The Marshall Project, a Pulitzer Prize-winning nonprofit media organization covering criminal justice, has hired Kristen Bausch and Chris Vazquez as audience participation producers.
In these new roles, Bausch and Vazquez will work together to ensure The Marshall Project continues to strengthen its connection with its existing audience under the direction of audience director Ashley Day. They will also focus on potential readers and viewers, particularly underserved groups such as younger generations, those currently or formerly incarcerated, and their families.
As Audience Engagement Producers, Bausch and Vazquez will create engaging videos, compelling visuals and clear copy to share news coverage of the Marshall Project on social media platforms Instagram, Tik Tok and Reddit. They will also work with editorial colleagues to launch large-scale projects and organize Reddit AMAs and TikTok Lives. They will both report to Dye, but will also support Newsletter Manager Rachel Kincaid and Contributing Editor Nicole Lewis on related projects.
Bausch joins The Marshall Project from USA TODAY, where she previously served as audience editor. There, she developed her social graphic design skills and a keen sense for social platform interests and communication styles. She specializes in reaching audiences through informative Instagram carousel posts and TikTok videos as well as YouTube posts, emails and more. She previously launched a text messaging service for WUFT News to connect with economically underrepresented and rural communities in North Central Florida.
Vazquez was a TikTok associate producer at The Washington Post before joining the Marshall Project. In this role, he’s a regular on-screen presence, attracting a young audience as he breaks down hard news and creates morphing cover series about comics and identities. He also improves video accessibility, coordinates TikTok Lives with reporters, and is a strong producer of landscape videos.
“Chris blends humor with astute journalistic judgment to create engaging social videos, especially on TikTok. Kristen has a clear, creative social graphic design and a knack for understanding the platform’s unique communications and interests,” Day said. “I’m delighted that Chris and Christine will play an important role in our efforts to share coverage of the Marshall Plan in countless compelling ways without sacrificing nuance and hearing feedback from a wider audience nationally and locally .”
Bausch and Vazquez’s first day with Project Marshall was July 10.