Poynter

Weekly Training Digest - Advance Your Skills With Training And Resources

Barbecue wafted from the food truck in the parking lot. Toes on swinging feet splashed in the reflecting pool. Markers squeaked on flipboards and laughs rose from the Great Hall and mics echoed only a little for those still tuning in from home.

To my delight, Poynter resumed in-person hybrid training this past weekend with 20 TV producers from 13 different states joining us in St. Petersburg, Florida. They represented stations ranging from Telemundo and CNN International to Indian Country Today and AZ Family KTVK/KPHO. With the support of Poynter and guest faculty, they explored diverse sourcing, powerful pitching, ethical decision-making, everyday leadership, disinformation and newsroom trauma.

As we bid farewell (for now), I couldn't help thinking about the impact these producers, and all Poynter alumni, create when they return home with new energy and skills.

Are you ready for your next Poynter experience? Scroll for opportunities to connect online, at one of Poynter's campuses and around the world.

— Andrew DeLong, director of teaching operations

P.S. Did someone share this newsletter with you? Sign up for yourself here.

NEW AND UPCOMING

Immigration’s Impact on the U.S. Economic Recovery

Webinar, April 7 at 2 p.m. Eastern

Despite surging job growth and higher wages year-over-year, most Americans don’t believe the U.S. economy is strong. Worker shortages and supply chain disruptions complicate the COVID-19 economic recovery. Some industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor, such as restaurants, dairy farmers, meatpackers and health care, can’t hire enough workers to keep up with demand and wind up raising prices.

Tune in to this free webinar from Poynter to explore the connection between the pandemic-era economy and the role of immigrant workers in your community. Veteran journalist Ray Suarez will moderate the conversation with journalism educator Zita Arocha, Idaho Dairymen’s Association CEO Rick Naerebout, and director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University Tony Payan.

Cost: Free, thanks to support from the Catena Foundation.

ENROLL NOW

Will Work for Impact: Fundamentals of Investigative Journalism

Online group seminar, April 27-May 18, 2022

Investigative reporting can seem daunting. By definition, it involves uncovering a problem someone would prefer to keep secret. It requires critical thinking, persistence, courage and optimism. It can be lonely work. The good news is, there’s a roadmap you can follow.

Over the course of four weeks, award-winning investigative journalist Alexandra Zayas will break down the process to help you think about what kinds of stories to choose, how to build a bulletproof case and how to maximize the chance your work will create change.

Cost: $399.

ENROLL NOW

Transforming Crime Reporting Into Public Safety Journalism

Online group seminar, May 10-Aug. 2, 2022

This new online group seminar led by Poynter senior vice president Kelly McBride will help local newsrooms fix crime reporting by embracing the best practices of public safety journalism.

Two people from each newsroom should participate: a frontline reporter or producer responsible for police and crime news and an editor or manager who can influence editorial policies. Together, they will analyze the newsroom’s existing habits around crime coverage. They will reconsider the purpose of their crime coverage and identify stories that accomplish that purpose. Working in two-week sprints, participants will build consensus in their newsroom for a new approach to crime coverage and propose improvements to practices and policies.

Cost: $500. Apply by April 15.

APPLY NOW

Covering Political Extremism in the Public Square

Online group seminar, April 4-13

Increased intimidation, threats and violence surround democratic process and participation in the United States. This free online group seminar will help journalists stay safe and produce ethical, excellent stories for voters leading up to the 2022 midterms.

With help from Team PolitiFact, you will learn how to track and debunk election-related disinformation that could fuel violence on the local level. You will gain a deeper understanding of First and Second Amendment protections to strengthen your reporting about activities that are prohibited by law. In discussion with guest speakers (see the updated roster) and other participants, you will also review best practices for reporting on these issues without legitimizing them or having a chilling effect on democratic participation.

Cost: Free, thanks to support from the Joyce Foundation.

ENROLL NOW

ALUMNI NEWS AND MOVES

🎉 Detour Detroit, founded by women's leadership academy alumna Ashley Woods Branch, joined forces with Outlier Media to grow the future of independent local journalism in Detroit. Outlier's executive director is Candice Fortman, fellow alumna and current MTC Fellow.

💸 The News Product Alliance announced $900,000 of support from Google News Initiative & Knight Foundation. NPA's executive consultant is women's leadership alumna and former MTC Fellow Becca Aaronson and NPA's program director is women's leadership alumna and benefactor Emma Carew Grovum.

🙏🏽 More than 30 years ago, Ramón Escobar attended a Poynter ethics seminar for college students that changed his life. "I have used that ethical decision-making framework that began here at Poynter as a practicing journalist, as a student, and now as a teacher and leader in the industry," he said.

A couple years later, he participated in a producing newscasts seminar that he said formulated his philosophy — and career trajectory — as a producer. "I went from producer to EP to news director," he said. "It helped me on the path to leadership."

Now, Escobar is the senior vice president for talent recruitment and development at CNN and a regular supporter and instructor at the Poynter Producer Project. CNN's longtime sponsorship of Poynter's broadcast programs provides tuition scholarships for journalists from underrepresented backgrounds, changing the face and the future of the industry.

Are you a Poynter grad with a story to tell? Email [email protected] to be featured in this spot.

REPORTING, WRITING & EDITING

A Journalist’s Guide to Covering Jails – St. Petersburg
In-person, St. Petersburg, Florida, June 2-3

Focus on understanding the causes and consequences of local jail incarceration and explore ways that communities are addressing the issue. Cost: Free. Apply by April 22.

Becoming a More Effective Writer: Clarity and Organization
Online group seminar, May 3-27
Build the habits you need to organize your information better and write more clearly in this four-week online seminar. Cost: $429. Enroll now.

How to Develop Stories from 2020 Census Data
Self-directed course, start anytime
Access and analyze data from the 2020 census to inform your work as a journalist. Learn at your own pace and on your own time. Cost: Free. Enroll now.

FACT-CHECKING

Save the date for International Fact-Checking Day
Online event, April 2-8
Celebrate facts! The annual event recognizes the work of fact-checkers worldwide to verify and disprove claims surrounding society’s most pressing issues in the modern age of misinformation. Through April 8, Poynter's three fact-checking enterprises will equip journalists, professional fact-checkers, educators and citizens with tools to elevate the truth.

The History of Fake News: From the War of 1898 to the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In-person event, Tampa, Florida, April 29
Join the Poynter Institute for an evening at the Henry B. Plant Museum located at The University of Tampa to explore the evolution of sensationalism in news and its imprint on democracy throughout the centuries. Get tickets.

COLLEGE RESOURCES

Diversity Across the Curriculum
In-person, St. Petersburg, Florida, June 9

Infuse diversity and inclusion into all aspects of your teaching. The application deadline has been extended to Monday, March 28. Cost: $499. Apply now.

Teachapalooza: Front-Edge Teaching Tools for College Educators
Online or in-person program, St. Petersburg, Florida, June 10-12
Catch up, power up and reignite your passion for teaching with other journalism educators. Cost: $199. Register now.

Professor’s Press Pass
Subscription
New case study for your classroom this week: Can we forget what I said on Twitter? Some college admissions officers consider social media posts when offering spots to students. Are their First Amendment rights being violated? Subscribe now.