Poynter Perks: A conversation with Poynter Senior Vice President Kelly McBride

Join us for a conversation hosted exclusively for Poynter donors with Kelly McBride, Poynter’s senior vice president, chair of the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at Poynter, and NPR’s new public editor.

The role of a public editor — a person who independently examines the coverage of a news organization, surfacing audience concerns and exploring ethical issues — is more important than ever before. However, most newsrooms have abandoned the position. In this exclusive, donors-only Q&A, Poynter development director Josh Herrington will talk with Poynter senior vice president Kelly McBride on why NPR continues to invest in this position and what she’s learned on the job so far.

Since April, Kelly has written columns about using the term “unarmed black man,” handling protest images, and the need for more accountability in a high-profile interview. She will share the challenges of succeeding in this role as an outsider — and how she values the increasingly diverse NPR audience.

If you’re a listener or reader of NPR, Kelly is representing you in the newsroom. She’ll share how she translates that experience to her work leading Poynter’s ethics and leadership efforts and vice versa.

Have a specific question for Kelly now? Email it to us [email protected] and your question could be at the front of the line.

Date: Thursday, Aug. 27

Time: 4-4:30 p.m. Eastern

Location: On Zoom

Cost: Free perk for Poynter donors