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QUARTERLY EDITION TL;DR:

Plan for Q1 with Poynter’s upcoming ([link removed]) and self-paced ([link removed]) programs


** Five decades.
Thousands of alumni.
One evergreen mission.
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Poynter has spent 50 years training journalists in the craft, strategy and leadership that build resilient careers and newsrooms.

The media landscape is evolving. So should you.

Here’s your planning tool for Q1: the programs, dates and skills to support your year ahead.


** Guided programs with set dates
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* 🆕 Covering the Loneliness Epidemic: A Mental Health Reporting Project Webinar ([link removed]) — for all journalists
Date: Feb. 10, 2026, 1 p.m. ET (free, one-hour webinar)
Gain ethical reporting strategies for covering social isolation and loneliness from award-winning reporters.
* Lead with Influence ([link removed]) — for project leaders and ambitious media professionals
Program dates: March 3 - April 7, 2026 (six 90-minute online sessions)
Apply by: Feb. 16, 2026
Discover your leadership style, master feedback strategies and build influence that doesn’t require formal authority through weekly interactive sessions and peer challenges — all recorded for your reference.
* Leadership Academy for Women ([link removed]) — for women and nonbinary leaders with 3-7 years of management experience
Program dates: March 23-27, 2026 (St. Petersburg, FL)
Apply by: Jan. 7, 2026
Join 650+ alumni worldwide and gain transformative insights through 360-degree feedback coaching, strategic communication training and a supportive cohort of peers navigating the same challenges you face.
* The Poynter Leadership Academy ([link removed]) — for managers with 5+ years of experience
Program dates: April 20-24, 2026 (St. Petersburg, FL)
Apply by: Jan. 23, 2026
Transform your strategic leadership through Gallup CliftonStrengths assessments, 360-degree feedback analysis and comprehensive training on managing culture change and difficult conversations.
* Essential Skills for New Managers ([link removed]) — for new managers with up to 5 years of experience
Program dates: May 18-22, 2026 (St. Petersburg, FL)
Apply by: Jan. 30, 2026
Build your leadership foundation with proven strategies for managing former peers, delivering effective feedback and establishing credibility — guided by personalized assessments and a cohort of rising leaders.
* Today’s News for Tomorrow ([link removed]) — for interested participants in a media organization
Program dates: Cohorts begin March, May, and September 2026 and January, April, and September 2027
Apply by: Jan. 9, 2026
Secure professional archiving tools, expert training and peer networking to protect your community’s stories before they’re lost.

Plus, watch for returning favorites: Will Work for Impact, Edit to Elevate and new, topical Beat Academy sessions launching in early 2026.


** Self-paced programs
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* AI for Journalists and Content Creators: From Understanding to Application ([link removed]) — for all media professionals
Master AI tools, ethics, and risk assessment to work smarter while protecting your credibility — from spotting bias and misinformation to applying AI transparently.
* The Mental Health Reporting Project ([link removed]) — for all journalists
Protect your sources, your audience and yourself with specialized training on trauma, suicide, addiction and mental health disparities — developed in partnership with The Carter Center. Free due to the generous support of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
* Poynter ACES Certificates in Editing ([link removed]) — for communicators at any career stage
Certificate programs: Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced
Distinguish yourself with comprehensive courses and assessments designed to amp up your editing skills, improve your work life and advance your career.

Why plan now? Professionals who thrive are those who invest strategically in their development.

Here's to a year of renewed focus and purpose.


** TIP OF THE WEEK
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By Tom Huang ([link removed]) , Adjunct and Dallas Morning News assistant managing editor
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After nearly 40 years in the news business, I’ve distilled my pro tips down to five guiding lights. There’s nothing fancy or profound here. But I think these guiding lights will serve you well, especially in these times of chaos and uncertainty.
1. Be kind. To be clear, I’m not talking about being sunny and sweet (two things I’ve rarely been accused of being). I mean you need to treat your colleagues with respect and allow them to keep their dignity, even in situations where you have to say hard things. This is difficult and stressful enough work as it is; you don’t need to demean others.
2. Do and say the hard things. I’ve seen too many well-intentioned people (myself included) allow things to slide because they don’t want to have difficult conversations. Get in the habit of addressing problems (and problematic colleagues) directly as you can. Do not delay. But remember, be kind.
3. Keep on learning. When I first got into the business, most journalists could find success by doing one or two things really well. With the rapid pace of change, that’s not possible any more. Be ready to continuously learn something new, whether it’s a new tech tool, a new beat or a new approach to audience engagement. Listen carefully, be open-minded and be a lifelong student - and be ready for whatever’s next. Put another way: Embrace change, because change will be a constant from here on out.
4. Find a mentor and be a mentor. The beauty of most newsrooms, and the industry as a whole, is there are many generous people who want to help you. Sometimes you have to work to find them, but they are there. Also, even if you’re new in your career, you’re never too young or inexperienced to serve as a mentor. As the tech landscape shifts, you have a lot to teach veteran journalists like me.
5. Lead from wherever you sit in the newsroom. The hard truth of leadership is you don’t get to pick the time when you’re called to be a leader. Now’s the time. You can be a leader regardless of your title. You can do and say hard things, you can keep on learning (and teaching what you learn), you can embrace change, you can find a mentor and be a mentor. Most of all, you can be kind and encourage others as we walk this rocky path together.



** FROM OUR FEED
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Watch on YouTube ([link removed]) : In this season finale of "The Poynter Report Podcast," host Tom Jones sits down with PolitiFact editor-in-chief Katie Sanders to unpack the 2025 Lie of the Year — or more accurately, Lies of the Year.


** OPEN JOBS
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* Senior Advertising Account Executive ([link removed]) , Philadelphia Tribune Media Group, Philadelphia, PA

* Managing Editor ([link removed]) , Philadelphia Tribune Media Group, Philadelphia, PA

* Reporter or Opinion Writer for Journalism Fellowship ([link removed]) , Sojourners, Remote

BROWSE CAREERS ([link removed])


** FROM OUR NEWSROOM
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* Opinion | PolitiFact’s editor explains the unconventional pick for the 2025 Lie of the Year ([link removed]) , by Tom Jones
* Why Peter Vecsey is spending the fourth quarter on the bench ([link removed]) , by Pete Croatto
* Opinion | The internet is breaking — but it’s not too late to make it better ([link removed]) , by Angie Drobnic Holan



** REP POYNTER
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Poynter receives minimal revenue from sales. To support Poynter’s mission financially, go to poynter.org/give.


** MEME OF THE WEEK
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