Damon Kiesow

Damon Kiesow is the Knight Chair in Journalism Innovation at the Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri. He holds a tenured professorship and teaches a senior capstone in news product thinking. His work bridges academic instruction and industry innovation, with strong affiliations to the Reynolds Journalism Institute and hands-on news platforms like the Columbia Missourian, KOMU-TV, and KBIA-FM.

His research and professional focus lies in journalism innovation, news product management, and the business of media. He emphasizes aligning community information needs with sustainable business models, advocating for a data-informed (not data-driven) approach to journalism. His work supports the transformation of newsrooms through user experience research, audience engagement, and digital-first strategies.

The limited publication data shows a major contribution through his textbook, which establishes foundational principles in news product management. This reflects a broader trend in his career: systematizing and teaching emerging practices in digital journalism.

• Knight-McCormick Leadership Fellow
• Poynter Institute's first Digital Media Fellow
• Poynter-McCormick Change Leadership Fellow

Kiesow mentors emerging product thinkers through the News Product Alliance’s Mentor Network and leads student internship programs such as the Knight Nonprofit News internships and the Missouri Information Corps. He has secured support from organizations like the Google News Initiative and the Knight Foundation to advance these training initiatives. His work is deeply rooted in the Missouri Method of hands-on learning, applying real-world experience to educate the next generation of journalists.

He co-founded the News Product Alliance and the summer pop-up newsroom Missouri Information Corps. These initiatives serve as living labs for innovation, connecting students and professionals in collaborative, audience-focused news production. His leadership extends to shaping industry standards through thought leadership and curriculum development.