Karen Brophy is a high-impact digital executive and transformation leader with over 25 years of experience scaling media organizations and pioneering audience-first technology. Currently serving as the Chief Digital Officer at the Reynolds Journalism Institute and an endowed chair at the University of Missouri, Karen leads digital transformation for the Missouri News Network. Her career is distinguished by her ability to bridge the gap between legacy media and the modern digital economy, having held pivotal leadership roles at industry titans including Yahoo!, Nexstar Media Group, Hearst, and The New York Times.

During her tenure as President of the Digital Division at Nexstar Media Group, Karen managed the P&L for a massive portfolio covering 200 local stations, The CW, and NewsNation. She delivered the highest digital revenue in the company’s history, achieving 70% growth and launching a custom AI-based advertising platform that redefined ROI for the organization. Her strategic vision was equally transformative at Yahoo!, where as Senior Director of Product Management for Yahoo! News, she doubled revenue and famously developed the Yahoo! Weather app to Steve Jobs’ specific requirements to secure its placement on the original iPhone release.

Karen’s expertise spans the entire digital ecosystem, from modernizing headless CMS architectures and building data science teams to negotiating high-value distribution deals with Apple, Amazon, and Roku. Beyond her corporate achievements, she has operated as a "Fractional COO" and advisor for emerging tech firms, specializing in generative AI and operational excellence. A graduate of Boston College, where she served as an editor for the school’s independent weekly, Karen remains a leading voice in the evolution of sustainable journalism, mentorship, and the business models that power the future of news.