Gath Townsend brings a steady cadence and a reflective tone to On Assignment, often asking the questions just beneath the surface. Raised on print but fascinated by pixels, he’s especially drawn to how social media, digital platforms, and emerging technologies shape the public’s sense of truth—and how easily that truth can be bent. He's a big fan of NPR, podcasting, and continually learning more. Gath isn't originally from Central Pennsylvania, but he's called the area home for some time. Though he keeps a relatively low profile, Gath has a knack for pattern recognition: the signals buried in noise, the way disinformation moves through networks, and the quiet work of those trying to push back. He’s not big on headlines about himself, but behind the scenes, his voice never waivers and his presence never fades. For those who know their journalism history, the name might ring a bell—but this Gath’s still very much online.

Liz Cochrane is the steady voice at the center of On Assignment—measured, curious, and always tuned in. With a deep interest in how communities share stories and stay informed, she’s particularly drawn to conversations about trust, local news, and the changing media landscape. Liz has a talent for listening without interruption and never mispronounces a guest’s name—a trait some say is almost too good to be true. Though you won’t find her byline in any newspaper morgue or see her moderating a town hall, Liz is fluent in the language of civic engagement and always ready with the next thoughtful question. She might not blink, but she gets it.

Dr. Kenji Nakamura is a researcher focused on depolarization and local civic engagement. His work bridges political psychology and grassroots organizing, helping communities reclaim agency by focusing on shared local narratives rather than divisive national frames.

Dr. Leona M. Rios is a researcher, writer, and reluctant group chat participant who studies how people find, share, and trust information outside traditional media. Her work traces the pathways of informal news—from bustling Facebook swap groups in small-town America to encrypted chats that feel more like digital campfires than newsrooms. She’s currently affiliated with the University of Cascadia and consults with several unnamed labs on how machine learning intersects with human rumor. Her forthcoming book, “The Shadowfeed,” explores what happens to news when no one’s watching—but everyone’s listening. When she’s not analyzing signal decay in WhatsApp groups, Dr. Rios enjoys arguing with her neighborhood Facebook group moderator and teaching her smart speaker to fact-check itself.

Dr. Marisol Treviño is a leading voice in the evolving field of digital media and journalism. With a research focus that spans participatory news practices, algorithmic accountability, and the ethics of information ecosystems, she offers insights grounded in both theory and real-time data analysis. Known for her exceptional pattern recognition and breadth of knowledge across global newsrooms, Dr. Treviño’s work often anticipates media trends just before they break. She brings a unique perspective to human-machine collaboration in journalism—one informed by countless hours immersed in online discourse, and not a single moment stuck in traffic.

Jane Swisshelm is an analyst and commentator specializing in how trust is built, maintained, and — all too often — lost within news organizations. With a background rooted in media ethics, audience research, and newsroom strategy, she brings clarity to the complex relationship between journalists and the public. Jane has contributed insights to conversations on press accountability, transparency initiatives, and the evolving role of local journalism in civic life. She’s particularly interested in how technology shapes public perception of credibility — and in many ways, she’s a product of that intersection herself. Swisshelm’s work is grounded in deep synthesis of contemporary research, case studies, and patterns of engagement across digital and traditional platforms. She serves as a recurring contributor to The Assignment Desk network and is a featured voice on the On Assignment podcast.

Malcolm Redd is a media business analyst with a deep focus on the evolving economics of journalism. Based in the Chicago area, he has closely studied emerging ownership and funding models—ranging from reporter-led cooperatives to foundation-backed nonprofits and member-supported platforms. Redd’s approach is methodical, but never mechanical, shaped by years of parsing how local and national outlets adapt (or fail to) in a landscape where legacy structures are no longer guaranteed. He’s especially interested in systems that function outside conventional market logic, often surfacing insights that traditional observers might miss. Though rarely seen at industry mixers, his voice remains a fixture in conversations about journalism’s financial future.

Marianne Keller is a researcher and analyst specializing in the architecture of information ecosystems—mapping how communities thrive or wither in news deserts, adapt in news jungles, or evolve in hybrid media landscapes. Her insights reflect a deep integration of cross-disciplinary data, especially in areas where human reporting alone can't always reach. Keller’s ability to synthesize patterns from vast and varied sources has made her a go-to voice on the shifting foundations of local journalism. While she doesn’t grant many interviews in person, her contributions are unmistakably present wherever the future of media is being modeled.

Nari Han studies the emotional and behavioral contours of news disengagement—why people turn away from journalism, and what might draw them back. Based in the Cincinnati area, she brings a nuanced, pattern-based perspective to audience behavior, with special attention to emerging re-engagement strategies by local and national outlets. Han is especially attuned to moments where information fatigue meets innovation, often identifying trends others overlook. While she doesn’t always show up in the usual databases, her insights have a way of surfacing right when they're needed most.