Thi Bui and Momo Chang on stage at Chapter 510. Photo credit: Brandy Collins, Oakland Voices alum ’19

On May 11, Oakland Voices alums gathered for an inspiring talk with Oakland-based author and illustrator, Thi Bui. Bui is best known for her graphic novel, The Best We Could Do, which debuted in 2017 and received many accolades including a 2017 National Book Critics Circle Award nomination. The novel tells the story of her family’s journey from Vietnam as refugees to the United States. Bui imparted powerful lessons for Oakland Voices correspondents about accessible storytelling and navigating cultural institutions that may not value the perspectives of immigrant authors and audiences.

The Work of Illustrator and Author Thi Bui

Bui is also a children’s book illustrator, including a collaborative project between herself and her son, and Pulitzer Prize Winner author Viet Thanh Nguyen and his son, titled Chicken of the Sea. She also illustrated poet Bao Phi’s children’s book, A Different Pond. Her most recently illustrated book is Finding Papa, written by Angela Pham Krans, which was released in February.

Bui is working on her next graphic novel, focusing on immigration detention and deportation, to be published by One World, Random House.

Holding Space for Creativity

The event was held at Chapter 510, a nonprofit organization based in Oakland that focuses on youth poetry, writing, and publishing. The organization was previously located on Telegraph Avenue, and reopened in the new space in Old Oakland in 2021 during the pandemic. The event was kicked off with an introduction by Oakland Voices Co-Director Momo Chang, and then Oakland Voices alum Marabet Morales Sikahall, program and community manager at Chapter 510.

Bui was a founding teacher at Oakland International High School, serving Oakland’s newly arrived immigrants and refugees. She worked on The Best We Could Do, which she shares was a decade-long process, while raising a young child during school holidays and weekends.

Oakland Voices and the Maynard Institute purchased copies of The Best We Could Do from Eastwind Books of Berkeley, which were then given to alumni members at the event. Bui stayed to sign everyone’s books. Catering was provided by Cafe Gabriela in downtown Oakland.

Lessons from Bui’s Artistic Journey

During the event, Bui connected with alumni members on many topics, from researching a topic, to writing and storytelling. Many members were also curious about book publishing.

One rumor she wanted to clear up right away is that she had art and drawing experience previous to making The Best We Could Do. Bui has a degree in art, including being a teaching assistant in figure drawing as an undergraduate. “I drew a lot!” she told the Oakland Voices audience. She was mostly self-taught in comics drawing and sought out mentors in this field.

When sharing how her fine arts degree influenced her success as a graphic novelist, Bui was frank about the lack of support she received from some professors. She shared how her work was often critiqued as “too narrative.”

Moreover, when she tried to defend her artwork as an expression of her identity as an Asian American, her professor dismissed her by saying, “Why should I care about your Asian American identity?”

Since that time, Bui said that the fine art world has begun to embrace more accessible art forms such as graphic novels as well as voices of underrepresented communities of color.

Her story reinforced just how valuable programs like Oakland Voices are to lifting up storytellers from diverse backgrounds.

Check out the Oakland Voices website for an in-depth Q&A and photo gallery from the event coming soon.

About Oakland Voices

Oakland Voices emerged from a partnership between the Oakland Tribune and the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Oakland Voices connects correspondents with more than a dozen media professionals to teach correspondents. Participants work individually and in teams, creating content for the Oakland Voices website, which can also be published elsewhere. The collaborative, applied learning approach means correspondents quickly become aware of their power and responsibility as storytellers, and as members of the media.

The latest cohort of new Oakland Voices correspondents began the 6-month program in May 2023. If you want to support their success, donate to the Maynard Institute today!

The POLITICO Journalism Institute (PJI) announced its 10th cohort in partnership with the Maynard Institute and American University. The program is designed to provide hands-on training and experience for college students interested in pursuing a career in political journalism.

One of the primary goals of PJI is to promote diversity in the field of political journalism, and the Maynard Institute has been a longstanding and critical partner of the program. The program seeks to attract students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. In particular, PJI aims to encourage students from underrepresented communities to apply.

The program is highly competitive, with only a select group of students chosen each year from a large pool of applicants. Students who are accepted attend an intensive two-week training course at American University in Washington, D.C. and the POLITICO newsroom in Arlington, Va., where they learn about the intricacies of political journalism from some of the best in the field. This year, some students will participate from POLITICO’s bureaus in Sacramento, Calif., and New York City.

