Robinson takes role as new impact editor
Veteran journalist’s new role seeks solutions to pressing local issues.
Amelia Robinson has been named Community Impact Editor of the Dayton Daily News, a critical position in which she intends to apply her more than 20 years of experience and deep local ties to finding solutions to our region’s most pressing problems.
Robinson is a voice who will lead those conversations as our community continues to grapple with the effects of the Memorial Day 2019 tornadoes, the Oregon District mass shooting, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic fallout, and now protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
In this role she will lead the newspaper’s efforts to convene local voices and guide engagement with our most impactful investigations and journalism. She also will be the editor of the paper’s Ideas and Voices pages.
“Dayton has its challenges,
but this community also has tremendous strength,” she said. “We’ve demonstrated our determination time and time again. The solutions are ours to create. We will engage in conversations that lead to real change for the city we all love.”
Robinson grew up in Cleve- land and graduated from Ohio University. She has been a reporter, columnist and podcaster for Dayton.com and the Dayton Daily News since 2000.
Her Su n day colum n, “Smart Mouth,” has appeared in the newspa- per’s Life & Arts section for 15 years. It was recognized as the best newspaper col- umn in Ohio in 2019 by the Society of Professional Jour- nalists. Her column has also been recognized multiple times by the Ohio Associated Press Managing Editors.
Robinson hosts, edits and produces the “What Had Happened Was ...” pod- cast, a 2019 National Asso- ciation of Broadcasters Marconi award finalist. The podcast has earned more than 3 million downloads since launching in January of 2018.
She strives to tell the stories of Dayton — the birthplace of aviation and the land of funk.
In 2019, her columns tack- led the pains, challenges and community spirit that emerged following a list of community tragedies that included 15 tornadoes on Memorial Day and the Oregon District mass shooting, which happened just blocks from her home.
The 2020 Kiplinger Program fellow is a founding member and former longtime president of the Greater Dayton Association of Black Journalists. She also serves on the boards of the Dayton Sister City Committee and as president of the Oregon Historic District Society board of trustees.
“The men and women of the Dayton Daily News want our work to help solve some of our community’s most important problems. Amelia’s role has long been one of the most important ways through which we connect our journalism to clear action and dialogue that solves problems. There is no better person at this time for this role than Amelia,” said Jim Bebbington, editor of the Dayton Daily News.
Robinson takes over the role from Ron Rollins, who retired last week after a 33-year career with the newspaper.