Long-time Free Press CEO and president Josh Silver has left the organization dedicated to free speech to become CEO of the Democracy Fund, a new operating foundation that will "challenge the influence of corporate lobbyists over government policymaking." Silver is expected to part ways with Free Press in mid-April. He will be replaced by the organization’s current Managing Director Craig Aaron. Aaron had plenty of nice things to say about the soon-to-be-departing Silver:
"I'm deeply indebted to Josh Silver for his vision, for his leadership, and for being a friend and mentor to me for the past seven years," Aaron said. "And I'm honored and excited to be taking the reins of Free Press, an organization that I believe, pound-for-pound, is the most effective of its kind. We will continue to be honest and aggressive advocates in Washington and will redouble our efforts to build broad, diverse popular support for better media and the open Internet everywhere."
Silver co-founded Free Press in 2002 and has been the CEO since its creation. The group claims to have more than half-a-million active members, a staff of around 40, and offices in Washington and Northampton, Mass. It is the largest public interest organization devoted to better media and free speech. Its many activities include the FreePress.net website, the SavetheInternet.com and SavetheNews.org campaigns, and the National Conference for Media Reform – which takes place this year on April 8-10 in Boston.
You can find out more information about Silver's departure in this Politico report.
