About Natasha S. Alford

Natasha S. Alford is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and media executive who uses the power of storytelling to inspire and inform. As the Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer of theGrio, she leads a national newsroom dedicated to amplifying overlooked narratives and reporting on critical issues impacting the Black community. 

A versatile creator, Natasha is the executive producer and director of the Amazon Prime Video documentary Afro-Latinx Revolution: Puerto Rico (2020), which explores the complexities of Afro-Latino identity. In 2024, she published her critically acclaimed memoir, American Negra (HarperCollins), which earned an International Latino Book Award and reflects on her journey navigating race, identity, and a career in media.

Before her executive leadership roles, Natasha was a general assignment reporter for WROC-TV and an educator with Teach For America. Her work has been featured in major outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue, and Oprah Daily. Recognized for her impact, she was named "Emerging Journalist of the Year" by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in 2018.
Areas of Expertise

Digital Media Leadership & Strategy
Afro-Latino Identity & Diaspora Stories
Political Analysis & Social Justice
Documentary Filmmaking & Production
Memoir & Narrative Non-Fiction Writing

Professional Experience

Senior Vice President & Chief Content Officer — theGrio (Present)
Political Analyst — CNN (2019–Present)
Vice President of Digital Content — theGrio (2019–2024)
Adjunct Assistant Professor — Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
General Assignment Reporter — WROC-TV (Rochester, NY)

Education

Master of Public Policy (MPP) — Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs
Master of Science in Broadcast Journalism — Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism

Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies — Harvard University

Follow her on social media at @natashasalford across all platforms.