Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative (2024-25)

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Editorial Integrity and Leadership Initiative (2024-25)

This fellowship for public media journalists will strengthen news leadership and ethical decision-making skills. Over nine months, participants will receive individual coaching, learn from industry experts, collaborate in small peer groups, and work on a personal project that will benefit their newsroom and their own leadership. This fellowship requires participation in twice-monthly online workshops, along with additional online meetings with peer groups and coaches and one trip to St. Petersburg, Florida, starting Sept. 16.
**Update: The initial date was Sept. 30, but we changed it to Sept. 16 to acknowledge Rosh Hashanah.** 

September 16, 2024– April 13, 2025

Overview

  • Twenty-six, U.S.-based public media journalists will be admitted to this nine-month program.
  • This will be the second of two cohorts of fellows for a total of 50.
  • Free for admitted participants; tuition is covered by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
  • The first fellowship cohort kicks off with a one-week, in-person conference starting Sept. 16 at the Poynter Institute.
  • Participants will join twice-monthly live, online workshops, and regularly meet with a coach and a peer group.
  • The program will culminate in April 2025 with a virtual send-off.
  • The deadline to apply for the second cohort is Monday, April 22.

$0.00

Application is closed

Learning Outcomes

In this course, public media journalists will:

  • Sharpen the skills you use in making editorial and ethical decisions.
  • Identify an issue facing your newsroom, and use a framework to test, learn and track progress.
  • Use custom tools and assessments to gain awareness of your personal leadership style.
  • Tap into the mission of public media and apply those values to your leadership and work in the newsroom.
  • Deepen an audience- and data-informed approach to meeting the information needs of communities.
  • Identify skills necessary to lead high-functioning teams, manage conflict and guide your newsroom through important change.
  • Focus on how to recruit, grow and retain top talent.

$0.00

Application is closed

Overview

  • Twenty-six, U.S.-based public media journalists will be admitted to this nine-month program.
  • This will be the second of two cohorts of fellows for a total of 50.
  • Free for admitted participants; tuition is covered by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
  • The first fellowship cohort kicks off with a one-week, in-person conference starting Sept. 16 at the Poynter Institute.
  • Participants will join twice-monthly live, online workshops, and regularly meet with a coach and a peer group.
  • The program will culminate in April 2025 with a virtual send-off.
  • The deadline to apply for the second cohort is Monday, April 22.

Training five or more people?
Check out our custom training.

This nine-month fellowship is designed to accelerate your ability to uphold journalism’s highest editorial standards, lead through change, foster innovation, create an audience-focused strategy, and cultivate thriving news organizations.

This course is free for 26 admitted participants. Tuition is covered by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

This will be the second cohort of this program.

The first cohort of 24 fellows first convened in September 2023 at Poynter.

Here’s what a few of them have said:

“The program has helped me communicate more effectively with reporters regarding expectations. I believe the fellowship has also assisted me in better analyzing the journalistic purpose behind stories that we cover.” — Erica McIntosh, senior regional editor for southern Connecticut, Connecticut Public Broadcasting

“I’ve had more confidence in having hard conversations that include an element of conflict. I’m also trying to think in terms of strengths when it comes to my reporters, and allowing them to lead with those. It gives me a confidence boost when I’m feeling like I’m incapable or burnt out.” — Caroline Ballard, assistant news director, KUER, Salt Lake City

“The fellowship is doing wonders for my willingness and ability to hold my team accountable, which for me is the most difficult part of managing people. None of this works if I and they don’t meet our individual goals. This fellowship has helped me develop not only the tools but the confidence to have those difficult conversations around accountability.” — LaToya Dennis, news director and managing editor, WMFE, Orlando, Florida

“The most significant impact from this fellowship thus far has been its ability to give me confidence to make decisions in my newsroom. I have been much better at delegating and having tough discussions. It has also given me the confidence to advocate for newsroom practices with other leaders at the station.” — Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado, news director, KVPR, central California

Applicants who weren’t selected for the first cohort can apply again for the second one.

