CMU elects Bridge’s Lisa Yanick Litwiller to Media Hall of Fame
- Central Michigan University’s Media Hall of Fame to induct Lisa Yanick Litwiller
- She became Bridge Michigan’s first executive editor of innovation but died months later, in March 2024
- She is being recognized for her contributions as a journalist, editor and newsroom leader
Lisa Yanick Litwiller, a former editor at Bridge Michigan, will be inducted posthumously this fall into the Media Hall of Fame of Central Michigan University’s College of Arts and Media.
A 2000 graduate of CMU and longtime resident of Mt. Pleasant, Yanick Litwiller had a distinguished career in community and nonprofit journalism before joining Bridge as executive editor of innovation in January 2024.
She died of cancer at age 46 in March 2024. During her time at Bridge, she partnered with Executive Editor of Impact Joel Kurth to grow newsletters, expand the staff and restructure the newsroom during a major transition.
“Lisa was a bright light who left a huge mark everywhere she went. She would be delighted by this honor from a university she always championed,” Kurth said.
“We are proud to have worked with her and wish we had more time in her orbit.”
Related: Lisa Yanick Litwiller, Bridge editor and Mt. Pleasant stalwart, dies of cancer
She began her career at the Morning Sun in Mt. Pleasant and rose to become director of audience for the Pulitzer Prize-winning Center for Public Integrity, which ceased operations this year.
Yanick Litwiller held a similar position at Hearst Newspapers, where she led a nationally award-winning investigation into sexual abuse involving the Boys & Girls Club in Connecticut.
At Bridge, she was responsible for managing daily news and political coverage as well as guiding the outlet’s transition to newsletters and other products.
Yanick Litwiller was succeeded by Kathy Kieliszewski, who came to Bridge after 22 years at the Detroit Free Press, including 12 as senior director of visuals.
Litwiller will be honored, along with six others, for her work as an innovative photojournalist, reporter and editor during the induction ceremony on Nov. 1.
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