2022 Rising Star Honoree

Director of Syndication & Social Media, The Philadelphia Inquirer

For much of his life, Ray Boyd has been defined by a passion for sharing stories. As a high school student in Philadelphia, Boyd spent most days checking the high school basketball box scores in The Inquirer to see his name and modest point tally, but also to admire the work. He took both of those passions with him to Temple University, but storytelling became the focus. 

After graduation, Boyd landed his first full-time media gig as a digital sports producer at CBS3. He went on to become a digital news producer for the station, covering and packaging stories for the web from events like the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia and the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Boyd’s passion for storytelling came full circle in March 2017 when he joined The Inquirer — the paper he had read since childhood — by becoming an audience engagement editor. After three years, Boyd was promoted to deputy editor for audience development at The Inquirer, helping to lead a team that unpacks the publications most impactful journalism for readers. Today, he is the Inquirer’s director of syndication and social media.