Kyla L. Wright has been named Managing Editor of Model D, becoming the first Black woman to hold this position. The appointment comes during Black History Month’s 100th anniversary, adding special significance to this historic moment. She will lead one of Detroit’s oldest publications, which has documented the city’s stories since 2005.
Wright steps into this role in one of the Blackest cities in the country at a pivotal moment. “In a city where Black culture and innovation shape every layer of life, representation in media leadership is not only symbolic: it is essential,” she stated. She approaches this responsibility with humility, care, and conviction about stewarding the publication forward.
From Ninth-Grade Journalism Class to Leading Detroit Media
Wright’s journalism journey began over a decade ago as an eighth-grader building her high school schedule. While scanning electives for Renaissance High School, one course caught her attention: journalism. Unsure of what it entailed, she asked her older brother Kyle for clarification.
“It’s writing for the school paper,” he explained simply, which was enough to spark her interest. Wright loved to write, so she selected the course without fully understanding its impact. That single decision would profoundly shape her entire life and career trajectory in ways she couldn’t imagine.
Journalism Was Already in Her DNA
Long before Wright could define journalism academically, it had already defined her daily life experiences. Mornings spent reading the Detroit Free Press with her family established early media literacy habits. Evenings watching Diana and Glenda Lewis deliver the news on WXYZ with her grandmother, Ninotchka Jackson, became cherished rituals.
Journalism was always present in her household; she just didn’t yet have the language to name it. This early exposure to local news and storytelling planted seeds that would blossom into professional passion. Her grandmother’s commitment to staying informed modeled the importance of community-connected journalism.
Discovering the Power to Challenge Narratives
Growing up in Detroit, Wright witnessed firsthand how narratives about cities can be incomplete or distorted. Stories about Detroit and the people who inhabit it often disconnected from lived reality, she observed. As a ninth-grade student in Ms. Craighead’s journalism class, she discovered how to be part of the change.
To some classmates, it was simply a required course to complete for graduation credit. To Wright, journalism became a vehicle for transformation and community service. She could challenge stereotypes, preserve community voices, and document the brilliance existing within Black communities like her own.
Educational Journey From Detroit to Hampton to Syracuse
That awareness propelled Wright thousands of miles away to earn her first two journalism degrees at prestigious institutions. She attended Hampton University and Syracuse University, where she sharpened her reporting, editing, and storytelling skills. These programs provided technical training and professional networks that would prove invaluable throughout her career.
Yet it was the journalistic foundation laid at home that ultimately brought her back to Detroit. Her desire to tell fuller, more honest stories about her community drew her home. The pull of serving Detroit’s storytelling needs proved stronger than opportunities elsewhere in the country.
Continuing Education While Serving the Community
Today, Wright is a Ph.D. student at Michigan State University, studying Media and Information with academic rigor. She remains deeply committed to journalism as both practice and public service despite demanding doctoral work. This dual commitment demonstrates her dedication to elevating journalism through both scholarly research and hands-on reporting.
Her academic pursuits inform her practical journalism work, creating a powerful synergy between theory and application. The Ph.D. program provides frameworks for understanding media’s role in democracy and community building. This knowledge enriches her editorial vision for Model D’s future direction and impact.
Founding Socially Driven to Center Marginalized Communities
Wright has led her own grassroots publication, Socially Driven, centering social entrepreneurs and community-based businesses. The platform focuses specifically on marginalized communities across the country often overlooked by mainstream media. This entrepreneurial experience prepared her for the editorial leadership she now assumes at Model D.
Through Socially Driven, she developed skills in audience building, editorial strategy, and sustainable journalism models. The publication’s focus on solutions-oriented storytelling aligns with her broader journalistic philosophy and values. This grassroots experience taught her how independent media can serve communities mainstream outlets sometimes neglect.
