Rachel Jones is Director of Journalism Initiatives for the National Press Foundation. Jones has worked as a journalist and media consultant for the past 30+ years in the US and Africa, for companies including the Detroit Free Press, National Public Radio, Internews, the International Center for Journalists, Kenya’s Nation Media Group and Voice of America.

From 2007 to 2016, Jones also trained and mentored East African journalists to produce news and analysis content on topics including peace and reconciliation, child and reproductive health, health care policy, climate change and sustainability.

During her nine years in Nairobi, Jones developed the Kenyan Alliance of Health and Science Reporters journalism training project. She also advised UNICEF Kenya’s Polio Advocacy Working Group partners in developing a communications strategy to stimulate insightful coverage of polio-related issues, as well as a broader range of child health and development areas. From October 2014 to September 2015, Jones served as Editor/Stringer Coordinator for Voice of America’s “South Sudan in Focus” nightly radio broadcast.

Jones has produced content for National Geographic’s digital platform since 2018. She was also a media consultant for the U.K.-based Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases coalition, Malaria No More UK and Women Deliver. Since 2019, Jones has worked with The Aspen Institute as a writing mentor for their Healthy Communities, New Voices and SOAR Fellowship programs. Jones also worked with Emerson Collective as a global health media consultant for their Dial Fellowship Program.

Jones enjoys cooking, museums and travel. Her most memorable vacation was to Southeast Asia, where she explored temples in Cambodia and Thailand. Her most relaxing vacation was to the island of Zanzibar, with its legendary Arabic stone architecture. She even managed to travel to Athens and Santorini in 2021, during the one-month window when it seemed the pandemic might be easing.

Follow Rachel on Twitter at @RJConsults or on LinkedIn.