Since 2007, 400 senior media executives have realized critical performance results, built lifelong career skills and relationships, and made major contributions to industry transformation through this yearlong program.
Fellows learn and apply MTC’s well-known tools of performance-driven change, have yearlong access to a full slate of diverse executive coaches — Amanda Barrett, Lauren Gustus, Stephane Mayoux, Fran Scarlett, and Danyelle White — and will connect with a world-class set of MTC Alumni who share common language and program experiences.
The 2025 fellows are a rich blend of some of the largest media brands in the world, cutting-edge nonprofits and media network support organizations.
“Thanks to very strong funder support and the well-known accomplishments of our alumni network, the 2025 class is our largest since our founding in 2007,” MTC Executive Director Charlie Baum said. “It’s remarkably diverse — both in the kinds of organizations and business models represented, as well as the Fellows themselves, including three veterans.”
Fellows kicked off the MTC program during an in-person session at the Poynter Institute today.
Throughout the program, fellows will identify and pursue their most significant business performance challenges with help from MTC’s trademark tools, concepts, coaches, peer group and alumni network. In years past, the program has focused on helping newer enterprises produce quality journalism to deliver audience impact, build capacity and gain financial strength; innovating new business models, service offerings and digital ventures; delivering more powerful audience-focused experiences and outcomes through integrating efforts across internal operations; and strengthening relationships and building audiences across fault lines of race and class.
Several fellows and the overall program are supported through the generosity of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Google News Initiative, the Asian American Journalists Association, and the family of Jeff Chambers and Andrea Okamura.
The 2025 Fellows are:
- Akindtunde Babatunde, Programme Director Centre for Journalism Innovation & Development
- Clarice Bajkowski, Chief Creative Officer The 19th
- Siobhan Bennett, Chief Revenue Officer Amsterdam News (Knight Fellow)
- Thomas Brennan, Founder & Executive Director The War Horse News (Knight Fellow)
- Deborah Caldwell, CEO Religion News Foundation
- Barbara Chai, Deputy Culture Editor The New York Times (AAJA Fellow)
- Fiona Crack, Controller BBC World Service
- Ethar El-Katatney, Editor-in-Chief Documented (Knight Fellow)
- Andrew Fishman, President & Co-Founder The Intercept Brasil
- Abby Gingras, Senior Director of Consulting Services News Revenue Hub (Knight Fellow)
- Margie Fleming Glennon, Senior Director, Nonprofit Intelligence Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Mark Grant, Vice President Global Safety, Risk and Resilience The Associated Press
- Esperanza Guevara, Managing Director Latino Media Collaborative
- Alvaro Gurdian, Publisher La Noticia (Google News Fellow)
- Etan Horowitz, Global Innovation Programs Manager Google News Initiative
- Joshua Hoyos, New York Bureau Chief ABC News
- Rania Khadr, Head of Special News Events Middle East, Turkey, Iran & Africa The Associated Press
- Vandana Kumar, Publisher & CEO India Currents (AAJA & Knight Fellow)
- Peter Kunz, Assistant News Director WABC-TV
- Allison Levine, Publisher & CEO, Spotlight Delaware (Knight Fellow)
- Maple Walker Lloyd, Senior Director of Development Block Club Chicago (Knight Fellow)
- Sheila McCann, Senior Managing Editor Salt Lake Tribune (Knight Fellow)
- Abdelrahman Mansour, Matsadaash & Arabi Facts Hub
- Ashanti Martin, General Manager WURD (Knight Fellow)
- Greg Mees, Senior Assistant Managing Editor The Minneapolis Star Tribune
- Soraya Membreno, COO Institute for Nonprofit News (Knight Fellow)
- Aparna Mukherjee, Executive Director Society of Environmental Journalists (Knight Fellow)
- Lucy Nicholson, Director of Global Photography The Associated Press
- James Reevell, Executive Editor for Youth Audiences BBC
- Alex Sanz, Deputy Managing Editor & Politics Director The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Will Schick, Director of Programs & Partnerships Asian American Journalists Association
- Nancy Yang, Senior Editor for Audience Engagement Minneapolis Star Tribune
About the Poynter Institute
The Poynter Institute is a global nonprofit working to address society’s most pressing issues by teaching journalists and journalism, covering the media and the complexities facing the industry, convening and community building, improving the capacity and sustainability of news organizations and fostering trust and reliability of information. The Institute is a gold standard in journalistic excellence and dedicated to the preservation and advancement of press freedom in democracies worldwide. Through Poynter, journalists, newsrooms, businesses, big tech corporations and citizens convene to find solutions that promote trust and transparency in news and stoke meaningful public discourse. The world’s top journalists and emerging media leaders rely on the Institute to learn new skills, adopt best practices, better serve audiences, scale operations and improve the quality of the universally shared information ecosystem.
The Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership, the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), MediaWise and PolitiFact are all members of the Poynter organization.
Support for Poynter and our entities upholds the integrity of the free press and the U.S. First Amendment and builds public confidence in journalism and media —essential for healthy democracies. Learn more at poynter.org.
About Media Transformation Challenge
MTC is a vibrant and diverse community of practice dedicated to supporting media industry leaders and organizations through performance-driven change. Our industry-leading Fellowship Program (known industry-wide as the original Sulzberger Program), dynamic Alumni Network, and comprehensive Support Services empower leaders to drive organizational transformation, develop sustainable business models, engage with underserved communities, and reinforce democratic values. These initiatives empower leaders to effectively manage current challenges while cultivating resilience and adaptability for the future.
MTC’s community reflects the industry’s rich diversity, from established legacy institutions to agile digital startups and essential support organizations. Our Fellows, Alumni, and Coaches are leaders who bring varied perspectives, rich experiences, and forward-thinking solutions to the table. Learn more at mediatransformationchallenge.org.
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