Angelo Carusone (President & Chief Executive Officer) was named president & CEO of Media Matters in December 2016. Previously, he was the organization’s executive vice president. He joined Media Matters in 2010. In 2016, he took a leave of absence to serve as the deputy CEO for finance & administration of the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Angelo is an expert on right-wing extremism and has become a go-to resource for journalists writing about disinformation. He is a recognized authority on brand safety in advertising as well as a prolific organizer who has led many high-profile corporate campaigns. Notably, Angelo launched the viral #DumpTrump campaign in 2012 that convinced Macy’s to terminate its business partnership with Donald Trump. He was also instrumental in the advertiser pressure campaigns that resulted in Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly’s terminations from Fox News as well as one of the key players that disrupted Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to take over Sky News in the United Kingdom.

He holds a B.A. in American Studies from Fordham University and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin.

Pilar Martinez (Chief Financial Officer) is a highly accomplished financial leader with more than 26 years of progressive experience in not-for-profit finance and accounting. Pilar has been with Media Matters since 2008. While working with the president and executive directors, Pilar concurrently manages all finance and accounting operations for Media Matters; the American Independent Foundation; and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, overseeing budgets ranging from $2 million to $24 million. In the past, Pilar also managed all finance and accounting operations for UltraViolet; American Bridge 21st Century; Correct the Record; and the Franklin Forum. Prior to Media Matters, Pilar worked as finance and administrative director at the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP), served as controller at the National Park Foundation, and was the revenue accountant at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Her accounting education background includes an M.A. from the George Washington University, a B.A. from Strayer University, and an A.A.S from Northern Virginia Community College. 

Cynthia Padera (Chief Operating Officer) supports Media Matters’ day-to-day operations and manages enterprise-level initiatives, technology, and administration. She has more than a decade of experience managing major projects and programs for national 501(c)(3) organizations, including the United Nations Foundation and the League of Women Voters of the United States. Cynthia holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Julie Millican (Vice President) has been with Media Matters since she first joined the organization as a researcher in 2005. As vice president, she helps implement Media Matters’ strategic initiatives and is responsible for executing day-to-day mission activities in the media intelligence, research, and programs departments. Julie has previously held various positions within the organization including chief of staff, deputy research director, and senior researcher. She has a B.S. from Appalachian State University in sociology and an M.S. degree in clinical psychology.

Sergio Muñoz (Vice President, Research & Policy) first joined Media Matters in 2012 to help start up Courts Matter, a dedicated program focused on legal misinformation and judicial nominations. He then went on to serve in various leadership positions in the Research Department, including research director through 2018, and has also served as the organization’s policy director. Prior to Media Matters, Sergio worked on civil rights law and policy for numerous progressive organizations and has extensive experience working with Democratic coalitions. Sergio has a BA from Brown University and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School.