Planet Detroit Expands Team to Deepen Environmental Reporting

New hires Ian Solomon and Ashley Woods Branch to bolster community-centered journalism

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Planet Detroit, a nonprofit environmental news organization, has expanded its team with two key hires: Ian Solomon as Outdoors Reporter and Ashley Woods Branch as Chief Officer of Partnerships and Revenue. Solomon, an Emmy-winning artist and journalist, will focus on the intersection of outdoor access and environmental justice, while Woods Branch, founder of Detour Detroit, will work to build sustainable support for Planet Detroit's community-focused reporting.

Why it matters

These additions underscore Planet Detroit's commitment to editorial excellence and organizational sustainability as it continues to expand coverage of critical environmental issues in Detroit and Michigan, including data center development, lead service line replacement, climate impacts, and environmental justice.

The details

Solomon, a Black Detroiter, brings expertise in bridging outdoor recreation with environmental justice reporting. In his new role, he plans to tell stories that link access to nature with broader systems and engage communities that don't always see themselves reflected in environmental media. Woods Branch, with extensive experience building sustainable business models for independent news organizations, will work to diversify Planet Detroit's funding and deepen relationships with donors, businesses, nonprofits, and community members.

  • Planet Detroit was founded in 2019 as a bootstrapped project.
  • Woods Branch previously served as Vice President of Growth and Publisher Success at BlueLena, helping nonprofit and community-focused media organizations grow.

The players

Ian Solomon

An Emmy award-winning interdisciplinary artist and journalist who joins Planet Detroit as Outdoors Reporter, focusing on the intersection of outdoor access and environmental justice.

Ashley Woods Branch

The founder of Detour Detroit, who becomes Chief Officer of Partnerships and Revenue at Planet Detroit, aiming to build sustainable support for local environmental journalism.

Nina Misuraca Ignaczak

The founder and Executive Editor of Planet Detroit.

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What they’re saying

“I'm ecstatic to be joining the Planet Detroit team. I've been a huge fan of the critical reporting that's been done in and around Detroit and look forward to helping bridge the gap between outdoor recreation and environmental justice.”

— Ian Solomon, Outdoors Reporter (Planet Detroit)

“I come to Planet Detroit as a mom and as someone who believes that every child—really, every human—deserves clean air to breathe, safe water to drink, and a future worth inheriting. I care deeply about transparency around data centers, the health of the Great Lakes, and how policy decisions, made with or without public input, shape daily life here in Michigan.”

— Ashley Woods Branch, Chief Officer of Partnerships and Revenue (Planet Detroit)

What’s next

Planet Detroit plans to continue expanding its coverage of critical environmental issues in Detroit and Michigan, including data center development, lead service line replacement, climate impacts, and environmental justice.

The takeaway

The additions of Ian Solomon and Ashley Woods Branch underscore Planet Detroit's commitment to community-centered environmental journalism and building a sustainable model to support its critical reporting on issues impacting Detroit and Michigan.