Kari Cobham

I’m Kari Cobham, I’m a writer and The 19th’s founding director of fellowships. I focus on amplifying voices, mentoring talent and shaping the future of media.

I launched the Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Fellowships to create pathways into journalism and leadership for alums of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). 

As an HBCU grad myself — Bethune-Cookman! — I believe that storytelling is power. I build spaces where a breadth of perspectives can thrive, whether through fellowships, mentorship or equitable industry practices. 

Before The 19th, I led mental health journalism fellowships at The Carter Center, ran digital strategy at Cox Media Group, and covered everything from government to women’s issues in the Caribbean and the U.S. You can find my writing in The New York Times, Fortune, CNN, Vox and others. 

Now, I help journalists do their best work and better serve our communities. I’m from Trinidad & Tobago, and live in Atlanta with my family, including two very mischievous kittens.

My work is free to consume and free to republish because of contributions from readers like you. A donation of $19 goes a long way toward sustaining our nonprofit newsroom.