“The Maynard Institute is proud to be a founding and continuing partner in the POLITICO Journalism Institute as it increases opportunities for students who represent a cross-section of this country and the full range of its colleges and universities,” said Evelyn Hsu, institute co-executive director. “Congratulations to our alums and partners on this 10th anniversary.”

PJI has been highly successful in helping students launch careers in political journalism. Many graduates of the program have gone on to work at major news outlets, including POLITICO itself. Others have landed jobs at newspapers, magazines, and broadcast media organizations across the country.

Overall, the POLITICO Journalism Institute is a valuable resource for aspiring political journalists who are looking to gain real-world experience and learn from some of the best in the business. By providing students with the skills, knowledge, and connections they need to succeed, PJI, American University and the Maynard Institute are continuing to shape the future of political journalism in the United States and beyond.

Congratulations to the POLITICO Journalism Institute’s 2023 Class!

Based in Washington, DC:

• Punya Bhasin – University of Pittsburgh
• Monica Carrillo-Casas – University of Idaho
• Leah Clark- Xavier University of Louisiana
• Kate Corliss – American University
• Rocio Fabbro – New York University
• Olivia Gyapong – University of Missouri
• Rachel Hale – University of Wisconsin
• Jacqueline Hernandez – University of Richmond
• Melina Khan – Quinnipiac University
• Simon Levien – Harvard University
• Ayah Mahana – George Washington University
• Ifeoluwa Olatona – Howard University
• Juan Pablo Lopez – University of Central Florida
• Daryl Perry – University of Maryland
• Keara Shannon – University of Missouri
• Kacie Yamamoto – University of Southern California (USC)

Based in California:

• Annie Bang – University of Southern California (USC)
• Saliha Bayrak – University of Massachusetts at Amherst
• Layla Brown Clark – DePauw University
• Forest Hunt – Evergreen State College

Based in New York:

• Kyla Guilfoil – Manhattan College
• Meghana Kakubal – New York University
• Tori Morales Pinales – New York University
• John Underhill – University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Read the POLITICO press release.

About the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education

For 45 years, the Maynard Institute has fought to push back against the systemic lack of diversity in the news industry through training, collaborations and convenings. Founded by Robert C. Maynard, the Institute promotes diversity and antiracism in the news media through improved coverage, hiring and business practices. We are creating better representation in U.S. newsrooms through our programs , which gives media professionals of color the tools to become skilled storytellers, empowered executives and inspired entrepreneurs. Visit the Maynard Institute website to learn more.

The Maynard Institute joins Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in congratulating the latest winners of the Shaufler Prize in Journalism. Momo Chang, the Maynard Institute’s Oakland Voices Co-Director, participated on the panel of judges. Winners in the professional and student categories will be recognized on March 23 during an awards ceremony at the Cronkite School. The event will also be streamed as a Cronkite Live special event via YouTube.

Congratulations Winners

The top prize in the 2022 Shaufler Prize in Journalism professional category has been awarded to Aydali Campa of Inside Climate News for the three-part series titled “The Superfund Site Next Door: Toxins and Mistrust in Atlanta.” Second place in the professional category was awarded to writer Jamie Smith Hopkins of the Center for Public Integrity, and a podcast team with Transmitter Media for “The Wealth Vortex,” a longform story and an accompanying five-episode podcast. The data based investigation from the Center for Public Integrity titled “Cheated at Work” received third place.

The top prize in the student journalism category went to “Mega Billions: The Great Lottery Wealth Transfer,” produced by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland.

An honorable mention designation was awarded to the New York Times for “Overlooked No More,” a series of obituaries about remarkable people from underrepresented communities whose lives and deaths previously went uncovered by the Times.

About the Shaufler Prize

The Shaufler Prize was established by Paul B. Anderson, the principal & CEO of Workhouse Media in Seattle, Washington to honor his late friend, Ed Shaufler, who died in late 2020. Shaufler cared deeply about promoting understanding of underrepresented people. The prize recognizes America’s best journalism advancing the understanding of stories and issues related to underserved people in society, such as communities of color, immigrants and LGBTQ+. Cash awards range from $2,000 to $10,000 across two categories of student journalism and professional media.

Entries were judged by journalism professionals and educators. Judges for the 2022 Shaufler Prize:

• Momo Chang
• Marie Dillion
• Adrianne Flynn
• Kristin Gilger
• Nora Lopez
• Evelyn Larrubia
• Nikki McClaran
• Toluse Olorunnipa
• Jeffrey Timmermans

Judges considered how well the submissions provided in-depth coverage of issues affecting communities of color, immigrants or LGBTQ+. Winning submissions went beyond the ordinary in conveying the challenges experienced by underserved communities. Read more about the award eligbility and criteria on the Cronkite School website.

