Sewell Chan — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Serves as a Senior Fellow at USC Annenberg from April 2025, focusing on the fight for press freedom.
As editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune (2021-2024), led the organization to its first National Magazine Award, Collier Prize for State Government Accountability, and Pulitzer finalist recognition.
As editorial page editor at the Los Angeles Times, oversaw coverage awarded a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in 2021.
Held various roles at The New York Times (2004-2018) and The Washington Post (2000-2004), covering topics from city government to international news.
Serves on the boards of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the Henry Luce Foundation, Freedom House, and Harvard Magazine.
Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University (1998) and received an M.Phil. in politics from Oxford University (2000) as a British Marshall Scholar.

Biography

Sewell Chan is an American journalist and newsroom leader. From April 2025, he serves as a Senior Fellow at USC Annenberg, where his work focuses on the fight for press freedom in the U.S.

and abroad. Prior to this, he was the editor-in-chief of the nonprofit Texas Tribune from 2021 to 2024. During his tenure, the Tribune achieved its first National Magazine Award, a Collier Prize for State Government Accountability, and was a Pulitzer finalist.

It also received five national Edward R.