Establishing Facebook News as a Destination for Journalism

Overview
At a pivotal moment in Facebook’s history—amid rising scrutiny over misinformation and its role in journalism—we set out to launch something radically different: a dedicated News tab. The goal was to carve out a space on the platform where credible journalism could thrive, curated with intention, and surfaced with clarity.

I was part of the founding design team that brought this vision to life. From early concepts to launch, I helped define what a news experience should feel like inside Facebook, balancing the needs of readers, publishers, and the public at large.

What I Did
I led core design work across the surface, shaping how content was structured, how publishers were represented, and how editorial and algorithmic choices could coexist. I worked closely with teams across product, engineering, integrity, and partnerships to ensure the experience met the moment—delivering not just functionality, but trustworthiness and editorial weight.

Impact
The News tab quickly became one of Facebook’s most visible product signals that it was taking journalism seriously. It created a standalone destination that elevated reporting from trusted sources, distinct from the main feed. It also served as the backbone for future news events on the platform, including Facebook’s live election coverage in 2020.

For publishers, it provided meaningful traffic and monetization opportunities. For users, it introduced a clear and direct way to engage with high-quality news in an otherwise crowded information environment.

Why It Matters
The creation of the Facebook News tab was more than a new feature—it was a shift in how Facebook related to journalism. It gave space and structure to credible reporting, established new partnerships with the news industry, and laid the groundwork for a more intentional, responsible approach to news distribution at scale.