Detour Detroit is your guide to navigating the ever-changing Motor City. We are committed to publishing equitable journalism about Detroit’s diverse neighborhoods and building community through meaningful engagement.
Read more about Detour’s mission, backstory and editorial policies.
Ashley Woods Branch is the founder and CEO of Detour Media, a local journalism startup that builds community, spotlights neighborhood issues and curates Detroit news through an equitable perspective. Ashley leads Detour’s audience growth strategies, community partnerships, revenue operations and strategic planning. She’s also a sought-after consultant for digital newsrooms and has worked with more than 100 news outlets across America. Ashley previously led consumer experience and digital strategy at the Detroit Free Press and was the editor of HuffPost’s Detroit bureau, as well as a reporter and editor focused on Detroit culture and development for MLive, Real Detroit Weekly and Model D. She was a 2019 Marshall Memorial Fellow and a 2018 Visiting Nieman Journalism Fellow at Harvard University. Follow her on Twitter: @ash_detroit
Kate Abbey-Lambertz is the co-founder and editorial director for Detour Media. She leads editorial strategy for the signature Detour Detroit newsletter, The Blend and special projects, while shaping Detour’s membership program, audience development initiatives and design. Kate was previously a national reporter at HuffPost, where she covered equitable cities and urban issues. She launched HuffPost’s Detroit vertical, serving as reporter and editor, and has reported on Detroit for a decade. Follow her on Twitter: @kabbeyl
Nina Misuraca Ignaczak is a contributing editor for Detour Detroit. She is the founder and executive editor of Planet Detroit, a digital media startup that tells Detroit’s environmental stories while building a community of engaged readers who are informed and empowered to act personally and publicly. She is an award-winning freelance journalist who writes, edits and produces stories about the environment, place and identity. Her recent work has been published by Detour Detroit, Belt Magazine, HuffPost, Detroit Free Press, WDET, Crains Detroit Business, Business Insider, Curbed Detroit and Model D. Prior to her career in journalism, she worked in urban planning in the local government and nonprofit sectors. She has a Master of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan. Follow her on Twitter: @ninaignaczak
Alex Washington is the community manager for Detour Detroit. She is a Detroit-based freelance lifestyle/entertainment journalist, blogger and podcast host. When she’s not dissecting rap lyrics, she’s probably baking something – and tweeting about it. Follow her on Twitter: @alex_washington
Allison Jacobs is the digital producer and lifestyle reporter for Detour Detroit. She was the former digital editor at The Detroit Jewish News, where she helped oversee their digital strategy and produced a four-part video series called “Bubbie’s Kitchen.” Over the years, she has contributed articles for The Detroit Jewish News and SEEN Magazine. She’s a stickler for honest reporting and creating content that educates, entertains and inspires. Follow her on Twitter: @ajacobs114
Courtney Wise Randolph is the culture and community reporter and producer for Detour Detroit. She is a native Detroiter with a heart for people and their stories. A WDET Storymakers Fellow, she also writes for nonprofits and individuals through her small business Keen Composition. Follow her on Twitter: @shes_cwise
Aaron Mondry is the editor of The Dig, Detour’s real estate and development vertical, and a reporter who covers development, housing, architecture and land use in Detroit. He was previously the editor of Curbed Detroit. Follow him on Twitter: @AaronMondry
Kelsey Hubbell is the Engagement and Partnerships Strategist for Detour Detroit. Kelsey leads Detour’s Keep Detroit Local business partnership program, implementation of membership growth strategies, and (virtual, for now) events. She has consulted for a number of local nonprofit organizations, start ups, and small businesses through her company Roots to Rise Detroit. Kelsey is a native Detroiter, avid cycling advocate, and passionate dog mom. Follow her on Twitter: @kelseyhubbell
Maggie McMillin is an Election SOS fellow with Detour Detroit. She is a writer and editor who is interested in local journalism, environmental justice, and stories that help readers better understand and connect with their communities. She previously covered entertainment and nonprofit news for the Ann Arbor Observer and has a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan.
Alison Saldanha is an Election SOS fellow with Detour Detroit. She is an international award-winning data journalist, who recently graduated from the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University. She is currently based in Chicago and is also working with The New York Times on its COVID-19 tracking project. Originally from Mumbai, India, Alison’s work primarily focuses on social justice, politics, policy and minority communities. Follow her on Twitter: @alisonsald
Detour Media relies on a talented slate of reporters and journalism professionals to bring readers thoughtful, delightful and community-rooted coverage of Detroit, including Lauren Ann Davies, Ned Berke, Ken Coleman, Nargis Rahman, Anna Clark, Imani Mixon, Rhonda Smith, Jess Jackson, Sara Aldridge, Damon Mitchell, Kevin Moore, Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Darren Nichols, Jamon Jordan, Steven Shik, Morgan McPeak, Stephanie Steinberg, Serena Maria Daniels, Darralynn Hutson, Sarah Williams, Clare Brennan, Zaria Phillips and Sara Powers.
Detour is committed to publishing diverse voices and viewpoints and to working with BIPOC writers. Journalists interested in freelance opportunities can contact Kate Abbey-Lambertz at kate@detourdetroiter.com.
Detour Media has editorial partnerships with organizations including Outlier Media, Detroit Women’s Leadership Network, Planet Detroit, Detroit Equity Action Lab, Solutions Journalism Network, Report for America, The American Press Institute, The Fulcrum and Local Independent Online News Publishers.
