Biography

Jillian Bauer-Reese is a media harm reductionist serving as an Associate Professor in Temple University’s Department of Journalism. Her work explores how local journalism incorporating anti-oppressive, human-centered design and social-ecological frameworks impacts the quality of life in geographically defined communities, particularly those with low socioeconomic status. She founded Kensington Voice (2018), a community hub and newsroom serving North Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood. She co-founded the Tiny News Collective (2021), a national nonprofit supporting community-driven news organizations’ creation and sustainability.

Since 2018, Jillian’s work for Kensington Voice has received 18 grant awards from 10 private and public funding sources totaling over $2.25 million. Funders have included Bread and Roses Community Fund, Independence Public Media Foundation, Kensington Community Resilience Fund, Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund, Lenfest Center for Community Workforce Partnerships, Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Philanthropy Network of Greater Philadelphia, Public Health Management Corporation, Resolve Philadelphia, and Scattergood Foundation.

Before joining Temple’s faculty, Jillian worked in local journalism and publishing. She holds an MSW in Macro Practice in Organizations, Communities, and Policy Arenas, an MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences, an MS in Interactive Design and Media, and a BA in Journalism. She also holds a graduate certificate in Community Practice from the Association for Community Organization and Social Action (ACOSA).

Courses Taught