TEAM
If you, or someone you know has a deep passion and knowledge about the principles of a free press who would like to join our board, please contact us.
Anna Milne
Founding Board Director
A London-based fintech editor and moderator, Anna Milne completed the NCTJ-accredited PGDip in Newspaper Journalism in 2014, achieving the gold standard.
The training is based upon the British Editor’s Code of Practice within core components of media law, court reporting, production, public affairs, and shorthand.
Following a series of FS reporter and sub-editing stints she became editor of Electronic Payments International and deputy-edited Retail Banker International and Cards International monthly print and digital magazines. Anna currently oversees research papers for a global fintech news publisher, and regularly curates and moderates webinars and conference panels.
In a former life, she was a print designer and co-ran an independent French café-deli.
Andrew P. Smith, Esq.
Founding Board Director
Andrew P. Smith is a partner at Steptoe and Johnson, based in Huntington, West Virginia. He is licensed in West Virginia and Kentucky, where primarily he is defense counsel. But it is Andrew’s previous experience as a reporter covering courtrooms that makes him a valuable part of the APP founding team.
Prior to his career in law, Andrew worked with our Executive Director, Coach (below), in reporting ‘straight news.’ That is, news based on the facts, absent narrative.
Additionally, Andrew’s insight is invaluable having once seen the inside of the APP’s first (court-ordered) audit member.
Please visit Andrew’s full bio at Steptoe.
Ilarion Valetskyy
Board Director
Ilarion is a seasoned media technologist with a strong background in developing scalable data pipelines and content automation systems for hyperlocal news organizations. He has led backend development and data operations for pioneering hyperlocal news platforms including BlockShopper, Journatic, and LocalLabs, accumulating nearly two decades of experience specifically in data-driven journalism, and nearly three decades in technology and software development overall.
His expertise encompasses large-scale data mining, automation, and full-stack web architecture, managing content ecosystems containing tens of millions of articles. At his current venture, he leads comprehensive end-to-end processes—from data acquisition to content delivery—in alignment with APP’s mission of factual integrity and transparency in media.
Ilarion’s career demonstrates a consistent dedication to creating robust, scalable systems that reinforce the principles of a free and accountable press.
Edward “Coach” Weinhaus, Esq.
Founding Executive Director, Board Member
The App is Coach’s brainchild as a result of litigation he first instituted against the Tribune Company stemming from their actions in 2012. Coach’s history through the media is told through the Manifesto “Forever Young and Dumb” published as a result of the judgments he earned in that series of law suits.
It’s worth a read.
Coach is a licensed attorney in three states, holds five degrees, is on the board of multiple non-profits and teaches at major universities.
For more information on Coach, check out his BIO pages at PoachCoach.
JUDICIAL ENFORCERS
These judicial officers enforce the funding of the organization by virtue of a derivative settlement approves pursuant to Delaware Chancery Rule 23.1(d):
“(1)…a derivative action may be dismissed or settled only if the Court approves the terms of the proposed dismissal or settlement…
(2) Required Submissions…(C) if a settlement, the definitive agreement governing the settlement…
(5) Approval of Proposed Settlement. The Court may approve a proposed settlement only after a hearing and only on finding:…(D) the relief falls within a range of reasonable results
Del. Ch. Ct. R. 23.1
Pursuant to the Funded By page, a Judicial Enforcer retains jurisdiction to ensure our funding!
Hon. Allen Price Walker
Funding Overseer
Although he sits on a bench in Cook County, Illinois, Judge Allen Price Walker enforces the funding of the Association of Principled Press pursuant to a prior April 18, 2023 order in Cook County.* He was appointed to this position* in an administrative order on April 15, 2025.
*He has no other formal involvement and is not a director.
Hon. Thaddeus L. Wilson
Entered Foundational Order (see Funded By); Former Nationwide Enforcer
Although he sits on a bench in Cook County, Illinois, his order has created a national organization, with the ability to watch the media nationwide. Judge Wilson was responsible for enforcing the funding of the Association of Principled Press pursuant to his April 18, 2023 order in Cook County.* He voluntarily left that role (overseeing the funding, not the judgeship!) on April 14, 2025.
Judge Wilson is a highly-respected judicial reformer. He was a supervising judge in the criminal division before moving over to Chancery in 2022. Judge Wilson was appointed a member of the Judicial Conference of Illinois by the Illinois Supreme Court. The Judicial Conference is responsible for suggesting improvements in the administration of justice in Illinois. He was also appointed by the Court to its newly created e-Business Policy Advisory Board. The Advisory Board was created to provide recommendations, advice, and guidance to the Supreme Court and its Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts regarding the implementation of eBusiness applications and data exchanges in Illinois circuit courts. Additionally, he sits on the Interactive Orders System.
In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Wilson is an adjunct professor at The John Marshall Law School – teaching Criminal Procedure and Voting Rights & Election Law. He also lectures at continuing legal education seminars in the areas of constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, ethics and technology in the courts. He was tapped by the Illinois Judicial Education Conference to do a presentation to Illinois judges on Extended Media Coverage (cameras in the courtroom) during the last education conference.
*He has no other formal involvement and is not a director.