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Members of the 2022-2023 Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship in November of 2022. (Photo by Kristen Hare, Poynter)
We did not plan to talk about layoffs.
In late November, for the first time since coming together virtually in June, I got to meet more than 50 fantastic journalists in person. At the midyear retreat for the Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellowship, we learned from Pulitzer Prize-winner Corey Johnson, NPR’s Eric Deggans, PolitiFact’s Aaron Sharockman, TEGNA’s Erin Peterson, several colleagues from the Tampa Bay Times, WUSF, The Points Guy, Poynter and more. We went ax throwing. We learned how to play shuffleboard. We explored The Dalí Museum.
But for me, at least, the most powerful moment wasn’t planned.
On our second day together, news came out about another big round of layoffs in local news, this time from Gannett. My co-director, Benét J. Wilson, and I agreed — we had to stop what we were doing and talk about it. Though no one in the room was impacted, a few of their newsrooms were. And really, I’m sure everyone felt it, the dread, the worry, the bitter relief that it’s not you this time.
We talked for a few minutes. I can’t remember what we said. But it included two things — this is a reality in our industry, and there’s still a lot worth working for.
That moment is really the heart of this fellowship.
Yes, it helps pay for a journalist’s salary for a year. That’s important for the newsroom and the community and the jobs it helps create.
But our real purpose is to not only prepare journalists for sustainable careers, but also to empower them with the principles and community they need to to have an impact wherever they work. That means preparing them with the skills they’ll need, including covering a beat, powerful storytelling and fact-checking; and skills they must have, including salary negotiating, managing up and building a life outside of their work.
Applications are now open for this fellowship ([link removed]) . The deadline is March 10. You can learn more about it with our FAQ ([link removed]) . And below, you’ll find a conversation with two colleagues who are critical in shaping this program, my co-director, Wilson, and the fellowship’s lead adviser, Omar Gallaga.
Kristen: How do you describe this fellowship to journalists and newsrooms who are interested?
Omar: I tell people that it's a yearlong deep dive into all aspects of being a better journalist. It's geared toward early-career applicants — those who might be in their first or second or third job in the industry and looking to level up their skills. You get to meet and learn from some heavy hitters from the world of journalism, whether it's broadcasters from NPR or investigative journalists who've won Pulitzers, and you get to engage each week with peers from all over the country.
Benét: I tell them a few things. One, it’s the chance to get journalism training that they can’t get working during the day-to-day operations of a newsroom. Second, it’s a chance to meet 59 other peers, along with our great speakers, including Cheryl Thompson of NPR sharing her journey as an investigative journalist, Hannah Wise of McClatchy teaching how to use analytics in the newsroom and Tasneem Raja of The Oaklandside discussing how to serve diverse communities. Third, it’s a chance for fellows to really look at their career path and make changes as needed. And last — but not least — their network is broadened in a way that would be more difficult without the fellowship.
Kristen: This is my first full year with the fellowship, but you’ve each been involved for much longer. What’s a highlight of this program for you?
Benét: It allows me to do what I’ve already been doing for 30-plus years: train, advise and mentor the next generation of great journalists. It’s very gratifying for me to see what past fellows have done as a result of being in this program.
Omar: For sure it's the fellows. We work really hard to bring together a great group for the cohort, and I'm always blown away by the talent and energy that they bring every year. When you've been in the industry a long time, it's easy to be jaded or dispirited about where things are going. Interacting with the fellows every week reminds me of why I got into journalism in the first place. I worry a lot less about the future when I see the next generation of journalists who'll continue to carry the torch.
Kristen: A feature of this fellowship that makes it different from anything else out there is the project the fellows work on while they’re with us. This project has had a few names, but basically they’re building, making or creating something that betters their newsroom, their community or our industry. One of my favorites from our last class was Will Schick’s style guide for covering homelessness ([link removed]) . What’s a favorite project for you?
Omar: I'm a sucker for good content, so we've had some great podcasts and TikTok accounts and service journalism projects that have come out of the fellowship. But we also try to focus on things that are useful for a newsroom itself. I was a big fan of Tabitha Mueller's tip line project for The Nevada Independent. She saw a problem that was happening: News tips from the public weren't being utilized and were falling through the cracks. So she took a methodical approach to making sure those tips go to the right place and that there's accountability for tracking them. Simple idea, but super useful and a very thoughtful way to make sure good news ideas don't get lost.
Benét: One of my favorites is one in this cohort. With the rise of newsroom layoffs, one of our fellows has been sharing resources with those affected for her media outlet. She is taking it to the next level by opening it up to all journalists. Having been laid off twice, I love that those who have lost their jobs have a resource that helps them get back on their feet.
Kristen: Anything else you want people to know about our fellowship?
Omar: From what I've seen, those who get the most out of the fellowship are those who put the most in. We don't require you to be at every session, but the people who attend as much as possible, who really give a lot of thought to their project, and who make the effort to interact with other fellows seem to come out of the program having had a great experience. They exit with more tools and knowledge and, yes, contacts in the industry to bring back to their newsrooms and help further their careers.
Benét: I want everyone to know that this fellowship changes lives. It gives early-career journalists the skills they need to not only survive, but thrive and grow in their newsrooms. Fellows also have a network they can tap during good times and bad.
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That's it for me! I have a long weekend of middle school girls' volleyball ahead of me. I didn't mean to join a cult, but at least it's expensive and takes up all my free time! 🏐
Kristen
Kristen Hare
Faculty
The Poynter Institute
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