Launching Detroit Is at the Detroit Free Press
Wright also had the privilege of serving as a Neighborhoods Reporter at the Detroit Free Press. She was part of the team that launched Detroit Is, a vertical dedicated to telling Detroit’s stories by Detroiters. This initiative represented a significant shift toward community-centered journalism at the legacy publication.
The work she did—rooted in community, equity, and solutions—made transitioning into Model D feel natural and exciting. Her reporting covered everything from new youth centers in Southwest Detroit to entrepreneurship on the East Side. These stories centered authentic Detroit voices and experiences rather than external perspectives or stereotypes.
Full Circle From Contributor to Managing Editor
Wright comes to Model D with unique gratitude, having also been a contributor to this publication previously. Her byline appeared in Model D before she assumed editorial leadership, giving her insider knowledge of its mission. This contributor experience provides valuable perspective on supporting and developing writers in her new role.
“To the young journalists reading this: keep telling stories about our city. Keep pitching. Keep reporting with care,” she wrote. “You never know who’s reading your next story—and you never know how full circle this work may become.” Her own career trajectory exemplifies this advice perfectly and inspiringly.
Historic Appointment During Black History Month’s Centennial
Wright’s appointment carries special weight occurring during Black History Month’s 100th anniversary celebration nationwide. The timing invites both reflection on progress made and forward movement toward future goals. “It nearly gives me chills,” Wright admitted about the significance of this convergence of historical moments.
Detroit’s history is inseparable from Black life, Black imagination, and Black resilience, she recognizes deeply. Model D has long played a role in documenting that truth through its coverage since 2005. As the first Black woman Managing Editor, she carries responsibility for continuing and expanding this essential work.
Standing on Shoulders of Detroit’s Black Women Editors
Wright acknowledges the editorial leaders whose work has helped shape the landscape she now enters professionally. She is grateful to stand alongside and on the shoulders of journalists like Nicole Avery Nichols. Nichols serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Detroit Free Press and is a fellow Syracuse alumna.
Additionally, Wright admires Dr. Erin Perry, Editor-in-Chief of Outlier Media and a fellow Hampton University alumna. “I admire their leadership deeply, and their work continues to model what thoughtful, community-centered journalism can and should be in Detroit,” Wright stated. This acknowledgment demonstrates her commitment to collective advancement rather than individual achievement alone.
Gratitude for Former Editors Who Paved the Way
Wright expressed appreciation to Issue Media Group and Model D leadership for entrusting her with their oldest publication. She recognizes the responsibility that comes with stewarding a platform vital to Detroit since its founding. She steps into this role with humility, care, and conviction about honoring its legacy.
She specifically thanked former editors Aaron Foley, Kate Roff, and Biba Adams for their foundational work. “Aaron, I look forward to continuing the path you paved for me,” she wrote. To Kate: “You set me up for success in this position long ago.” To Biba: “Thank you for setting the tone and blazing the editorial trail.”
Detroit Has Always Been a City of Storytellers
Wright’s vision for Model D centers on telling Detroit’s stories with care, accuracy, and community input. “Both my personal and professional vision and the mission remains the same — telling Detroit’s stories,” she emphasized. She is honored to assist in shaping how those stories are told moving forward.
She thanked Detroiters for supporting local journalism and trusting Model D with their neighborhoods, work, and lived experiences. “We are listening. And if there is a story you believe needs to be told, know that our newsroom is open and eager to hear from you,” Wright wrote. This open invitation demonstrates her commitment to accessible, responsive journalism.
Building Detroit’s Future Through Collaborative Storytelling
Wright concluded her introductory message with optimism about Model D’s future under her editorial leadership. “Detroit has always been a city of storytellers, and I’m excited to see what we’ll build: together,” she stated. This collaborative approach honors Detroit’s communal traditions while embracing innovation and fresh perspectives.
Her leadership promises to center equity, community voices, and solutions-oriented journalism that serves Detroit’s needs. As Managing Editor, she will guide coverage that reflects the city’s complexity, creativity, and resilience. The appointment represents not just personal achievement but progress toward more representative media leadership in Detroit.