Janessa Hilliard

Janessa Hilliard currently serves as the Director of Audience – Opinion at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK, and has held various roles at USA TODAY since July 2022, focusing on audience engagement and digital strategy for the Opinion section. Prior experience includes regional digital producer for Gannett, contributing to multiple newsrooms, and freelance writing for publications such as Phoenix Home & Garden Magazine, Phoenix New Times, and The Arizona Republic. Hilliard has a Bachelor of Arts in Women & Gender Studies from Arizona State University and has demonstrated expertise in content creation, reporting, and communications throughout a diverse career in journalism.