Bridge Michigan Adds West Editor
Theresa Coty O’Neil takes the new role to lead regional coverage and manage a journalism collaborative.
By Noor Graham ·
Bridge Michigan named Theresa Coty O’Neil as its new deputy editor for west Michigan. The announcement marks the latest addition to the nonprofit newsroom, which has grown to a staff of 22 journalists over the last decade.
Coty O’Neil will oversee the outlet's coverage of the western region. She will also help manage the West Michigan Journalism Collaborative. This new initiative aims to pool resources among local news organizations to produce more reporting for residents in the area.
In her new capacity, Coty O’Neil will take over authorship of the Bridge Michigan: Western Edition newsletter. She will also represent the organization in the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative. The position was created specifically to strengthen the newsroom's presence in that part of the state.
Katy Locker, CEO of The Center for Michigan, called the hire a way to deepen the organization's commitment to the region. The Center for Michigan publishes both Bridge Michigan and BridgeDetroit. Locker said readers, partners, and donors helped make the expansion possible.
"I’m excited to join Bridge and be a part of a newsroom that values thoughtful, in-depth reporting on issues that matter to people across Michigan," Coty O’Neil said. "I’m especially looking forward to working alongside such a talented group of reporters and editors and to telling the stories of west Michigan, the place I call home."
Coty O’Neil joins from Second Wave Media, where she served as managing editor. That news magazine covers Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, and the surrounding area. She is based in Kalamazoo and has a career that includes journalism, teaching, and newsroom leadership. Before moving to Second Wave Media, she was born in Grand Rapids and raised in Flint.
The new editor will work directly with Regional Editor Justin Hinkley. Hinkley took his role in February 2025 to manage coverage of north and west Michigan. His hiring preceded the addition of several other staff members, including Kim Kozlowski as a senior education reporter and Eli Newman as a health reporter.
