David Beard

David Beard is the former executive editor of PRI.org.

David Beard is the former executive editor of PRI.org. He has worked both in the trenches as a foreign correspondent and editor and as a strategist leading digital change and audience growth for major news organizations. 

He started his journalism career as a foreign reporter in Latin America and an international editor for AP and the Boston Globe. He then jumped into multimedia storytelling and inventing new ways to engage people on the web, first as editor of Boston.com and later as deputy editor-in-chief of National Journal. As digital content director for the Washington Post, David rapidly built new audience and coverage for the Post’s site through newsletters, blogs, videos and graphic storytelling projects. 

David also believes in collaboration, with the audience and with other news organizations. He has forged partnerships with newsrooms that include National Geographic, Roll Call, Smithsonian, The New York Times and The Atlantic.

He is a former digital journalism instructor at the Harvard Extension School, a scholar for the Inter American Press Association and a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Beard left PRI in 2016.

The World's newsroom

PRI and GlobalPost are now one site and one team

PRI.org is growing. Please give a big welcome to GlobalPost, whose award-winning work from around the world is joining our news report.

PRI and GlobalPost are now one site and one team
Munich in a panic after mall shooting

Witness: 'I could see people lying on the ground'

Witness: 'I could see people lying on the ground'
Baton Rouge police shooting

Three law enforcement officers killed in Baton Rouge shooting

Three law enforcement officers killed in Baton Rouge shooting
Turkey coup young people

For young Turks, a coup is something new

For young Turks, a coup is something new
French police forces and forensic officers stand next to a truck

Truck plows into Bastille Day crowd in Nice; officials report at least 84 dead

Truck plows into Bastille Day crowd in Nice; officials report at least 84 dead
People hold banners during a March for Europe demonstration against Britain's decision to leave the European Union, in central London. Britain voted to leave the European Union in the EU Brexit referendum.

Brexit winners and losers: Britain's next prime minister will be a woman

The next UK prime minister will be a woman after Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom have made the Conservative party shortlist. That follows a resignation, a drop out and the general implosion of British leadership after the nation's vote to leave the European Union.

Brexit winners and losers: Britain's next prime minister will be a woman
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange before the opening bell, June 24, 2016.

Explainer: The Brexit aftermath, in charts

A visual guide to geographic and demographic divisions in Britain's vote against the European Union — and how that decision has roiled the world's markets.

Explainer: The Brexit aftermath, in charts
House sit-in

Extraordinary House sit-in went on despite shutdown of cameras

House Democrats had vowed not to go on break until they could vote on a gun bill. They continued for a while, even after the House voted to break until July 5, and pledged more protest when Congress resumed.

Extraordinary House sit-in went on despite shutdown of cameras
Bush, Trump square off in GOP debate

As time draws short, candidates search for authenticity in New Hampshire

Hillary Clinton struggling to pay off loans on a $14,000 a year job. Ted Cruz going into debt to rescue his nephew from his drug-addled half-sister. As Tuesday draws near, candidates are using personal stories to try to set them apart in New Hampshire's presidential primary.

As time draws short, candidates search for authenticity in New Hampshire
Jason Rezaian reported freed by Iran

Iran frees detained Americans as part of broader US-Iran deal

Those freed included Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who had been held for 544 days on trumped-up charges. Iran's foreign minister, Javad Zarif, tweeted: "It’s now time for all — especially Muslim nations — to join hands and rid the world of violent extremism. Iran is ready."

Iran frees detained Americans as part of broader US-Iran deal
Jason Rezaian, imprisoned by Iran since July 2014

'Journalism is not a crime'

Twenty-five news organizations signed this plea to Secretary of State John Kerry

'Journalism is not a crime'
Flames rise outside Saudi Embassy in Tehran

Kuwait recalls ambassador from Tehran; Saudi-Iran split deepens

Saudi Arabia and Iran have never been friends, but their relations went from bad to worse over the weekend. Saudi Arabia and allies Sudan and Bahrain have broken off diplomatic relations with Tehran and ordered Iranian diplomats out of their nations within 48 hours.

Kuwait recalls ambassador from Tehran; Saudi-Iran split deepens
'Solar mamas' bring light to Zanzibar

Saving Christians, fighting a scourge, bringing light: The year in hope

They wouldn't yield to terrorists, dictators or diseases. They brought light to the world. A look at seven stories in 2015 that inspired us.

Saving Christians, fighting a scourge, bringing light: The year in hope
Did Canada have an extraordinarily nice 2015?

Trudeaumania: Five stories that charmed us from Canada

What was it about Canada this year? A new prime minister (headed this week to Washington)? An attempt at taking already legendary niceness up a notch? These stories caught our eye — in a good way.

Trudeaumania: Five stories that charmed us from Canada
Martin Niemöller at the 8th World Youth Festival.

Trump, Martin Niemöller and the Washington Post

Three decades after his death, the Lutheran theologian who stood up to the Nazis is front-page news. His response to Hitler's persecution has been widely adapted after Donald Trump's hateful rhetoric against Mexicans and Muslims.

Trump, Martin Niemöller and the Washington Post