ReThink Media was founded by Lynn Fahselt and Peter Ferenbach

Lynn Fahselt has more than twenty years experience specializing in strategic communications, media and message framing analysis, and advocacy communicatons on national security, human rights, and foreign policy issues. In addition to winning, her passion is putting her skills, expertise and analysis to work in building the communications capacity of multi-organizational media initiatives and collaboratives.

Lynn has conducted extensive media coverage analysis and messaging and framing research on a wide range of national security and human rights policy issues. Most recently she lead Rethink Media's research team in conducting audits and analysis of more than a years' coverage of domestic terrorist attacks, coverage of the Park51 controversy, and extensive coverage of nuclear security issues. Lynn completed her Masters degree in Global Media and Communications at the University of Melbourne and was part of an international research team conducting groundbreaking research in a five country study of globalization themes in television news coverage.  Lynn has served as a communications consultant to numerous organizations and funders including the Ploughshares Fund, The Carnegie Corporation, the Security & Rights Collaborative, the Piper Fund, the Open Society Institute and others.

Peter Ferenbach is a veteran communications and advocacy strategist. Since the mid-1980s, he has worked on political and communications strategies for peace and security organizations. He has designed national advertising campaigns, pitched and developed relationships with reporters, and conducted intensive workshops in strategic communications and effective messaging.

Speaking on foreign policy issues he has been a guest on more than 200 radio programs as well as on both local and national TV including FOX, ABC, CNN and PBS. His commentaries have been published in the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and other print outlets as well as in numerous on-line publications. He has secured favorable coverage in newspapers throughout California as well as in USA Today and the New York Times. Peter holds a BA from Georgetown University.

Mark Reading-Smith, Senior Media Associate for the Security & Rights Collaborative, has four years of experience working in Washington D.C. as a senior researcher/writer/editor for the Fund for Independence in Journalism. In his time at the Fund he was the lead researcher, co-writer, and point person in the roll out of Iraq: The War Card; a two and a half year investigative report became the most widely viewed investigation in the twenty year history of the Center for Public Integrity. Additionally he helped co-produce a future documentary, based on interviews with twenty-five of the most prominent American investigative journalists and contributed research and writing to an upcoming book by Charles Lewis. Prior to working at the Fund, Mark served at the Center for Public Integrity and conducted research for their best-selling book, The Buying of the President 2004. Mark holds bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Political Philosophy.  

Jim Baird, Senior Media Associate, Peace & Security earned a masters degree with merit in Politics and Communication at the London School of Economics, where he served as a research & communications assistant for Lord Philip Gould, a chief strategist for the Labour Party. He has a track record of experience in political communications working with both the Ohio Democratic Party and The Columbus Council on World Affairs and has successfully placed stories and secured favorable publicity for organizations on NBC Nightly News, The Globe and Mail (Canada), The Columbus Dispatch (OH) and blogs nationwide. He was also part of the research and communications team on Lee Fisher's U.S. Senate campaign, and has several years experience in managing blogs and websites for social sector organizations. In addition to his experience in political communications, managing online communications, and pitching and placing stories, Jim brings a background in media research and analysis to the ReThink Media team. His dissertation on the treatment of race in op-eds during the 2008 U.S. election received a distinction.

Ashley Houghton, Media Associate, has a wide spectrum of experience, beginning her career in advocacy communications before leading both innovative public affairs and social media campaigns as an Account Supervisor with Mike Smith Public Affairs. Ashley's previous clients include Craig Newmark (founder of craigslist), the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians, and PR News. She has secured placements in The Washington Post, The Hill, National Journal, and other leading TV, print, and online outlets. Ashley additionally brings experience as both an associate director with CCS Fundraising and as a campaign organizer. Most recently her work on behalf of an energy client was awarded the Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation by the Public Relations Society of America. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in both Government & Politics and Communications.

Natalie Chwalisz, Rapid Response Media Associate, earned her masters degree in Conflict Studies and Human Rights, with a research focus on West Asia and Afghanistan. Most recently, she worked on Capitol Hill coordinating policy and rapid response for Congressman Payne on the Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Committee. In addition to her diverse experience in policy-making, research and strategic communication, Natalie brings real-time media response capacity and Hill insight to the ReThink Media team.

Daniel Toman, Media & Technology Associate, comes to Rethink Media from Portland, Oregon, where he worked in radio, print, and online journalism, and freelance web development. As a web and print production designer for Willamette Week, Portland’s award-winning alternative weekly newspaper, Daniel designed a new web 2.0-inspired homepage, managed the web presentation of weekly news stories, developed interactive news graphics, created web ads and email marketing templates, and helped develop several new online features including an event finder and a user-powered cityguide. He also worked on KBOO Community Radio’s Evening News broadcast, where he was a reporter, news writer and audio engineer, and produced original reporting on US/Mexico border issues.

Lauren Shellito, Research & Media Monitoring Associate, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Miami University with degrees in journalism and international studies. She tracks public opinion for ReThink Media on a broad range of issues, tracks the journalists covering specific issues and helps member organizations build well-targeted press lists. Throughout college, Lauren wrote for various local and international news outlets including Kosova Live, one of Kosovo's only independent news sources. Her stories were translated to Albanian, picked up by major newspapers, and circulated throughout the country. Her focus is on conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Alicia Freese, Media Associate, graduated Cum Laude from Pomona College with a BA in international relations. After interning with ReThink during the summer of 2010, she returns to the team as a Media Associate. Her previous work experience, ranging from researching the state of HIV/AIDS care in refugees camps to assisting a publishing firm with its social media marketing efforts, has fostered a strong interest in both media analysis and issues that lie at the intersection of foreign policy and the rule of law.