Bridge Michigan expands again, hires two editors, Capitol reporter

• Bridge hires two deputy editors: Leslie J. Allen and Jonathan Oosting
• Jordyn Hermani comes aboard to cover the Capitol
• The hires follow years of expansion at Bridge at a time of news industry cuts

Three award-winning journalists began new roles at Bridge Michigan on Monday, continuing a steady expansion as the nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom evolves to better serve the state and its readers.

Bridge hired two deputy editors: Leslie J. Allen, a senior editor at Business Insider, and Jonathan Oosting, a Capitol and politics reporter for Bridge since 2019.

Jordyn Hermani joined as a Capitol reporter, coming to Bridge from MLive, where she covered politics and culture.

“We are delighted to have three top-notch journalists — and people — join our ranks and help us better deliver what readers demand: authoritative, fact-based journalism,” said Joel Kurth, executive editor of impact and enterprise.

The moves follow a year of transition at Bridge that has recently included the retirements of John Bebow, its first chief executive officer and publisher, and Senior Editor David Zeman, and the hiring of Lisa Yanick Litwiller as executive editor of innovation and daily news.

Related:

• Bridge’s John Bebow selected to Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame
• Bridge Michigan expands again, hires editor of innovation, daily news
• Bridge Michigan top editor David Zeman retiring after award-winning career
• How Bridge Michigan grew from a playground idea to national reputation

The new hires cap a national search and come as Bridge ramps up for a dynamic year of journalism and engagement.

Allen has spent decades in business journalism, including more than 15 years at Automotive News, where she led the mobility team that covers EVs and emerging technology. She was managing editor Automotive News TV and worked as an editor at the Detroit Free Press and Philadelphia Inquirer. She has won several awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors.

Oosting is one of Michigan’s best-known political reporters and the Michigan Press Association’s 2021 Journalist of the Year. A reporter since 2007, he’s covered the Capitol and politics for more than a decade, including stints at The Detroit News and MLive.

Hermani has covered the Capitol since 2019, reporting on hot-button national and state issues for MLive and spending three years as a reporter for Gongwer News Service. She’s a former Pulliam Fellow at the Indianapolis Star whose work has appeared in Politico and has won awards from the Michigan Press Association.

The hirings come as Bridge ramps up coverage for a busy election year. Oosting will continue reporting and writing about campaigns before transitioning full-time to editing. A search for his successor will begin soon.

“Bridge plans deep election coverage throughout the year that will help readers better understand not only how national issues such as the presidential election affect Michigan, but key races in their backyards,” Yanick Litwiller said.

The expansion grows Bridge’s ranks to more than 20 journalists at a time of dramatic cuts and layoffs in the news industry.

In the past five years, Bridge has broadened coverage, hiring breaking news, Capitol, business and health reporters and launching new, specialty newsletters.

Founded in 2011, Bridge has won 200 state and national awards, including five Michigan Press Association Newspaper of the Year honors.

Five of its staffers have been named the MPA’s journalists of the year since 2017: Oosting, environmental reporter Kelly House, data reporter Mike Wilkinson, business editor Paula Gardner and Kurth.