Ned Berke is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at BlueLena, where he leads strategic frameworks that empower independent news organizations to accelerate audience growth, optimize reader revenue, and build sustainable business models. With more than a decade of leadership in audience development and newsroom innovation, Ned is a trusted advisor to publishers navigating the evolving landscape of digital media and reader-supported business strategies.
Since joining BlueLena in 2021, Ned has been central to shaping the company’s approach to audience strategy and publisher success. He works directly with newsroom leaders to translate best-practice models into measurable outcomes, carries forward an extensive library of proven audience growth tactics, and drives knowledge-sharing through thought leadership, client communications, and cross-industry roundtables.
Prior to BlueLena, Ned served as Program Director of Audience Development at the Center for Cooperative Media, where he provided training and strategic consulting to local, regional, niche, and investigative news organizations seeking sustainable growth trajectories. His career spans executive editorial and leadership roles, including Editor-in-Chief at the Brooklyn Eagle, Senior Editor and Associate Publisher at Corner Media Group, and Editor & Publisher at Sheepshead Bites.
Ned’s experience also includes serving as Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Audience Development at the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism, where he guided more than thirty media brands through strategy development and implementation. He is a Founding Board Member of the Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers Association, reflecting his long-standing commitment to innovation and collaboration in independent media.
A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Journalism and Media Studies, Ned combines deep industry insight with a data-informed, audience-first perspective that drives growth and resilience for today’s digital newsrooms. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and children.