About the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education

For 45 years, the Maynard Institute has fought to push back against the systemic lack of diversity in the news industry through training, collaborations and convenings. Founded by Robert C. Maynard, the Institute promotes diversity and antiracism in the news media through improved coverage, hiring and business practices. We are creating better representation in U.S. newsrooms through our programs , which gives media professionals of color the tools to become skilled storytellers, empowered executives and inspired entrepreneurs. Donate to support our programs.

Do you live in Oakland and have a story to tell? The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education is now accepting applications for Oakland Voices, a six-month program designed to empower Oakland residents through newswriting, photography, and community storytelling. The 2023 program is hybrid model, with both in-person meetings and virtual instruction via Zoom, plus a planned in-person graduation celebration, as public health conditions allow. Correspondents will receive a $1,000 stipend for participation and completing assignments. No previous media experience required.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Applications are due by Sunday, April 16, at 11:59 PM PDT.

Oakland Voices correspondents are trained in digital media storytelling — writing blogs and online pieces, taking photos, shooting video, and using social media to discuss issues that matter most in their communities. Correspondents also learn journalism ethics and editorial decision-making, interview basics, and story craft. They use those tools to report on a wide range of issues highlighting the triumphs and challenges of life in Oakland, including community heroes and heroines, health and wealth disparities, and more.

How to Apply

Online applications must by submitted by Sunday, April 16, 2023, at 11:59 PM PDT. Applicants must be an Oakland resident over 18 years old with access to a stable internet connection via computer or mobile device in order to participate in virtual meetings. Students in their senior year of high school are eligible and unhoused residents, low-income, and community members of color are encouraged to apply. A Google account is necessary to access the online application form. Visit the Oakland Voices website to learn more about the program requirements and submit your application.

Maynard Institute programs are open to all. The Institute is committed to addressing the under-representation of people of color and other historically disadvantaged groups in media-related professions, and so we make special efforts to recruit individuals from these groups for our programs. For questions about sponsoring an Oakland Voices correspondent or donating to the program, contact us to learn more.

History of Oakland Voices

Founded in 2010, Oakland Voices emerged from a partnership between the Oakland Tribune and The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. Oakland Voices connects correspondents with more than a dozen media professionals to teach correspondents. Participants work individually and in teams, creating content for the Oakland Voices website. This content may also be published by program partners such as The Oaklandside or KALW Public Radio. The collaborative, applied learning approach means correspondents quickly become aware of their power and responsibility as storytellers, and as members of the media.

Staff and Alumni Correspondents

Rasheed Shabazz and Momo Chang serve as Co-directors of the Oakland Voices program. Martin Reynolds co-founded Oakland Voices and is co-executive director of the Maynard Institute. Evelyn Hsu is co-executive director of the Maynard Institute and contributes the training curriculum of the program.

Multiple cohorts of Oakland residents have completed the Oakland Voices program. Check out a summary listing of all the correspondents by project years since 2010.

Meet Oakland Voices alums at The New Parkway on March 23

Interested in meeting some Oakland Voices alums before applying? Co-Director of Oakland Voices Alumni program, Momo Chang will be a panelist at the next Culture Makers event dedicated to local journalists on Thursday, March 23 at the New Parkway Theater in Oakland, California. Learn more about the event. Space is limited. Registration required.

OAKLAND, CA (January 30, 2023): The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding the diversity pipeline in the news media and dismantling structural racism in its newsrooms, is accepting applications for its cornerstone Maynard 200 Fellowship. The professional development program provides cutting-edge training and year-long mentorship for storytellers, editors and managers, leaders and media entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds.

The 2023 program will kick off in-person on June 26th at Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas. Maynard 200 fellows will benefit from tuition-free training and mentorship, plus lodging and travel expenses will be covered by the Maynard Institute.

The program will continue throughout the summer with a series of virtual webinars. A second week of training will be held virtually over Zoom the week of October 23rd. Fellows will then be paired with industry veterans and experts in relevant disciplines in their area of interest to receive one year of one-to-one mentorship through October 2024.

This year’s program will consist of a cohort size of 30 fellows. Applicants can apply to one of four curriculum tracks designed for investigative storytellers, executive leaders, frontline editors and managers and media entrepreneurs and product developers. Applications are due by 11:59 PM PDT on March 31, 2023. Screening will begin after the application deadline and will continue through April.

