Kristine Villanueva is a seasoned reporter, editor, and educator passionate about harnessing people-powered media to reinforce and expand community-based information networks. She currently works as the engagement strategist for News Ambassadors, a program that enlists journalism students to fill news gaps in underreported areas and is the lead editor for the Phillypino Oral History Project with the Free Library of Philadelphia.

She has worked in news organizations such as ProPublica, Resolve Philly, POLITICO, The Center for Public Integrity, and more. She has also served as the Vice President and National Board Representative of the Asian American Journalists Association, Philadelphia, and taught engagement journalism at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism for four years and now teaches in the Department of English at the Community College of Philadelphia. Her experience in engagement journalism also includes leading digital, social media, newsletter, and SMS texting strategies to reach disenfranchised communities. She has also led nationwide crowdsourced, collaborative investigations. In her off hours, she likes to paint zines, go to punk shows, and cuddle her cat, Perseus (aka Percy).

Recent Projects:

 

Phillypino Oral History Project

The Phillypino Oral History Project is a community-based oral history and photography project capturing the rich narratives of Filipino immigrants who have lived in Philadelphia for at least ten years. The project focuses on memory work that delves into participants’ experiences during martial law, the implementation of labor export policy, the People Power Revolution, and more. As the project lead, I conducted interviews, developed the exhibition guide and exhibit copy, trained community participants in trauma-informed reporting techniques, and co-curated an exhibit at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s central branch. See the digital exhibition guide here.

This exhibit is an homage to history, heritage, and preservation of stories that would have otherwise been lost. 

News Ambassadors

News Ambassadors is a program that strengthens local news through solutions journalism, community engagement, and collaboration to reduce polarization and uplift common ground.

Comprised of several local news collaboratives across the country, students fill local news gaps by learning best practices in journalism schools, local newsrooms, and community organizations. Students also have the opportunity to be paired with counterparts in demographically dissimilar areas to expand their scope of learning.

Equally Informed Philly

As the Director of Community News, my focus was on engaging Philadelphians who didn’t have steady internet access. I launched a grassroots reporting network called Info Hub Captains, which reported stories for a hard copy newsletter distributed through strategic partnerships and community engagement events. I also identified information needs addressed through an English and Spanish SMS text line and collaborative reporting with newsroom partners.

What I can help with:

I am at capacity for taking on new projects until 2025. If you’re interested in services, please reach out via e-mail for projects for the upcoming year.

Digital and Social Media Engagement and Management

  • Strategy for organic and paid reach 

  • Strategy specific to social platforms and newsroom/client audience 

  • Metrics and analytics

  • Newsletter writing and distribution optimization 

  • Comment moderation practices '

Offline/Hybrid Engagement:

  • SMS texting strategies and campaigns 

  • Strategic partnerships and collaboration, working with community members, influencers, community organizations.  

  • Specialized audience outreach, based on stories, projects, and key expansion areas 

  • In-person community engagement, events, panels, film screenings   

  • Print distribution and place-based information sharing

Other Services:

  • Press releases and strategic outreach

  • Syllabus writing for communications and journalism majors and master’s level journalism classes 

  • Workshop on trauma-informed interviewing

  • DEI initiatives

  • Project management and workflow