Manuel Coppola
Advisory Board Chair
Manuel C. Coppola boasts nearly 25 years in community journalism, including 15 years as publisher of the Nogales International, an award-winning newspaper in his hometown of Nogales, Ariz.
He graduated from Northern Arizona University with a BS in journalism and a minor in political science in 1985, when journos still typed out stories on IBM Selectrics. Technology has come a long way, but he still sees the essence of local newspaper journalism unchanged, not only as the most credible source of information, but also as an important tool for building and binding communities.
His work has been on the Southern Arizona border region. He served as publisher at The Dispatch in Douglas, Ariz., and at the Sierra Vista Herald-Review, engaging in the coverage of hyperlocal news such as prep sports, city council, county government, and Little League, but also more global issues such as water and environment, international trade, bilingual education, and human migration.
It’s what fuels Coppola’s passion for newspapers and his efforts to preserve the legacy of community journalism through traditional revenue sources and philanthropic channels to actively fight back against the growing threat to American democracy – news deserts.
Coppola and his wife, Irene, live in a community north of Nogales and have six adult children, five grandchildren, with two more on the way. Coppola is active in the community through the Rotary Club and other endeavors. In 1968, his mother founded the Santa Cruz Training Programs for children and adults with disabilities. He is a past board president and remains a director.
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