WHO WE ARE
Imagine a space where women are fully represented; where women are steering the conversation.
With smart storytelling and sharp analysis, we cover the world—from business and politics to health and parenting to money and culture and more—while always amplifying the voices, stories, perspectives and ideas of women.
Our goal at The Persistent is to create a community where we can discuss new ideas, challenge the status quo and reframe how we see the world; a space where women and girls from all backgrounds will always be valued and seen.
All too often, women don’t see themselves represented in news stories about the forces that shape our world. Many stories in the mainstream media feature women as passive bystanders, people to whom things happen, as opposed to being the hero of their own story.
At the Persistent, we consistently push back against the gender stereotypes that have shaped the conventional narrative for years. We’re changing the definition of what “women’s content” is, one story at a time.
Imagine a space where women are fully represented; where women are steering the conversation, looking for those gaps, and telling their stories. That’s The Persistent.
OUR WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS
We work with a variety of writers and illustrators because we know there isn’t a single “women’s perspective”
Our editorial model is built on the idea that covering women fully means working with a multiplicity of voices—journalists, authors, writers, editors, illustrators, artists, photographers—to paint a rich and nuanced picture of women in the world. We’re committed to seeking out stories about and by women who have varied perspectives, lived experiences, and communitiies.
MEET OUR EDITORS
Francesca Donner
Francesca Donner is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Persistent. Prior to launching The Persistent, Francesca worked at The New York Times, where she was gender director and the editor of ‘In Her Words.’ As a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal, she focused on women and the future of work. You can follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Josie Cox
Josie Cox is a founding editor of The Persistent. She’s worked as a freelance journalist and broadcaster since 2019, mostly covering the intersection of women and the economy. Before that she was business editor at The Independent. She’s also held staff jobs at The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. Her book, “WOMEN MONEY POWER: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality,” was published in 2024. Follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Emma Haslett
Emma Haslett is the managing editor for The Persistent. She writes essays and reports, and also works on editorial strategy. Emma is a U.K.-based journalist and author whose podcast, 'Big Fat Negative,' looks at infertility, IVF and the trials of trying for a baby. Follow her on Instagram and Bluesky.
Paula Derrow
Paula Derrow is the features editor of The Persistent, where she commissions, writes and edits all kinds of stories. Paula had a 30-plus year career editing and writing at national magazines including Self, Glamour and Harper’s Bazaar. Her work has appeared in The New York Times and many other outlets. You can find out more about her work here and follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Claire Cozens
Claire Cozens is the global editor of The Persistent, where she commissions and writes international stories. Claire has worked in international journalism for more than 20 years, and been posted in India, China, Nepal and Hong Kong. She’s had staff jobs at the Guardian and Agence France Presse among others, and is now based in the UK. You can follow her on LinkedIn.
Han Goldstein
Han Goldstein (they/she) is the social media editor for The Persistent. Mostly that means posting on Instagram and rounding up recommendations for the You Might Like column. Offline, you can find them working with secondhand beads as Han Made, writing horror stories, and pampering their little white dog, Beatrice. Find them on LinkedIn and Instagram.
