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The Intercept Adds Journalist Susan Smith Richardson to Board of Directors

Richardson joins during a pivotal year as the organization focuses on hard-hitting investigations into political power dynamics, innovative storytelling approaches, and increased reader engagement.

The Intercept today announced the addition of journalist Susan Smith Richardson to its board of directors.

Richardson is a veteran journalist who has held leadership positions at The Guardian, the Center for Public Integrity, and the Chicago Reporter. She served as the inaugural Ida B. Wells visiting professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

Susan Smith Richardson joins the board of The Intercept.
Journalist Susan Smith Richardson is joining the board of The Intercept.

“Susan Smith Richardson’s remarkable track record of high impact journalism makes her an exceptional addition to our board,” said Intercept board chair Pat Christen. “Her deep expertise and commitment to uncovering the truth will be invaluable as we work to strengthen The Intercept’s role as a vital source of independent, investigative reporting. As we continue to evolve The Intercept’s governance model, we are delighted to expand the board to support the excellence of our reporting team.”

Richardson joins The Intercept’s board of directors during a pivotal year as the organization focuses on hard-hitting investigations into political power dynamics, innovative storytelling approaches, and increased reader engagement. 

“The Intercept’s unwavering pursuit of truth and justice is more crucial than ever,” said Richardson. “I am honored to join this esteemed group of board members and support The Intercept’s mission. I look forward to working alongside the talented Intercept team to amplify stories that drive meaningful change.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Susan Smith Richardson to The Intercept’s board of directors,” said Intercept CEO Annie Chabel. “Throughout her career, she has been recognized for upholding the highest standards of journalistic integrity and advancing equity in newsrooms. Her experience and keen strategic vision make her an invaluable addition to our team.”

IT’S EVEN WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT.

What we’re seeing right now from Donald Trump is a full-on authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government. 

This is not hyperbole.

Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse. News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation.

Yet far too many are still covering Trump’s assault on democracy like politics as usual, with flattering headlines describing Trump as “unconventional,” “testing the boundaries,” and “aggressively flexing power.” 

The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. We understand the challenge we face in Trump and the vital importance of press freedom in defending democracy.

We’re independent of corporate interests. Will you help us?

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IT’S BEEN A DEVASTATING year for journalism — the worst in modern U.S. history.

We have a president with utter contempt for truth aggressively using the government’s full powers to dismantle the free press. Corporate news outlets have cowered, becoming accessories in Trump’s project to create a post-truth America. Right-wing billionaires have pounced, buying up media organizations and rebuilding the information environment to their liking.

In this most perilous moment for democracy, The Intercept is fighting back. But to do so effectively, we need to grow.

That’s where you come in. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?

We’re independent of corporate interests. Will you help us?

Donate

I’M BEN MUESSIG, The Intercept’s editor-in-chief. It’s been a devastating year for journalism — the worst in modern U.S. history.

We have a president with utter contempt for truth aggressively using the government’s full powers to dismantle the free press. Corporate news outlets have cowered, becoming accessories in Trump’s project to create a post-truth America. Right-wing billionaires have pounced, buying up media organizations and rebuilding the information environment to their liking.

In this most perilous moment for democracy, The Intercept is fighting back. But to do so effectively, we need to grow.

That’s where you come in. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?

We’re independent of corporate interests. Will you help us?

Donate

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