Terry Parris Jr. is a pioneer in engaged journalism, with over 15 years of experience creating innovative, community-driven storytelling initiatives. His work bridges the gap between newsrooms, libraries and communities, prioritizing education, engagement, collaboration and connection. Currently, Terry serves as the Public Square Editor for Headway, an initiative by The New York Times exploring global challenges through the lens of progress, possibility and solutions.

A recognized leader in his field, Terry’s work has earned numerous awards for innovation and public service in journalism. While at THE CITY, he created The Open Newsroom and Civic Newsroom—projects that reimagined how the newsroom engaged with communities by centering listening, collaboration and accessibility. His groundbreaking work on MISSING THEM, a memorial project for New Yorkers lost to COVID-19, received the Online News Association’s Knight Award for Public Service and inspired partnerships with libraries, schools and theater companies. At ProPublica, Terry’s engagement-focused reporting expanded the role of engaged journalism across the newsroom.

Terry is also an educator, dedicated to mentoring and teaching the next generation of journalists. He has worked in high school, undergraduate and graduate programs at prominent New York institutions, including Queens College (CUNY), Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. He also has one foot firmly planted in the library world with a degree in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute. His focus there is on exploring how libraries can serve as trusted, community-driven hubs for information, connection and civic engagement. By combining his background in journalism with his studies, Terry is examining how libraries can bridge gaps in access to information, amplify underrepresented voices and build deeper community relationships.

A Vision for Libraries and Newsrooms

Terry recognized that newsrooms faced growing challenges in building trust with the public, while libraries remained trusted institutions embedded in their communities. By combining the strengths of both, he saw an opportunity to create a new model for engaged journalism — one that centers community voices, bridges information gaps and strengthens collaboration.

This vision took shape in projects like The Open Newsroom, a partnership between THE CITY and Brooklyn Public Library that invited residents to share their ideas and concerns. The initiative evolved into resources like newsletters on tenants’ rights and unemployment assistance, translated into Spanish and reaching thousands of residents. Later, The Civic Newsroom expanded the model by mobilizing voters with localized information and hosting vibrant, community-oriented events like Voter Fests.

Terry’s innovative approach has consistently pushed the boundaries of engaged journalism, showing how trusted partnerships and listening can transform how information flows through communities.

Launching the Library Newsroom Project

The Library Newsroom Project is Terry’s latest effort to reimagine how libraries and communities collaborate. By transforming libraries into dynamic hubs for storytelling, co-creation and civic engagement, the initiative empowers residents to share their stories and address local challenges. From bilingual bulletins to workshops on media literacy, the project builds on Terry’s award-winning methods, emphasizing inclusivity and community-centered design.

For Terry, the Library Newsroom represents a replicable model for libraries everywhere to connect deeply with their communities. It reflects his commitment to trust and collaboration — hallmarks of his work in engagement journalism.