Maynard 200 has been supported by Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Google News Initiative, and The Hearthland Foundation. The Fox Corporation is a returning sponsor for the 2023 program as well.

For more information and guidance on the application process, as well as COVID-19 safety protocols for the in-person training sessions, please visit Maynard 200 program updates for 2023.

About the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education

For more than 45 years, the Maynard Institute has fought to push back against the systemic lack of diversity in the news industry through training, collaborations and convenings. Founded by Robert C. Maynard, the Institute promotes diversity and antiracism in the news media through improved coverage, hiring and business practices. We are creating better representation in America’s newsrooms through our Maynard 200 fellowship program, which gives media professionals of color the tools to become skilled storytellers, empowered executives and inspired entrepreneurs.

About the Maynard 200 Fellowship program

Maynard 200 is the cornerstone fellowship program advancing the Maynard Institute’s efforts to expand the diversity pipeline in news media and dismantle structural racism in its newsrooms. It is designed for and serves the next generation of media leaders, storytellers, editors and entrepreneurs, in order to advance their career growth and leadership power in newsrooms and organizations. The professional development program provides customized training courses, resources and 1:1 mentorship by industry professionals, to fellows who have represented a wide spectrum of racial, gender and geographic backgrounds.

Join the Maynard 200 Kick-off in Fort Worth

The deadline to apply for Maynard 200 is March 31, 2023. Read more about the program and apply today!

Questions?

See the latest press release on PR Newswire. For more information about sponsoring the Maynard 200 Fellowship or program eligibility, please reach out to:
Maynard 200 Director, Odette Alcazaren-Keeley at okeeley@mije.org.

Our latest video coincides with the launch of the Maynard Institute end-of-year fundraising campaign. Watch the brief 2-minute video to learn about the Institute’s mission. Find out makes our programs worthy of your support and donate today! Filmed during the June 2022 session of the Maynard 200 Fellowship program at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, this video includes interviews with Maynard Institute staff as well as Maynard 200 faculty and leaders in the media industry.

Join the fight to ensure newsroom diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

“We have a tremendous history that inspires us,” said Evelyn Hsu, Co-Executive Director of the Maynard Institute. In the wake of Kerner Commission report, a diverse group of journalism founded the Institute in 1977 to challenge the excuses of legacy media for racist hiring practices and news coverage. By providing training programs to journalists of color, the Institute helped ensure that newsrooms could no longer claim a lack of qualified candidates for hire. Since its founding, the impact of our programs stretches beyond hiring practices to journalims itself. “With our graduates who are editors, we can see changes in coverage,” Hsu added.

Co-Executive Director Martin Reynolds said, “We have an obligation to push journalism to understand the impact that it has had when it is perpetuating systemic racism. These institutions—if they are truly going to be seen as worthy of informing a diverse society—they have to get this right.”

Maynard 200 Guest Lecturer and AP Vice President Ron Nixon

Maynard’s staff, faculty and volunteers worktirelessly to provide journalists the skills needed to thrive in the industry through opportunities like the Maynard 200 Fellowship, the Oakland Voices community journalism program, Fault Lines diversity trainings, events and more. This is essential work, but it wouldn’t be possible without supporters like you.

Still going strong after 45 years!

The Maynard Institute was founded in 1977 to promote diversity and antiracism in the news media through improved coverage, hiring and business practices. We challenge the systemic lack of diversity in the news industry through training, collaborations and convenings. Through programs like the Maynard 200 fellowship, we are creating better representation in America’s newsrooms. The institute offers a range of tuition-free professional development and training programs. The institute also provides consulting services and trainings to help news organizations reach their full potential as equitable, productive and financially sustainable organizations.

We are able to do this work thanks to the generous support of funders and supporters like you! Your tax-deductible donation directly impacts the careers of journalists while supporting the institute’s mission to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the news media. Donate today!

One of the Maynard Institute’s core programs, the Maynard 200 Fellowship is designed to advance the careers of investigative storytellers, executive leaders, frontline editors and media entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds (see bios). The fellowship provides professional development training and year-long mentorship. In 2022, media strategist Dickson Louie returned to lead the media entrepreneurship cohort and continued the media entrepreneurship award program originally launched in 2021. Based on the scores from a panel of media business experts, faculty, and Maynard 200 alumni, three fellows, Michael Tennant, Nancy Flores and Lisa D. Tinsley have been recognized for their outstanding media venture pitches.

