Celebrating the success of a program alumna

Poynter held its first journalism workshop in 1975. Next year we plan 85 programs, teaching online at the start of the year but, we hope, resuming in-person workshops by fall. We heard good news last week about one program alumna from days gone by. Rashida Jones attended a Poynter workshop when she was a journalist at WTKR-TV in Norfolk shortly after graduating from Hampton University. Poynter’s Al Tompkins, who taught that workshop, stayed in contact with her through career moves to The Weather Channel, where she worked her way up to executive producer, then back to local news as news director at WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina, then in 2013 to MSNBC.

She rose from executive producer to other positions at MSNBC and NBC News before being named last week as President of MSNBC.

In the picture above, she is helping teach a Poynter workshop in 2016. Here’s what Tompkins wrote to us here at Poynter upon news or her announcement: “She is a solid-as-a-rock journalist, she is a passionate teacher. She is a strong supporter of what we do.”

Poynter’s mission is to make good journalism better. We thank this Poynter alumna and all journalists for their tireless work in 2020 and look forward to a happy, healthy 2021.

Helping journalists cover the release of the vaccine

Delighted that you supported our Celebration of Journalism with Chris Wallace

Chris Wallace, 40-year veteran journalist and current “Fox News Sunday” anchor, received the Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award at our online fundraiser on Nov. 10 with several hundred Poynter supporters looking on. He put the medallion and ribbon around his own neck, as he dialed into the online event from his home.

He promised to join us in person in 2021, and we hope to see many of you at our Bowtie Ball next year, enjoying dinner and cocktails as we bestow the honor on another outstanding journalist. We had such fun at this online event, however, that we may do something similar in the future.

You can watch the replay of the gala here, including Chris Wallace’s interview with Poynter President Neil Brown at minute 52. We were nervous about trying an online fundraiser, but you, citizens like you around the world, and our corporate and foundation sponsors were so generous. We raised $250,000 to support Poynter’s work next year.

A special thank you to our presenting sponsors, Hearst Corporation, Red Apple Group and Fox News Media. See the full list of sponsors here. Thank you for your trust in Poynter and your belief in journalism.

Poynter has more supporters now than ever, as people like you appreciate the importance of access to accurate national and local news and fact-checking.

As you look to the end of the year and ahead to 2021, consider what’s important to you. If you haven’t already, please make your year-end gift to Poynter. Let us know if you’d like to donate stock or a gift from your IRA. If you’re using a donor-advised fund for your charitable giving, you can send checks to 801 Third Street S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Our EIN is 59-1630423.

From all of us at Poynter, thank you. Happy holidays and Happy New Year.

This newsletter comes to you from the staff at Poynter. We’ve taken it on together since Josh Herrington, who founded this newsletter last spring, has left the team. Please consider making a contribution toward our mission today so we can continue to keep you informed tomorrow. If you recently made a donation to Poynter ... thank you!

Poynter Foundation Board Members: 

Brian Tierney, CEO, Brian Communications
Ramon Bosquez – President, The Bosquez Group, LLC
Michael Dreyer, President, Tampa Bay Trust Company
Frank “Sandy” Rief III, Attorney, Allen Dell, Attorneys at Law
Liz Sembler, Board Member, Corporation for Public Broadcasting