Participants for the second cohort will be notified no later than June and convene in St. Petersburg for five days the week of Sept. 16.
**Update: The initial date was Sept. 30, but we changed it to Sept. 16 to acknowledge Rosh Hashanah.** 

Fellows will be matched with mentors and coaches, and will be assigned to work in small peer groups from within their cohorts.

After the in-person program launches, fellows will begin alternating-week 90-minute live online trainings, have regular check-ins with their coaches/mentors, join in conversations in a Slack workspace and build on relationships with fellowship colleagues.

Training that fellows can expect during the duration of the program will include:

  • Exploring successful approaches to leadership and ethics within public media
  • Identifying a challenge, and addressing it over the course of the fellowship
  • Focusing on community engagement, including identifying new potential audiences and using data and metrics
  • Having difficult conversations, giving feedback, empowering staff and managing your relationships with supervisors
  • Dealing with vulnerable sources
  • Recruiting and training the next generation of journalists, including in-house talent
  • Managing projects, community partnerships, budgets and resources

The fellowship’s first cohort will end in April 2025 with a virtual closing session.

We’ll provide opportunities for you to learn from and support one another, creating bonds that last beyond the life of the program.

Questions?

If you need assistance, email us at info@poynter.org.

Participants of the 2024-25 cohort will be notified of their selection no later than June.

The first event is a one-week, in-person gathering at Poynter in St. Petersburg, Florida, starting Sept. 16.
**Update: The initial date was Sept. 30, but we changed it to Sept. 16 to acknowledge Rosh Hashanah.** 

Fellows will participate in:

  • 12 live online workshops
  • Three virtual peer group meetings
  • 12 virtual one-on-one coaching sessions
  • A two- to three-day virtual closing session in April 2025

You must be a public media journalist in a U.S.-based newsroom to apply for this program. 

The application requires a reference letter from a supervisor that highlights your current influence as a leader and how this fellowship might impact your leadership and career trajectory.

You should also have the support of your supervisor and station manager to commit to full participation in all aspects of the program, including the in-person week that starts Sept. 16.
**Update: The initial date was Sept. 30, but we changed it to Sept. 16 to acknowledge Rosh Hashanah.** 

Who should apply:

This program is designed for public media journalists currently serving in an editorial leadership role. 

Applicants must be committed to participating in all aspects of the program, including the in-person week starting Sept. 16, and their supervisor and station manager should share in that commitment.
**Update: The initial date was Sept. 30, but we changed it to Sept. 16 to acknowledge Rosh Hashanah.** 

Cost:

Tuition to this program is provided at no cost to the attendees, thanks to sponsorship from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Application process:

The process to apply requires a recommendation letter from your supervisor and signoff from the station manager.

Please be prepared to answer questions about your professional experience and areas of interest. The deadline to apply is Monday, April 22.

Instructors

Faculty

  • Sitara Nieves
    Vice President, Teaching and Organizational Strategy
    Sitara Nieves is Vice President, Teaching and Organizational Strategy at The Poynter Institute. Her portfolio includes the Digital Transformation Program and leadership training for newsrooms...
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  • Kelly McBride
    Senior Vice President and Chair of Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership
    Kelly McBride is a journalist, consultant and one of the country’s leading voices on media ethics and democracy. She is senior vice president and chair...
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Coaches

  • Tony Elkins
    Faculty
    Tony Elkins, a citizen of the Comanche Nation, is a faculty member at Poynter. His portfolio includes Poynter's early and mid-career leadership workshops Essential Skills...
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  • Fernanda Camarena
    Faculty
    Fernanda Camarena is an award-winning TV and radio reporter and editor who was most recently a manager on NBC News' Standards and Practices team, where...
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  • Marcy McGinnis
    Professional Career Coach, Former Senior Vice President, CBS News
    Marcy McGinnis is a certified professional career, leadership, and communications coach who uses her extensive experience as a broadcast media executive and academic leader to...
    Read More
  • Karen Palmer
    Karen Palmer worked for over 20 years as an assignment editor, producer, and senior producer at CBS News, CNN, and MSNBC. Later on, she supported...
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