About the Maynard 200 Media Entrepreneurship Awards

Given to the Fellow with the top overall score from the judges, the Dori J. Maynard Award honors the late president of the Maynard Institute and the daughter of Robert C. Maynard, our co-founder. The amount of this award, which is funded by Dickson Louie each year, is $1,000 and will go toward the operating expenses of the winning start-up.

The Quentin Hope Metrics Award in Entrepreneurship is a $1,000 prize funded by the Maynard Institute. The award honors Quentin Hope, who served as the coach for Institute co-directors Evelyn Hsu and Martin Reynolds in the year-long Media Transformation challenge and helped them define and create metrics for their projects.

We extend our thanks to the 2022 award judges Linda Lloyd da Silva, Peter Lamb, Ned Hawley, Clarisa Strohmeyer, Travers Johnson, Waylae Gregoire, Cathy Eckstein, Caroline Ceniza-Levine and Susan Leath.

Congratulations Media Entrepreneurship Award Winners

Dori J. Maynard Media Entrepreneurship Award

Michael Tennant is the recipient of this year’s Dori J. Maynard Media Entrepreneurship Award for his presentation on his start-up, Curiosity Lab.

Tennant is a founder, writer and movement builder dedicated to spreading tools of empathy and helping people find their purpose. Before founding Curiosity Lab in 2017, he spent 15 years becoming a media, advertising and nonprofit executive, and delivering awardwinning marketing strategies for companies like MTV, Vice, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, Sweetgreen and Oatly.

Tennant created Actually Curious, the conversation card game that became a viral sensation in 2020 during the pandemic and the rise of the racial justice movement for helping people to build meaningful connections and tackle important topics facing the world.

He has channeled his business success and momentum into a sustained movement supporting BIPOC and other underrepresented communities through speaking, writing, leadership, mentorship, consulting, partnerships and talent-pipeline programs.

Quentin Hope Metrics Award

In a statistical tie, Nancy Flores and Lisa D. Tinsley are the recipients of this year’s Quentin Hope Metrics Award. This award is given to the Fellow with the top overall score in the metrics category.

Flores had presented on her startup, Austin Vida, a digital news and culture site that amplifies, informs, and celebrates the Latinidad of the Austin community with culturally-competent news.

In addition to editor and publisher of Austin Vida, Nancy is an award-winning local journalist. She founded Cultura Media, Austin Vida’s umbrella organization, and was recently named one of “Austin’s Top Latina Entrepreneurs to Watch” by the digital news outlet Austonia.

Flores grew up in the bordertown of Eagle Pass, Texas, and is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. She has specialized in writing about underrepresented Central Texas communities, most recently reporting for the Austin American-Statesman and Austin360. Her contributions to Austin’s Latino community recently earned her
the Award of Excellence in Media Arts from the city’s Mexican American Cultural Center. In 2019, Remezcla listed her among the nation’s “Latino Columnists You Should Be Reading.”

Tinsley discussed her venture, KISA Public Radio (KPR), an independent, nonprofit media organization that was founded on a mission to enlighten the world about the African American community. Every day, KISA Public Radio connects with thousands worldwide on the air and online to explore issues affecting the African American community. Programming includes news about health, science, entrepreneurship, arts, culture and more.

Tinsley has worked as a news researcher and archivist for 25 years. She loves to share her research that will enrich the lives of others. Tinsley launched KISA Public Radio in 2017, and when not working as program director of the radio station, she can be found found volunteering with food banks and Habitat for Humanity, traveling with family and friends and watching documentaries.

About the Maynard 200 Fellowship Media Entrepreneur Track

Led by Executive-in-Residence Dickson Louie, the Maynard 200 entrepreneurship track is designed to support fellows navigating the modern media landscape. As Principal of Louie & Associates and Lecturer at the University of California Davis Graduate School of Management, Louie has over 25 years of professional management experience within the news media industry. He brings veteran expertise as a planning and business development executive at the Los Angeles Times, the San Jose Mercury News and the San Francisco Chronicle.

“In this Maynard 200 media entrepreneur track, fellows learn the frameworks that will help increase the odds of their venture’s success: discovering market opportunities, identifying business models, learning how to pitch ideas, setting goals, and leading a start-up team.”
Dickson Louie, Principal of Louie & Associates

In October 2022, Louie received a partial scholarship from IDEO U for their Activating Strategy course, in recognition of his work in co-creating the Summer Strategy Sessions for the Maynard 200 Media Entrepreneurship and Executive Leadership Tracks with Virgil Smith. The scholarship will allow Louie to receive the IDEO U “Human-Centered Strategy” certificattion. IDEO, the parent organization of IDEO U, is a global consulting firm and a pioneer in the concept of design thinking.

