bronstein will focus on sustainability, board development and outreach. He will provide strategic advice and counsel to the CIR team. He succeeds Jon Logan, who led the board during the last three years of growth and expansion. Logan remains on the board as a vice president.

"Phil and I got to know each other well when I came to San Francisco," Rosenthal said. "At CIR we are working to build a new journalism model. Phil understands the Bay Area and the dynamics of innovation, risk taking and the entrepreneurial DNA that make it special and which helps fuel our evolution."

Over the last two and a half years, CIR has experienced considerable growth. The staff has increased from seven to 34. California Watch, already considered a model for other news organizations, includes award-winning reporters, editors, multimedia reporters and producers. "On Shaky Ground," the recent 19-month investigation into seismic safety issues in California Schools, had a record number of distribution partners including key newspapers, network television affiliates, public radio and ethnic media.