Olivia Obineme (pronouns: she/they) is a content and people strategist, media entrepreneur, and visual journalist based in Chicago, Illinois.

Prior to Third Nook, she served as the director of journalism and media engagement at Public Narrative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to narrative change in Chicago through community bridge-building, workshops, and programming between newsrooms, nonprofits, and neighborhoods. During her tenure, she led initiatives that drove significant audience growth, developed impactful programming like Unpacking Narratives, and introduced sustainable digital solutions, among others. She currently leads revitalization efforts at the Bronzeville Community Garden, fostering community engagement and sustainable practices.

Obineme also served as a coach for the 2024 Local News Accelerator program at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, leveraging her intersectional expertise to foster growth and innovation in journalism among diverse groups and communities.

A proud first-generation Nigerian-American and Baltimore native, Obineme studied mass communications, focusing on journalism and new media at Towson University, and earned a master’s degree in media innovation and entrepreneurship (now media innovation and content strategy) from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her experience spans managing partnerships and local content at the Better Government Association, spearheading civic engagement and community outreach, and leading product management roles at The Chicago Reporter and NPR-affiliate KQED in California.

Obineme is a former TV news producer for WBAL-TV. Her photojournalism and reporting have been featured in various publications, including Capital B, The Trace, South Side Weekly, The TRiiBE, Chicago Reader, Vox, The Guardian, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and Mic.com. She has received recognition for her contributions to journalism, including the Peter Lisagor Award and the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Editorial Award. A two-time Poynter Institute fellow, Obineme has been deeply involved in multiple journalism programs and organizations, including the Chicago Headline Club, where she served as the 2023 VP of FOIA Fest, leading its return to in-person engagement and a fully hybrid format since the height of the pandemic.