MORE ABOUT DELANO
Delano Massey is the Managing Editor of Axios Local, where he helped launch the early markets that grew the network to 34 cities. He now leads editorial strategy across the Midwest, overseeing newsrooms in places like Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis.
His work connects local reporting to national issues — from book bans and DEI rollbacks to economic justice — making Axios a leading voice in local journalism.
A former CNN senior producer, Delano oversaw reporting on the Justice Department, Supreme Court, immigration and civil rights. He helped launch CNN’s Race & Equality team in the wake of the 2020 uprisings, working directly with top leadership to hire, shape coverage, and raise newsroom standards around equity and accountability.
Previously, Delano was deputy news director for The Associated Press, directing news operations across 14 states. He reorganized teams for sharper investigative impact and drove award-winning coverage through the AP’s Race & Ethnicity team. His earlier work in local TV and newspapers—from Cleveland to Lexington—won recognition for digital innovation and enterprise reporting.
Delano’s stories now routinely anchor Axios’ political coverage with Google News pickup, high engagement, and sustained readership. His recent work includes sharp explainers on Marcus Garvey’s posthumous pardon, civil rights flashpoints, and the GOP’s rollback of DEI policy.
A champion of next-gen journalists, Delano mentors through Poynter, Maynard, the National Press Foundation and the NABJ Leadership Academy. He is a Maynard Fellow, Kiplinger Fellow, and a graduate of Poynter's Media Transformation Challenge. In 2021, he was named one of the Most Influential People of African Descent.
Delano is a proud Ohio native and graduate of the University of Akron. He has served on multiple advisory and professional boards, supporting student media and newsroom innovation. His work has been recognized with awards for breaking news, investigative reporting, and equity-centered storytelling.
His work connects local reporting to national issues — from book bans and DEI rollbacks to economic justice — making Axios a leading voice in local journalism.
A former CNN senior producer, Delano oversaw reporting on the Justice Department, Supreme Court, immigration and civil rights. He helped launch CNN’s Race & Equality team in the wake of the 2020 uprisings, working directly with top leadership to hire, shape coverage, and raise newsroom standards around equity and accountability.
Previously, Delano was deputy news director for The Associated Press, directing news operations across 14 states. He reorganized teams for sharper investigative impact and drove award-winning coverage through the AP’s Race & Ethnicity team. His earlier work in local TV and newspapers—from Cleveland to Lexington—won recognition for digital innovation and enterprise reporting.
Delano’s stories now routinely anchor Axios’ political coverage with Google News pickup, high engagement, and sustained readership. His recent work includes sharp explainers on Marcus Garvey’s posthumous pardon, civil rights flashpoints, and the GOP’s rollback of DEI policy.
A champion of next-gen journalists, Delano mentors through Poynter, Maynard, the National Press Foundation and the NABJ Leadership Academy. He is a Maynard Fellow, Kiplinger Fellow, and a graduate of Poynter's Media Transformation Challenge. In 2021, he was named one of the Most Influential People of African Descent.
Delano is a proud Ohio native and graduate of the University of Akron. He has served on multiple advisory and professional boards, supporting student media and newsroom innovation. His work has been recognized with awards for breaking news, investigative reporting, and equity-centered storytelling.