Trans Journalists Association names Tre’vell Anderson, Kae Petrin as co-executive directors
Our mission of promoting accurate, nuanced coverage of trans rights and communities in the media and fostering the careers of gender-expansive journalists has never been more urgent. To support our increased needs in these times, the TJA is proud to announce the hiring of its first two staff members: co-executive directors Tre’vell Anderson and Kae Petrin. We’re confident that together, they will help strengthen our efforts as the organization grows.
“We are so excited to have Tre’vell and Kae as co-executive directors,” said TJA board president Minami Funakoshi. “They have both been vital voices in the community, with clear visions about how the TJA can grow, and we are so fortunate to have them on the team.”
Anderson is an award-winning journalist, noted podcast host, and authoress whose reporting has been published by the Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, Essence, Out, and TIME, among other publications. As a former chapter president and national board member of the National Association of Black Journalists, they’ve long been active in advocating on behalf of journalists of diverse backgrounds. Anderson, who will serve in a full-time capacity, also developed the TJA’s new Level Up stipends program.
“I’m honored to be joining the TJA as one of their inaugural co-directors, especially at this pivotal time for our community,” Anderson said. “I look forward to working alongside Kae and the TJA Board as we meet our members’ needs and educate and hold accountable the news and media ecosystem.”
Petrin helped cofound the TJA in 2020 and has since run many of the organization’s internal operations as interim executive director, which was a volunteer role. An accountability journalist with a decade of experience in local media, they currently work as a Data & Graphics Reporter on Civic News Company's data visuals team. Petrin will serve in a part-time capacity to keep leadership continuity and assess the organization’s needs as it grows.
“This organization started as four-dozen journalists in a support channel. It’s pretty astonishing that we’ve grown from an all-volunteer team with a few thousand dollars to hiring actual staff in less than two years. That’s thanks to the dedication of trans journalists who built space for ourselves in journalism,” said Petrin. “I’m honored to have shepherded the journey and excited for what comes next.”
The TJA is thankful for our global membership and committed funders, whose collective support has helped usher in this period of growth for the organization.
Media contact: contact@transjournalists.org
About the TJA
The Trans Journalists Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) professional membership organization that promotes accurate, nuanced coverage of trans rights and communities in the media and fosters the careers of gender-expansive journalists. Since its founding in 2020, the TJA has worked with newsrooms, affinity groups, and journalism-supporting organizations to discuss best practices for covering trans people in all contexts. As part of that work, we maintain a style guide that aims to address common and complex questions that arise when reporting on our communities. We also produce a workplace guide that includes safety resources, newsroom policy best practices, and other resources. Our members span the globe and represent a vast spectrum of media formats, experience levels, and coverage areas. We welcome the support of gender-expansive journalists of all self-descriptions and backgrounds, as well as allies interested in our work.
About Tre’vell Anderson
Tre'vell Anderson (they/them) is an award-winning journalist, noted podcast host, and authoress doing world-changing work around society and culture. Named to Out magazine’s 2023 list of the 100 most impactful LGBTQ+ people and The Root’s 2020 list of the 100 most influential African Americans, they have dedicated their career to centering those in the margins, gray spaces, and at the intersections of life. Founder and Chief Imagination Officer of the social curation and media production house Slayzhon, Tre’vell is also the authoress of “We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film” and co-authoress of the NAACP Image Award-winning “Historically Black Phrases: From ‘I Ain’t One Of Your Lil’ Friends’ to ‘Who All Gon’ Be There?’”
About Kae Petrin
Kae Petrin (they/ze/hir) cofounded the TJA in 2020 with several dozen other journalists. They have since run many of the organization’s internal operations. Kae currently works as a Data & Graphics Reporter on Civic News Company's data visuals team, where they tell data-driven stories about K-12 education, voting rights, and public health. Their collaborative data journalism has won national, regional, and local awards. They frequently speak on queer and trans coverage best practices, data reporting and visualization tools, and the intersections of these topics for universities, industry conferences, workshops, and newsrooms around the U.S.
