Introducing CIR’s new director of strategic research

The Center for Investigative Reporting has appointed Lindsay Green-Barber, Ph.D., in the newly created role of director of strategic research, effective immediately. Green-Barber will develop and lead a research agenda that aligns with and furthers the organization’s strategic and impact objectives.

Green-Barber has worked as a media impact analyst at CIR since 2013, a fellowship position funded by the American Council of Learned Societies. In her new role, she will continue to identify, assess and rigorously test future areas of programmatic work where CIR can have catalytic impact through its content distribution and engagement. She will lead research and analysis and will serve as an expert both internally and for external partnerships.

Historically, research departments at newspapers have focused on readership and audience satisfaction for the purpose of increased circulation and ad sales to generate revenue. New media companies are increasingly focusing their research departments on audience Web traffic and behavior – BuzzFeed has a team of over 100 data scientists, engineers, product owners and designers focusing on this. But the goal is still to generate revenue. In looking toward the future and by appointing Green-Barber in this new role, CIR is setting a precedent with the creation of a Department of Strategic Research that will extend research focused on increasing earned revenue to include offline impact analysis about real-world impact, an angle for which CIR has become known in the media world.

In her new role, Green-Barber will continue to provide consulting services to other organizations in order to help them set strategic and impact goals, develop strategies for measurement, and assist in analysis. She will report directly to CIR’s CEO, Joaquin Alvarado.

Previously, Green-Barber was an American Council for Learned Societies public fellow and served as media impact analyst at CIR. She earned a Ph.D. in political science from the City University of New York Graduate Center. Her doctoral research, conducted from 2011 through 2013 in Ecuador, focused on indigenous organizations’ use of new information and communications technologies for social mobilization. She also taught political science courses at Hunter College.

Contact her at lgreenbarber@cironline.org.