In a world where journalism is constantly being tested, reshaped, and reimagined, Mitra Kalita has emerged as a powerful force for change. A journalist, author, and media executive, she is known not just for her remarkable career spanning some of the world’s top newsrooms, but for her relentless drive to transform the way stories are told and who gets to tell them.
Her journey reflects resilience, vision, and a deep sense of responsibility toward equity in media. Whether she’s leading digital innovation in global newsrooms, writing about migration and globalization, or co-founding platforms to amplify marginalized voices, Mitra Kalita’s story is one of impact, courage, and inspiration.
Mitra Kalita: Early Roots and Global Perspective
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Island, Puerto Rico, and New Jersey, Mitra Kalita’s upbringing gave her a truly global outlook. With roots in Assam, India, and a life lived across different cultures, she grew up understanding the complexities of identity and belonging. These early experiences would later shape her journalism and her passion for telling stories that bridge communities.
Kalita pursued her career with a strong belief that journalism is not just about reporting events but about reframing narratives. This belief would become the foundation for her groundbreaking work in media.
Breaking Ground in Journalism
Mitra Kalita’s career is a testament to her ability to adapt and innovate. She has worked at some of the most influential news organizations, including The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Quartz, and CNN Digital.
-
At the Wall Street Journal, she directed coverage of the Great Recession and launched Livemint, a major business newspaper in New Delhi, India, along with founding editor Raju Narisetti.
-
At Quartz, she served as founding ideas editor and later as executive editor, helping launch Quartz India and Quartz Africa to expand the publication’s global footprint.
-
During her time at the Los Angeles Times, she was the managing editor for editorial strategy, helping the newsroom achieve record-breaking traffic and innovate new storytelling models.
-
At CNN Digital, she rose to become Senior Vice President, overseeing news, programming, and opinion. She pioneered real-time story formats like “Live Story” and set new standards for framing and presenting news to digital audiences.
In every role, Kalita stood out for her ability to merge editorial strategy with audience engagement, ensuring that journalism stayed relevant in a rapidly evolving digital age.
Epicenter-NYC: Serving Communities in Crisis
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic upended lives, Mitra Kalita took an unconventional step. Rather than focusing solely on national or global coverage, she founded Epicenter-NYC, a newsletter designed to help New Yorkers navigate the crisis.
What started as a way to share practical information soon became a lifeline for thousands. Epicenter helped over 25,000 people register for vaccines, and it grew into a trusted resource for immigrants, small businesses, and communities often overlooked by mainstream media.
This initiative showed Kalita’s belief that journalism should not only inform but also serve. Epicenter’s success made headlines across outlets like the New York Post, Vice, and WNYC, proving that local, community-driven media could be both innovative and impactful.
URL Media: Redefining Equity in News
Kalita’s most transformative project is URL Media, a network of Black and Brown community news outlets that share content and revenue. Co-founded with Sara Lomax-Reese, URL Media is both a business and a movement.
With support from major brands such as Nike, Hulu, McKinsey, and the NHL, along with funding from the Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Democracy Fund, Ford Foundation, and Archewell, URL Media is building a sustainable model for journalism that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Unlike traditional media partnerships, URL Media ensures that community voices lead the conversation. By syndicating content and partnering with mainstream outlets, the network expands representation while ensuring financial growth for smaller newsrooms.
Mitra Kalita: Author and Thought Leader
Beyond her executive roles, Mitra Kalita is also the author of two acclaimed books:
-
“Suburban Sahibs” – a groundbreaking look at how immigrant families redefined New Jersey and, by extension, America.
-
“My Two Indias” – a deeply personal economic memoir exploring globalization and identity.
Her writing captures both the personal and the global, offering readers new ways to think about migration, belonging, and cultural transformation.
Kalita has also been a columnist for Fortune, Time, and Charter, sharing insights on the workplace and the post-COVID economy. Her voice remains sharp, direct, and refreshingly honest—once described by CNN anchor Brian Stelter as “wonderfully blunt.”
A Teacher, Mentor, and Innovator
Passionate about the future of journalism, Kalita has devoted time to teaching and mentoring. She has been a visiting faculty member at Columbia Journalism School, CUNY, St. John’s University, and UMass-Amherst, while also teaching through the Poynter Institute and the Online News Association.
She has served as a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation, bringing her experience to the academic exploration of journalism’s future. Her philosophy on the “arc of a story” has influenced countless journalists across the industry.
Personal Life and Values
Despite her high-profile career, Mitra Kalita remains grounded in her values. Living in Queens with her husband and two daughters, she continues to connect her personal life with her professional mission: building a world where media is more inclusive, compassionate, and impactful.
She speaks multiple languages, navigates multiple cultures, and embodies the very global perspective she brings into journalism.
Also Read : Kinjil Mathur: Blending Business Growth with Social Good