About Us
We are Mosaic because we are New Jersey, a state that is a collective of people from different ethnicities, experiences and races. It is this diversity that makes us extraordinary.
OUR MISSION: To celebrate the richness of our diverse cultures, amplify voices often muted by media, strengthen bridges across our communities, and foster meaningful conversation and community engagement through compelling storytelling.
We'll do this with our team of experienced journalists and photographers from the state's largest news provider - NJ.com, along with support from talented freelancers and our partners from other media sites.
Together, we'll report on the important issues that directly impact our distinct communities, tell you where to find good food and great entertainment and share enlightening or thought-provoking stories from the most interesting and innovative people who call the Garden State home.
Mosaic is a space where we all can feel seen, valued and empowered.
Here's our team:
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Ronnie Agnew
General Manager
Ronnie Agnew joined NJ Advance Media in November 2022, continuing more than three decades of working in the media. Ronnie has held prior positions as the executive editor of The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., and in the public media. As general manager of NJAM, Agnew Ronnie is responsible for overseeing overall news strategy, as well as working on business initiatives within the company. He has oversight of Mosaic, a new website celebrating New Jersey's diversity. While editor of The Clarion-Ledger, the newspaper was one of the most highly decorated in the Gannett Co., known nationally for its coverage of civil rights crimes of the past. Ronnie has been a 4-time judge of the Pulitzer Prizes, journalism's highest honor. He also has been featured in HistoryMaker, which recognizes people who have made an impact in media. His recorded segment is permanently archived at the Library of Congress.
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Robin Wilson-Glover
Director of Mosaic & Digital Opinion
Robin has been a political reporter, an award-winning education reporter, a features reporter, a line editor, an assignment editor and a newsroom manager for several publications, including The Times-Union and the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, N.Y. and The Star-Ledger in New Jersey. She co-chaired NJ Advance Media's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, served on local community boards and committees and taught news writing at Rutgers University-Newark. Robin is also a former Maynard Institute Fellow and a graduate of the Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University.
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Ande Richards
Managing Producer, Diversity of Voices for Mosaic
Ande uses her skills as a multimedia reporter to delve into communities that need more attention like our veterans, LGBTQ+, disability community, and people impacted by violence. She also brings light to folk who are thriving in those same communities - it's all about balance. She relocated from California where she was enrolled in a journalism master's program at UC Berkeley. She garnered many awards at the collegiate level including the Pacemaker, Pinnacle, Columbia Gold Circle, and Society of Professional Journalists first-place awards. Most recently, she won two first-place awards for her columns and news writing from the National Association of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence contest. In addition to reporting, Ande produces an annual Journalism Day event for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee for NJ.com that offers college students a taste of real-world journalism and the opportunity to earn cash scholarships.
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Vashti Harris
Reporter
Vashti Harris is the Trending News Reporter for Mosaic. Utilizing her over six years of journalism experience, she centers reporting and writing skills on covering issues and topics pertaining to communities of color throughout New Jersey. Born and raised in the Garden State, she remains dedicated to covering and publishing the stories of her home state's numerous minority communities. In 2016, she graduated from the Washington D.C.-based institution American University with her bachelor's degree in communications (with a focus in media and society). Ms. Harris recently won a National Association of Black Journalists' 2023 Salute to Excellence Award for an article she co-reported and wrote titled “A tale of two cities.”
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Daysi Calavia-Robertson
Columnist
Daysi covers New Jersey's diverse communities. Her work focuses on the issues that impact some of the state's most vulnerable residents. Before joining NJ Advance Media, she spent five years covering small business, affordability and cost-of-living issues, and special interest topics at Long Island's Newsday. In 2020, she contributed to the paper's print, digital and social media coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement, reporting from protests and counter-protests, and writing news and feature stories involving racial justice and race relations. Her work has also appeared in The Miami Herald, el Nuevo Herald, The Sun-Sentinel, the Huffington Post and the Spanish-language television network, Telemundo. A Miami native — and the proud daughter of immigrants of Nicaraguan and Spanish heritage — she's covered lifestyle and entertainment news on-camera, with her segments airing on local television in Florida in English and in Spanish. She earned a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication at Florida International University in her hometown and is passionate about multi-platform storytelling.
