Chris Hughes was elected to Knight Foundation’s board of trustees in 2011. Hughes is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The New Republic.

As editor-in-chief and publisher of The New Republic, Chris Hughes is a leading voice on the future of media. A founder of Facebook and architect of President Obama’s 2008 social media campaign strategy, Hughes is well-positioned to revolutionize traditional journalism.

An ardent believer in the social role of journalism in society, Hughes purchased The New Republic in March 2012 to preserve the magazine’s tradition of critical thinking and nuanced long-form analysis. Since taking the helm, he has re-engineered the nearly century-old institution to take full advantage of the digital age, including a full redesign of the magazine and seamless delivery of content across digital and mobile platforms.

Hughes began his career in 2004, when he co-founded Facebook with his Harvard roommates, serving first as the site’s spokesperson, then as a leader of its product and user experience team. In 2007, he became Director of Online Organizing for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, where his success in generating grassroots support revolutionized the use of the Web as a political tool. Hughes helped Obama raise more than $500 million online.

Hughes is also an independent investor in technology and media companies.