Sarah Adler Hartman Set to Become CEO of The Texas Tribune

Sarah Adler Hartman, who grew up in Austin, is set to become the new CEO of The Texas Tribune this December.

The board of directors announced the news, praising Sarah as an experienced leader with big ideas. She will step into the role at an important time, as the Tribune expands its reach across Texas and strengthens its reporting.

Outgoing CEO Sonal Shah Steps Down

The board also thanked outgoing CEO Sonal Shah for her three years of leadership. Sonal decided to step down earlier this year to spend more time caring for her parents.

She called her work at the Tribune one of the greatest honors of her life and stressed the importance of finding a successor who shared her respect for independent nonprofit news.

Why Sarah Adler Hartman Was the Perfect Fit

Sarah Adler Hartman was the perfect fit. She understands what readers want now and what they’ll need in the future. She brings a mix of media leadership, innovation, and passion for mission-driven journalism.

Before joining the Tribune, Sarah worked at The New York Times, where she led product and subscriber experiences. She started there in 2020 as an entrepreneur in residence, creating new products, and later focused on growing the news subscription business.

Before the Times, she co-founded Spoon University, a food media platform that reached 300 college campuses and 25,000 student members.

After selling it to Scripps Networks Interactive, she worked as Vice President of Product at Discovery, Inc. Sarah also serves on the board of the McDonald Observatory at UT Austin.

Commitment to Trust and Independent Reporting

Sarah believes strongly in trust and innovation in today’s newsrooms. She knows the Tribune is a leader in independent reporting and aims to keep it that way.

As CEO, she will work closely with editor-in-chief Matthew Watkins to build an energetic and inclusive newsroom. She’ll also help guide fundraising, operations, and strategy, making sure the Tribune continues to serve and earn the trust of Texans.

Since it launched, the Tribune has raised $161 million to fund reporting, attracts 3 million unique visitors each month, has over 144,000 newsletter subscribers, and more than 14,000 members.

Board Reflects on the CEO Search

The board described their search for a new CEO as both challenging and exciting. “We found someone ready to push the Tribune forward,” they said. They also thanked readers, members, and supporters, noting that the Tribune’s success relies on their engagement.

In today’s challenging media landscape, independent, honest news is more important than ever—and Sarah Adler Hartman is set to lead the Tribune into its next chapter.

Trei Brundrett is the chair of The Texas Tribune’s board of directors.

Author Profile

Saleem Mubarak: Saleem Mubarak is a journalist and real estate writer who covers Houston’s evolving property market with a sharp eye for local trends and investor dynamics. He focuses on how shifting prices, interest rates, and migration patterns shape the city’s real estate future.

He has interviewed leading real estate professionals to bring readers first-hand insights into Houston’s changing market—from rising investor activity to the influence of social media on property buying.