Visionary Journalist: Pulitzer Prize-Winner Geeta Anand Heads to Vermont to Take Up a New Assignment

VTDigger announced Wednesday the appointment of Geeta Anand, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and university dean, as its new editor-in-chief, effective July 1.

The appointment marks what VTDigger CEO Sky Barsch called “a defining moment for Vermont journalism” that will shape the future of independent news in the state.

“Geeta Anand is not only one of the most extraordinary journalists of our time, she’s also a visionary with a gift for inspiring and empowering those around her,” Barsch said in a statement. “The excitement we feel about her joining our team is matched only by the impact her leadership will have on the state of Vermont.”

In her new role, Anand will lead VTDigger’s newsroom of more than 20 journalists, focusing on rigorous journalism that explains complex issues, promotes public accountability, and fosters democratic engagement.

“I look forward to working with VTDigger’s staff and board to develop a bold and ambitious vision for our newsroom’s future,” Anand said. “We will together find a way to enable our newsroom to take on the biggest, boldest investigative projects while also continuing to cover the most important news in our state.”

Anand emphasized that her first priority will be supporting and mentoring editorial staff while helping to create a sustainable newsroom culture. She also plans to work closely with CEO Barsch on fundraising efforts to ensure the long-term viability of VTDigger’s journalism.

Gaye Symington, president of the Vermont Journalism Trust, VTDigger’s parent organization, noted that Anand’s decision to join the organization “is a powerful testament to the quality of our journalism and its impact on Vermont.”

For Anand, the appointment represents a meaningful return to Vermont, where she began her journalism career at The Rutland Herald in the early 1990s. During her time there, she covered southern Vermont and the City of Rutland, and uncovered widespread errors by a major credit reporting company, an investigation that contributed to new federal legislation.

“This job is really coming full circle for Greg and me,” Anand said, referring to her husband, Greg Kroitzsh, a Vermont native whose parents ran the Salt Ash Inn in Plymouth. “It has always been our dream to come back to Vermont, and this job gives us the chance to do that in a way that is truly meaningful as a journalist and journalism leader.”

Geeta Anand brings nearly three decades of distinguished journalism experience to VTDigger. Most recently, she served as dean of the University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, where she helped shape the next generation of journalists.

Prior to her academic leadership, Anand built an impressive career as a journalist across multiple prestigious news organizations. She worked as a foreign correspondent in India for both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, where her investigative reporting earned her a Pulitzer Prize.

Her early career included covering City Hall for the Boston Globe before her formative years at The Rutland Herald, where she began developing her investigative reporting skills.

Beyond her reporting, Anand is the author of “The Cure,” a non-fiction book chronicling a father’s fight to find a cure for his terminally ill children. The book was later adapted into the film “Extraordinary Measures,” starring Harrison Ford.

Throughout her career, Anand has maintained a reputation for rigorous reporting, mentorship of emerging journalists, and a commitment to journalism that serves the public interest—qualities she now brings to VTDigger as she leads the organization into its next chapter.

(Top photo by Wesaam-Al-Badry, courtesy of UC Berkeley)