Kristen Go is CalMatters' new editor in chief

Kristen Go

Kristen Go is CalMatters’ new editor in chief, bringing extensive experience in high-quality local and national journalism to the eight-year-old nonprofit newsroom.

Born and raised in California, Go joins CalMatters from USA TODAY, where she was vice president and executive editor for news and initiatives.

“CalMatters has consistently played an important role in impacting the lives of Californians,” Go said. “I’m thrilled to continue building on the great work, growing its presence around the state and working with our media partners to hold the powerful accountable and create a better California.”

Go will succeed founding editor Dave Lesher, who is staying at CalMatters and will lead a new effort to transform government accountability reporting.

“Kristen is a great fit for this next chapter at CalMatters,” Lesher said. “Our continued opportunities to grow in size and reach will benefit from her deep experience managing large newsrooms, multimedia and quality journalism.”

Go grew up in California’s Central Valley, in Stockton, and started her career while in high school, reporting for her hometown newspaper. She graduated from the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada at Reno, was a fellow in the Maynard Media Management program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and has been a reporter and editor at major journalism organizations across the West.