1776 brings on former CNN reporter Erin McPike as director of communications

Downtown D.C.-based incubator 1776 announced on Monday that the company has hired Erin McPike as director of communications. McPike most recently worked at CNN’s Washington bureau, covering the White House and “a wide range of major national stories,” according to a press release.

Excited to welcome @ErinMcPike to the 1776 team!

— Union (@JoinUnion) March 14, 2016

1776 cofounders Donna Harris and Evan Burfield cited McPike’s national media experience and political knowledge as key qualifications for her new role.
“The startups we work with are all focused on driving global scale, and attracting national and international media is crucial to their success,” Harris said in a statement. “Erin’s experience as a journalist and expertise in what makes a compelling story will be enormous assets for our members.”
McPike herself explained the move in a post on Medium — writing that “while negativity and partisan gridlock are strangling our government’s ability to assist in changing people’s lives, startups are remaking them everywhere — even in farflung corners of the world.”

Big news! I joined 1776. Read all about it via @Medium: https://t.co/d6ED3qe03u

— Erin McPike (@ErinMcPike) March 14, 2016