Meet Our Officers

Susan DeCarava | President

Susan DeCarava began working for the NewsGuild of New York in December 2008 as a Local Representative, after serving two years as unit chair at the Writers Guild of America, East. At the Writers Guild, she organized against an anti-union campaign, fought to increase wages and eliminate pay inequity between the administrative and professional staff, and preserved paid sick leave. As one of the Guild’s longest-serving local representatives, she worked with members across the Local to achieve strong contracts and to address issues including wage suppression, hostile work environments, access to professional training, career advancement, affordable employer-sponsored health care, and increasing diversity in the newsroom.

A fierce advocate for members, Susan has been transformative to the Guild. Known for her innovative and nuanced approach to mobilizing, negotiating contracts, and supporting members across the Guild, Susan is respected both at the bargaining table and in newsrooms citywide. In 2016, Susan developed robust Guild-wide programming, including networking events, discussion panels, and skills training in podcasting, iPhone photography and digital security.

A native New Yorker, born in the great borough of Brooklyn, Susan carries with her a cherished family history of artists, educators, farmers and distinguished professionals. They instilled a commitment to standing up for equality and being of service. She is grateful for the opportunity to carry on that  tradition and give back to the union that has provided her with not just a career, but a sense of purpose.

Susan lives in Crown Heights with her husband and a wee dog, Lulu. She has a decent green thumb, likes to cook and read poetry, and is an avid doodler. 

Anthony Napoli | Secretary-Treasurer

Anthony Napoli is currently the Guild’s Senior Representative and chief negotiator, a role in which he provides strategy advice and guidance for other reps during bargaining. He draws on 13 years of experience as a Guild Representative as well as his time serving as shop steward, grievance chair and first vice chair for The New York Times unit.

Anthony has been a member of every bargaining committee at The New York Times since 1993, first as a rank and file member and then as a negotiator. Anthony also previously served as the Guild’s elected treasurer from September 2015 to January 1, 2017. At The Times, Anthony worked his way up from the kitchen to the delivery department, ultimately working as an advertising representative. Anthony has served as a trustee for both medical and pension plans that serve Guild members at The Times and Consumer Reports. Anthony attended Long Island University.

Hilary Russ | First Vice President

Hilary Russ has been a journalist for nearly 20 years and has been a proud Guild member since joining Reuters in 2012. She currently serves as First Vice President of the NewsGuild of New York and Grievance Co-Chair at Thomson Reuters, where she covers the fast food industry. Originally from Indianapolis, she went to college in St. Louis, where she later dabbled in social work, retail and food services before finding journalism later in life. She began as a freelancer, fact-checking and writing features for publications like City Limits magazine and Gotham Gazette. She interned at Newsday and later covered cops and courts at the Cape Cod Times. She wrote about white collar crime, the U.S. Supreme Court and corporate bankruptcies for Law360 before it joined the Guild — and boy did that company need a union! She loves cats, shopping for vintage clothes, rescuing furniture from the trash, bird-watching, hiking, boxing, house music, cooking and helping workers find their collective voice and win better conditions. She earned a master’s degree from the New School for Social Work and another from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Amanda Hess | Second Vice President

Amanda Hess is a critic-at-large at The New York Times, where she covers internet and pop culture for the Arts section and contributes regularly to The New York Times Magazine. She also serves on the Unit Council, where she has worked to help engage other new Guild members at The Times around issues that matter to them, including diversity and equal pay. 

Amanda was raised in Wisconsin, Nevada, Washington state and Arizona. She started her journalism career at the Washington City Paper and has written for such publications as ESPN the Magazine, Slate, and Elle. Her work has been featured in “Best American Sportswriting” and “Best American Magazine Writing.” In 2015, she won the National Magazine Award for Public Interest for “Women Aren’t Welcome Here,” about the online harassment of women.