BillyPenn.com Hires First Reporter

BillyPenn.com, the online news organization slated to make its debut this fall, has announced its first reporter hire. Anna Orso, currently a reporter with the Harrisburg Patriot-News and PennLive.com, will start in Philly on September 15.

Editor Chris Krewson announced the hire in a blog post this morning.

Anna, who edited the Daily Collegian as a Penn State junior before winning the national Hearst Journalism Awards as a senior, is a breaking news and crime enterprise reporter for the central Pennsylvania news provider, a newspaper with a “digital-first” mindset and staffing plan. In addition to her experience covering spot news (including, as an underclassman, the Jerry Sandusky scandal and its fallout), she’s been fearless in using new media and social media to report and present news and information. She’s also freelanced for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and interned at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of a team that I believe is doing something different, not only in terms of how it plans to deliver quality journalism, but because of how it’s aiming to make Philadelphia a better place by bringing together communities,” Anna says. “I believe in this, and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of something so innovative, fresh and meaningful.”

BillyPenn.com is being helmed by Jim Brady, known for his work at WashingtonPost.com, TBD.com, and Digital First Media. The fledgling news organization had previously announced that WHYY veteran Shannon McDonald will be its “community manager.”