Just as fall plans for reopening media offices seemed final, the delta variant forces all of us to think differently. 

Some major news organizations, such as The New York Times, are delaying a return to the office, while others, including The Washington Post, will require proof of vaccinations for employees. After a year and a half of leading through ongoing crises, senior news executives are staring down a new challenge: Adjusting the alchemy of the media workplace as the U.S. enters the latest phase of the pandemic. 

Poynter’s first Executive Leadership Summit is designed to help top-level media leaders move their organizations forward with strategic insights. Participants will learn from esteemed Poynter leadership faculty Cheryl Carpenter and Butch Ward, from fellow news executives and from guided introspection. Topics include what the future workplace dynamic — hybrid or otherwise — demands of senior leaders, protecting and caring for your staff, and retaining and continuing to challenge your best people. This program takes place Monday, Oct. 4 through Wednesday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. 

Self-directed course, start anytime

Online group seminar, Sept. 20-Oct. 16

Making stories work involves more than just teases and live shots. This eight-session, four-week online seminar will help you expand your expertise as a TV producer with new writing, storytelling, coaching and ethical decision-making skills.

Poynter Senior Faculty Al Tompkins and a five-star lineup of visiting professionals will sharpen your writing and ethical decision-making skills, stretch your leadership muscles and increase your value to your newsroom. Lori Walden, a former news director and now a general manager, will help you manage your boss and manage your career. Matthew Hilk, vice president of news and managing editor of CNN/US, will teach you about managing breaking news. And Kelly McBride, Poynter’s senior vice president, will lead a session on rethinking how we cover crime and justice. 

The 2022 Media Transformation Challenge (MTC) Program: A Poynter Institute Executive Fellowship

Online and in-person, Jan. 10, 2022– Jan. 9, 2023

Since 2007, more than 300 senior media executives have realized critical performance results, built life-long career skills and relationships, and made major contributions to industry transformation through this yearlong program (formerly operated as the Punch Sulzberger Program at Columbia).

Join a community of hundreds of alumni — including Washington Post executive editor Sally Buzbee — and deliver real results for your enterprise with help from MTC’s world-class tools, concepts, coaches, peer group, and alumni network. Apply by Dec. 3, 2021.

How Any Journalist Can Earn Trust
Self-directed, start anytime
This online, self-paced course will help journalists understand mistrust and gain a better understanding of what trust in news looks like in the U.S. It will also provide you with tips and tools to be more transparent, more engaged and more open with your readers. Cost: Free. Suggested donation: $15. Enroll now.

Poynter and MediaWise announced a new class of Campus Correspondents.
Over the course of the 2021/22 school year, these students will help their peers spot misinformation online. They'll produce media literacy tips and fact-checking videos across social media platforms as well as lead virtual and in-person fact-checking workshops. Are you interested in having one of our trained collegiate fact-checkers visit your classroom virtually (or IRL at some locations) during the 2021/22 academic year? Please fill out this form.