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Week of Aug. 25 - 29: A new initiative to tell underrepresented stories, latest releases to level up your reporting
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THIS WEEK'S TL;DR:
Enrich your coverage of women impacted by incarceration; connect Washington decisions to local stories; harness the power of your voice; turn your life story into a memoir; advance your career through a weeklong workshop at Poynter
A statistic to inform your coverage: Women's incarceration rates jumped 585% between 1980 and 2021.
These numbers reveal systemic shifts and trends in criminal justice, but do your stories capture the physical, emotional and financial impact of incarceration on the women behind them?
The cost becomes clear in stories like that of Poynter Marketing Director Sarah Sweeny, whose family didn’t know when or why her sister entered the system. “Law enforcement, the DEA and even the foster care system provided almost no information. For more than a week, we didn’t even know the charges,” she said.
Local news was the messenger they needed to learn the specifics of the arrest. “The value of journalism in reporting on incarcerated women goes far beyond informing the public or increasing readership — it can be a lifeline for the families directly affected. Without this reporting, families are often left in the dark during an already complicated and painful time.”
“So many of these stories go untold, are sensationalized or are misunderstood," said Poynter faculty Fernanda Camarena, who leads Women and prisons: Covering the impact of Incarceration — Poynter’s new initiative to deepen coverage of those facing this issue.
"Women face unique issues as they pass through the justice system themselves or have family members incarcerated. So, journalists should learn how to cover these stories not just with accuracy and accountability, but also with dignity, care and respect. It's a nuanced topic, and journalists can benefit and elevate their coverage from training on how to best tell these stories.”
Get training to tell craft accurate, nuanced coverage and become eligible to apply for five $10,000 grants to fund your reporting.
Behind every incarceration trend sits women and families that are forever altered. Learn how to tell their stories with a two-part webinar series designed to provide you with the research, tips and source strategies you need. |
Webinar
Sept. 18, 1 p.m. Eastern
Free
Tune in live to learn how federal decisions ripple through statehouses and local communities. Get real-world examples, learn to track and interpret federal actions and share strategies for localizing complex national stories ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Deadline to tune in live: Sept. 18.
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In-person workshop
Nov. 11 - 14, 2025
Free
Develop confidence and skills to share your unique perspective, build professional networks and address the underrepresentation of diverse voices in opinion journalism.
Deadline: Sept. 12.
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📍 Poynter AI Ethics Consulting
Tailored training at your preferred time
$̶4̶,̶5̶0̶0̶ $1,750
Book a custom session with Poynter's Alex Mahadevan for a hands-on workshop to craft or update your organization's AI ethics policy.
💡 Your organization's future starts with the right strategy. See how Poynter's Consulting & Coaching gets you there. |
📍 Diversity Leadership Academy
Nov. 3 - 7, 2025
$1350
Faculty Tony Elkins, Fernanda Camarena and Kerwin Speight lead journalists of color through transformative training in management and ethical leadership that addresses the unique challenges facing media leaders today. Apply by Sept. 15.
📍 Moments of Truth: An Exploration of Journalism’s Past, Present, and Future
Sept. 4 - 12; The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City
Join us on Sept. 10 for a community conversation on journalism’s evolution from radio broadcasts to social media and what that means for the future of news.
📍 Essential Skills for New Managers (December 2025)
Dec. 1 - 5, 2025
$1,550
This dynamic five-day workshop provides the critical skills new managers need to help forge successful paths to leadership in journalism, media and technology. Apply by Oct. 3. |
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