Samantha Willis

About

Samantha Willis is a journalist and editor whose experience in digital, print and broadcast media spans 13 years. Her work has appeared in leading publications including Glamour Magazine, Essence Magazine, HuffPost Life, DownBeat Magazine, Scalawag Magazine, and the Columbia Journalism Review, and within a wide range of Virginia-based media. In November 2022, Samantha became Deputy + Commentary Editor at The Virginia Mercury, one of the state's leading nonprofit newsrooms. She became The Mercury's Editor-in-Chief in March 2024. In April 2021, Samantha began her role as Editorial Producer for VPM's only TV news show, which debuted in February 2022. She is also the co-creator of The Unmasking Series, an anti-racism dialogue and workshop program which has convened four times throughout the state of Virginia since its founding: #UnmaskingRVA in Richmond (2016-17) #UnmaskingCville in Charlottesville (2018) #UnmaskingHR in south Hampton Roads (2019), and #UnmaskingPeninsula with Hampton University (2021).