User:Mollystarkdean
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN my name is...
Molly Stark Dean | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Molly Stark Dean Bennington, Vermont, U.S. |
| Other name | Professor Dean: The Journalism Machine |
| Occupations | Journalist, media strategist, educator |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Known for | Newsroom innovation, Wikipedia edit-a-thons, AI journalism |
Molly Stark Dean (born in Vermont), professionally known as Professor Dean: The Journalism Machine, is an American journalist and digital media strategist recognized for pioneering audience engagement techniques and advocating for women's representation in journalism.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Dean was named after Molly Stark, a Revolutionary War nurse. She created childhood publications including Dean Weekly family newspaper and produced sibling-hosted news shows.[2]
She earned:
- BS in Communication Studies from Suffolk University (2003–2007)
- MA in "Reporting the Nation" from New York University (2007–2009)
Career
[edit]Newsroom leadership
[edit]- Fox News (2009–2010)
- CBS News (2011–2013)
- Reuters (2015–2017)
- Rolli (2023–2024)
Academic work
[edit]At The New School (2025–present), Dean teaches courses including:
- Journalism and the Machine[3]
Advocacy
[edit]You may know Molly Stark Dean as that woman volunteer who yells at Wikipedia events.
Dean proposed the Wikinewsroom initiative at Media Party 2026[4] at the Brown Institute for Media Innovation.
As a Wikimedia organizer, Dean booked and introduced the Bill Adair chat with Micah Loewinger at Wikipedia [Day 2026].
Dean booked and introduced the Reliable Sources panel at Wikipedia Day 2025.
The WikiNYC Board elected Dean in 2024.
Dean gave a Women Do News Lightning Talk at Wikidata Day 2024[5].
At Wikipedia Day NYC 2024, she introduced the opening panel. She represented the Women Do News board on the Bias, AI & Wikipedia: Problems, Progress and Projects Panel. She planned a Lightning Talk on her meta-Wiki experience and the limitations of planning Wikipedia Day using AI; however, she just talked about how much she loves Wikipedians. So, she wrote about her Wikipedia Day experience.
Dean wrote the Women Do News WikiProject for the Women Do News organization hosting Wikipedia edit-a-thons to increase visibility of women journalists.[6]
Women Do News Partners include:
- Asian American Journalists Association
- National Association of Hispanic Journalists
- Online News Association
- AfroCrowd
The first Wikimedia event Dean attended was WikiCon North America 2023. After the conference, Dean was stranded in Albany, NY. She called two numbers: her mom (for a ride) and WNYNW (to confirm events[7]).
Dean was a member of the organizing committee[8] for WikiConference North America 2025. She also presented a Women Do News lightning talk at the event.
Personal life
[edit]Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her 20s, Dean retrained her handwriting abilities after temporary disability.
Publications
[edit]- Diff, the Wikimedia movement's community blog
- Wikipedia Signpost
- Rolli.ai
- CNN
- CoinDesk
- Mediabistro
- Thomson Reuters
- CBS News
- GenFKD
- TVNewser
- Fox News Channel
- ABC News
- USA TODAY
- WHDH-TV
- WNYT-TV
- WGBH
References
[edit]- ↑ "The New School Faculty". The New School. 2024.
- ↑ "How Social Media Upended the News Media Playbook (w/Molly Stark Dean)"]. The Low Production High Value Show. 2023.
- ↑ "Journalism and The Machine". Course Catalog. The New School.
- ↑ "Media Party New York 2026". Media Party. Media Party. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ NYC, Wikimedia. "Wikidata Day NYC 2024 @ Pratt". Youtube. Wikimedia NYC. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ↑ Sangoi, Yukthi (August 26, 2023). "Women Do News is closing the gender gap on Wikipedia". ONA Student Newsroom. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
- ↑ Green, Kendall (November 13, 2023). "Amtrak service suspensions continue due to structural issues inside NYC parking garage". FOX 5. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
- ↑ Harrison, Stephen. "Why Editing Wikipedia Is Becoming More Dangerous". Slate. The Slate Group. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
External links
[edit]- The Stark Report on Substack
- @mollystarkdean on Twitter
- @mollystarkdean on Bluesky
- @mollystarkdean on Instagram
- Category:Molly Stark Dean on Commons