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Karim Shamsi-Basha
Food & Culture Columnist
Karim Shamsi-Basha immigrated from Damascus-Syria to the United States in 1984 at the age of 18. He attended the University of Tennessee and acquired a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After that, he pursued what he loved - Photojournalism and writing. His photographic work has taken him to over 50 countries including China, Turkey, Chile, Mexico, France and Italy. Karim's work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Sports Illustrated, Coastal Living, People, Time, Southern Living, NJ.com, The Alabama News Center, al.com, Aramco World magazine, The New York Times, and The Washington Post and many others. Karim's children's book, The Cat Man of Aleppo, won the 2021 Caldecott Honor, the Middle East Book Award and five starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly among others.
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Jacob Anthony Amaro
Mosaic Reporter
Jacob was born and raised in Paterson and is a senior studying journalism at Rutgers University–Newark. He fell in love with journalism at age 17 while writing and taking photos for the student-run news publication at his high school. Jacob has since jumped at every opportunity to tell stories that matter. Notably, he participated in an online storytelling collective called Stories from the Pandemic, where he shared intimate stories and photographs that depicted his family's experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. This work was later adapted into a New York Times article. Most recently, Jacob was a summer intern at NJ Advance Media and spent eight weeks experiencing the hustle and bustle of a highly productive, digital-first newsroom. He continues this partnership with the company by joining Mosaic to tell stories that celebrate N.J.'s cultural richness.
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Michele Hayes
Vice President, Marketing
Michele Hayes has over 30 years of experience in marketing and media research across digital, print and television. She has been named a Top 25 Leading Women Brand Builder. As vice president of marketing for NJ Advance Media, she oversees the research, creative and strategy teams in the development of the company's B2B and B2C marketing efforts including branding, messaging, corporate partnerships, and community outreach, as well as developing effective marketing campaigns for clients. Michele also helps steward the company's Mosaic Empowerment Program with a focus on helping small and medium size minority-owned businesses with marketing grants.
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Kim Alvarez
Chief Revenue Officer
Kim Alvarez is an award-winning multimedia advertising expert, currently serving as Chief Revenue Officer for NJ Advance Media. She was named a Top 25 Leading Women Brand Builder and an NJ AdClub 40 under 40 MARCOM professional. She leads highly successful sales teams, with an operationally based hands-on management style, to provide optimal solutions for advertisers. She is an innovative leader with expertise in conceptualizing, developing, and launching new revenue initiatives. Kim's passion and drive extends beyond the marketing arena. She also is a champion of girl power … encouraging women's professional growth, career development and owning their place in the world. Her advice: “Don't play small. Whether it's a meeting, conference call, email chain, brainstorming session or in any other setting where you want to be heard, don't dim your light. Speak your mind and thoughtfully seize the opportunity.”
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Brian Pfeifer
Director, Sales
Brian Pfeifer has broad expertise in managing highly effective sales teams from niche teams to agencies and major accounts. Brian and his teams are dedicated to leveraging effective cross-channel marketing solutions to help our clients achieve their marketing and business goals. Brian is champion for NJ Advance Media's DE&I efforts and serves co-managing the Mosaic Empowerment Program to help small and medium size minority-owned businesses grow.
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Phoebe Harris
Executive Assistant to NJ Advance Media’s President
Phoebe has duties that include working with teams in Marketing, Preprints, Legal Ads, and in her newest capacity joining the Mosaic team. She has also helped with several company committees, including the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and the Content Removal committee. She also served on a panel for Mental Health Awareness. Phoebe recently relocated to Mississippi but still has New Jersey in her blood. When not working, she loves spending time with her husband, 2 school-age daughters, 4 stuck-up cats, and 1 incredibly lovable dog.