Tommy Felts, Editor-in-Chief
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Tommy is editor-in-chief for Startland News, a Kansas City-based nonprofit newsroom that uses storytelling to elevate the region’s startup community of entrepreneurs, innovators, hustlers, creatives and risk-takers.
Under Tommy’s leadership, Startland News has expanded its coverage from a primarily high-tech, high-growth focus to a more wide-ranging and inclusive look at the faces of entrepreneurism, innovation and business.
Austin Barnes, Lead Reporter and Special Projects Editor
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An experienced multimedia journalist, Austin taps into his reporting and production experience at the local, regional and national levels of broadcast news to cover Kansas City’s emerging startup, entrepreneur and innovation community at Startland News.
As special projects editor, Austin leads the production of Startland News’ digital reporting specials, annual lists and reports, and the publication’s news engagement events.
Channa Steinmetz, Reporter
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Passionate about connecting with others and exploring new places, Channa sees reporting with Startland News as an intimate way to learn about the creative culture and locals of Kansas City.
Prior to joining the Startland News team, Channa earned a degree in journalism and sustainability from Pepperdine University in California. There, she worked on the university’s newspaper The Graphic and developed her skills in writing, photography, social media and editing.
Channa’s favorite aspect of journalism is that no two days and no two stories look quite alike.