Ben Nishimoto is the Vice President of Operations and Philanthropy for Honolulu Civil Beat, responsible for executing revenue, audience, and operating strategies for our statewide newsroom.

Under his leadership, Civil Beat has increased its operational budget, staff size and audience, while exceeding overall operational fundraising goals in each of the past 8 fiscal years. Civil Beat’s revenue and audience growth strategies have been featured by Poynter, Editor & Publisher, Institute for Nonprofit News, American Journalism Project and News Revenue Hub.

Prior to Civil Beat, Ben was the Vice President of Advancement at PBS Hawaiʻi, where he played a leadership role in the station’s capital campaign while also overseeing annual fund strategies.

Born and raised in ʻAiea, Ben graduated from the University Laboratory School, a public charter school in Mānoa. He majored in political science at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

Ben believes strongly that journalism can thrive as a public good supported by people and communities who value information without agenda or bias. A news junkie, Ben is thrilled to work in a newsroom and among journalists dedicated to making Hawaiʻi — his home — a better place to live.

He can be reached at bnishimoto@civilbeat.org.