Macollvie J. Neel, former Haitian Times reporter, returns as managing editor

NEW YORK ‒ HaitiNex Media Group has named Macollvie J. Neel managing editor of The Haitian Times to oversee editorial strategy and manage the digital publication’s growing team of reporters. 

“We’re pleased Macollvie has rejoined The Haitian Times as we expand our digital footprint,” said Garry Pierre-Pierre, the outlet’s founder. “Her passion for elevating communities, rigorous standards and strategic mindset will be instrumental as we continue to produce quality journalism and provide opportunities for up-and-coming journalists.”

Neel, née Jean-François, worked at The Haitian Times in the early 2000s, a period that saw the publication become a staple in the Haitian community and a model for ethnic media. She went on to build a career in communications for Fortune 500 brands. Now, she works with mission-driven brands whose success benefits underrepresented groups and individuals.

“I am humbled and excited to have a hand in growing The Haitian Times and in elevating our community overall,” Neel said. “Now more than ever, our voices as Haitian-Americans, as immigrant people of color, as builders of this country, need to be lifted and amplified. The Haitian Times was built on this mission, and I’m grateful to be back.”

Founded in 1999 by Pierre-Pierre, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, The Haitian Times has cemented its role as an authoritative news outlet for the Haitian Diaspora and a leader among ethnic media nationwide. 

In 2012, under the leadership of Board Chair Vania André, The Haitian Times became a digital-only publication. It has continued to expand its reach to audiences across the globe who care about Haiti and its diaspora. Within the past year alone, the publication received two major grants that have allowed it to develop new revenue streams and expand coverage. 

The quality journalism that The Haitian Times practices is needed now more than ever as Haitian-Americans face the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery, navigate an overdue reckoning with systemic oppression, and look at Haiti through a lens of opportunity, Neel said. She hopes to cover these issues and to provide useful, relevant content needed to develop solutions. 

“The Haitian Times has been at the forefront of showcasing our narratives, from our points of view, since inception,” said Neel, a Haiti-born Brooklynite. “It’s an honor to work with such visionaries as Garry and Vania, our talented reporters and our partners to shape the organization for generations to come.”

Neel first joined The Haitian Times in 2002 as a reporter. For nearly four years, she covered the community’s assimilation across the U.S. through its advances and pain points, its triumphs and tribulations. She traveled to Haiti, the Caribbean and Europe to deliver award-winning journalism featured in international outlets.

After moving to South Florida’s Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Neel went on to earn an MBA. She then forged a career in communications as a strategic advisor to senior leaders at The Walt Disney Company, MetLife, and clients of Mercer, the world’s top HR consultancy. 

In 2019, Neel founded Comms Maven LLC, a boutique firm that provides writing and communications services to mission-driven individuals and entities.

“These are challenging times for media organizations in general, so we’ll be working extremely hard to meet our readers’ and advertisers’ content and engagement needs,” Neel said. “We’re hoping for community support to achieve our mutual goals.”

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ABOUT THE HAITIAN TIMES

The Haitian Times is the leading news outlet covering the Haitian Diaspora globally. Our mission is to bridge the generational and geographical gaps among Haitians, and tell the real story of Haiti through a human-first perspective. Founded in 1999 in Brooklyn, New York as a weekly publication, The Haitian Times has evolved from a local newspaper to a global media brand covering the community’s evolution across borders. Follow us on Twitter @HaitianTimes_ Instagram @HaitianTimes, and TikTok @thehaitiantimes.