Scoop: Texas Tribune names New York Times vet as its new CEO

Driving the news: Adler Hartman will start at the Tribune in December, succeeding Sonal Shah, who announced in April that she would step down at the end of the year to be closer to her parents in Houston.

Zoom in: Adler Hartman started at the Times in 2020 as an entrepreneur in residence, then focused on the news subscription business.

• Before that, she co-founded Spoon University, a food media platform that was acquired by Scripps Networks Interactive.
• Adler Hartman is the daughter of former Austin Mayor Steve Adler.

What they're saying: "As a native Texan, it's an honor to return to Austin and lead this critically important organization when the work is more urgent than ever," Adler Hartman said in a statement.

• "The Tribune is not only a beacon of transparency and information for Texans, but it serves as a national model for how a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom can operate effectively."

State of play: For most of its history, the Tribune operated profitably, inspiring other philanthropists and entrepreneurs to experiment with similar nonprofit newsroom models.

• But it has also faced the same headwinds buffeting the media industry. The outlet underwent layoffs in 2023.

Last year, the Tribune announced plans to build a network of local newsrooms, beginning in Waco, to deepen community coverage.

• In May, it acquired the Austin Monitor as part of that strategy.

What's next: The Texas Tribune Festival — a three-day gathering of lawmakers, policy experts and political insiders — returns to downtown Austin Nov. 13–15.