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This week: calling all diverse leaders, early-career editors and journalists searching for resources
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THIS WEEK’S TL;DR: a workshop that prepares journalists of color for authentic leadership; a course that takes your edit from transactional to transformational; a program for producers to create compelling stories; a webinar to uncover public records and hard-to-find facts.
Are newsrooms prioritizing diversity and inclusion? Not really, journalists say.
Based on a 2022 Pew Research study, journalists give their organizations rather low marks for racial and ethnic diversity. A 2024 survey revealed the unequal impact of industry layoffs: journalists of color, who hold 17% of jobs, suffered 42% of cuts.
What can we do to better prepare and protect journalists of color during a time of upheaval?
Poynter’s Diversity Leadership Academy exists to address the specific challenges journalists of color face in newsrooms, including managing race and legacy systems in organizations, lack of access to mentorship and leadership pathways and the pressure to represent or speak for entire communities.
It’s there to ensure diverse leaders get the tools and support they need to navigate complexity, drive meaningful change in their newsrooms and reach the goals they set out for themselves.
Learn more about it in a Q&A with workshop co-leads, Tony Elkins and Fernanda Camarena:
What’s been your most memorable moment from past sessions?
Tony: For me, the most memorable moments are when attendees connect with each other and learn their struggles, and triumphs, are shared with each other. Leaders can often feel isolated in their roles, and it’s extremely powerful to see them connect and share with people that have similar experiences.
Which part of the training do participants find most valuable?
Tony: As great as all our faculty, facilitators and coaches are, the most powerful thing people come away with is a brand new network of peers who can stay with them the rest of their careers. I’ve been part of a similar program and still have several Poynter cohort peers I’ve stayed connected with for nearly 15 years.
Why is it important for journalism leaders of color to invest in their development?
Fernanda: There isn’t a playbook for leadership, and those roles can sometimes feel overwhelming. It’s not easy to be the first, or the only, leader of color in a newsroom.
This is where Poynter’s Diversity Leadership Academy can make a big difference. For journalism leaders of color, it’s not just about professional growth, it’s about believing in ourselves and strengthening our careers and futures. After all, each of us carries immense value, through lived experiences, culture and resilience.
A newsroom leader of color’s superpowers are the ability to lead with heart and passion. But when support is lacking, it’s easy to lose track of these gifts. Investing in this development is a way to remind participants of their strengths and gives them tools to set them up for future success.
The lasting value lies in what participants regularly describe as liberating and life-changing: spending a week of personal growth with industry leaders, individuals and peers who share your experiences and discover the answers to individual and collective questions and roadblocks together.
Applications for this year’s Diversity Leadership Academy are open now until Aug. 29. Chosen participants will spend a transformational week at Poynter's campus in St. Petersburg this November. To learn more and apply, click here. To read the workshop FAQ, click here. 📓 |
Online group seminar
Sept. 8 - 29, 2025
$̶6̶5̶0̶ $499
Join us on Mondays in September for a four-week course designed for early-career editors. Transform your edit from transactional to transformational with program lead Tom Huang and industry veterans Maria Carrillo and Kathleen McGrory. Get tools to line-edit under pressure, learn to coach inexperienced reporters remotely and guide reporters to develop quick enterprise stories that elevate their beat coverage. Sessions run Sept. 8-29 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern. |
Online group seminar
Aug. 11 - Sept. 8, 2025
$699
Apply by July 18 to level up your content, get guidance to manage journalism demands and learn how to become a newsroom leader with Poynter’s virtual training designed for new TV producers. This four-session training equips the backbone of your newsroom with dynamic skills in leadership, storytelling and ethical decision-making. Industry veterans Kerwin Speight and WTVD/ABC11’s VP Bervette Carree deliver frameworks that enhance program quality and team management. Sessions run August-September 2025. Invest in your producers, strengthen your newsroom. |
Online course (webinar + downloadable guides and resources)
Live webinar: July 30 at noon Eastern
$̶7̶5̶ Free
Learn how to uncover public records and hard-to-find facts in The 5 Ws of Research, an on-demand course taught by veteran journalist Caryn Baird. With more than 1,000 front-page research credits at the Tampa Bay Times, including five Pulitzer Prize-winning projects, Baird teaches the strategies used in top newsrooms to track down police reports, court records, corporate filings and more. Master the essential questions—who, what, where, when and why—to build smarter searches and uncover the truth. Thanks to PolitiFact, this course is offered for free for 1 month. |
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Looking for sharp takes on the biggest media stories and hidden gems you may have missed? The Poynter Report newsletter from senior media writer Tom Jones delivers expert analysis, must-read links and clear commentary that helps you make sense of the news about the news. Get it delivered to your inbox every weekday. Subscribe today. |
Lead with Influence (September 2025)
Online group seminar
$600
This interactive, virtual training is for leaders who manage big responsibilities — such as processes, products or platforms — and have no direct reports. Apply by July 31.
Will Work for Impact: Fundamentals of Investigative Journalism (Oct. 2025)
Online group seminar
$499
Join a five-week, hands-on seminar for reporters and editors with ambition to do investigative journalism that functions as an important part of democracy, taught by ProPublica's deputy managing editor, Alexandra Zayas.
Essential Skills for New Managers (December 2025)
In-person, St. Petersburg, Florida
$1,550
This dynamic five-day workshop will focus on the critical skills that new managers need to help forge successful paths to leadership in journalism, media and technology. Apply by Oct. 3.
Talking About AI: Newsroom Toolkit
Free resource
Created by MediaWise in partnership with The Associated Press and supported by Microsoft, this guide is for journalists and media professionals who want to incorporate AI literacy into their reporting and other newsroom processes. Watch the accompanying webinar here.
Poynter ACES Certificates in Editing
Self-directed online courses
Our Introductory Certificate helps you achieve greater communications clarity and learn how to embrace accuracy and verification.
Cost: $150 or $99 for ACES members.
The Intermediate Certificate goes deeper into topics like grammar, working with writers, ethics, law and tech.
Cost: $250 or $175 for ACES members.
The Advanced Certificate engages participants in the most advanced facets of editing, like AI, developmental editing, developing style guides and building trust and career resilience.
Cost: $650 or $500 for ACES members. |
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