The Maynard 200 program is grateful to all members of the 2022 faculty and mentors. In addition to media entrepreneurship, the Maynard 200 program includes three other areas of focus for investigative storytellers, executive leaders, and frontline editors. Each track is led by accomplished industry veterans such as peabody award-winning journalist Aaron Glantz for investigative storytelling, former newsroom C-suite executive Virgil Smith for the leadership track, and senior editor John X. Miller for frontline editors and managers.

Maynard 200 will return in 2023

The Maynard 200 Fellowship program will continue next year in a hybrid virtual and in-person format hosted at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in Los Angeles, California. Maynard 200 fellows will benefit from tuition-free training and mentorship, plus air travel and lodging expenses will be covered by the Maynard Institute. Subscribe to our newsletter for the call for applications coming soon!

The Maynard Institute will welcome back over 50 Maynard 200 Fellows (see bios) on Tuesday, October 25th, for the second and final in-person training week hosted at the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. The video below captures the spirit of the first week of the Maynard 200 Fellowship gathering at USC Annenberg earlier this year.

The final day of the October training week will conclude with commencement celebrations and each fellow will be matched with a mentor from their respective field or specialization. The graduation activities will be preceded by a fireside chat with Maynard Institute Co-Executive Director, Martin Reynolds and Kevin Merida, executive editor for the Los Angeles Times. Fellows will also present their final projects, including the review of a special case study prepared by Maynard 200 fellows on the current development strategie of the Los Angeles Times.

Video asks Maynard 200 fellows to describe the program in one word

The new video about the Maynard 200 Fellowship program kicks off with scenes from the 2022 welcome reception, where guests were asked to describe how they felt about the program in one word. From “Inspired” and “honored” to “supported” and “connected,” fellows shared how they felt. The one word spoken into the microphone by Denise Watson, features editor at The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press in Virginia, was “empower…that’s what Maynard has always done and that’s what I hope to do.“

Watch the 3 minute video to understand why the Maynard 200 program is so meaningful to both fellows and faculty.

Class of 2022 returns to USC

During the final week of Maynard 200, each track will meet guest faculty speakers and leaders in the industry. We are proud to welcome back previous faculty as well as introduce new guest speakers. To read more about the Maynard 200 faculty roster, check out their full bios (PDF).

In addition to attending training sessions, fellows will also be presenting their final projects including a case study of The Los Angeles Times. As part of the in-person program, fellows will be presenting their case study findings directly to LA Times executive editor, Kevin Merida, and other executives in attendance.

Maynard 200 continues through mentorship

The Maynard 200 Fellowship program doesn’t end with the commencement celebration. One of the lasting positive outcomes of this fellowship is the signature 1:1 mentorship component. After the formal curriculum concludes, fellows are paired with a veteran media professional in their area of interest who has committed to mentoring the fellow for a year. This community building is key to pushing the industry forward.

This year’s mentors comprise a distinguished roster of award-winning media executives, academics, communications professionals and business and entrepreneurship experts. We are pleased to have several Maynard Institute alumni, including graduates from its legacy programs and past Maynard 200 programs, joining us as mentors this year.

About the Maynard 200 Fellowship

The program is tuition-free thanks to funding by Google News Initiative, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Hearthland Foundation, the McClatchy Foundation and supporters like you! Your tax-deductible donation directly impacts the careers of journalists while supporting the institute’s mission to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the news media.

We are creating better representation in newsrooms through our Maynard 200 fellowship program, which gives media professionals of color the tools to become skilled storytellers, successful managers, empowered executives and inspired entrepreneurs. Donate today!

Applications are now closed.

Is your news organization ready to establish a more equitable workplace and provide better coverage of underserved communities? Subscribe for email updates about our next program application period.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Oakland, Calif. (September 9, 2022): The Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding diversity in the news media and dismantling structural racism in newsrooms, announced today the launch of the Equity and Belonging Newsroom Transformation Program. The pilot program, funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is an initiative that will pair news organizations with consultants who have a wealth of experience training journalists on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) issues. The goal is to help transform workplace structures, organizational cultures and news coverage to be more inclusive and reflective of the United States.

To launch the new initiative, Maynard will pilot the program in two news organizations during two five-month periods. One organization selected will be an alumni of the Table Stakes Local News Transformation Program. The second pilot program is open to nonprofit, for-profit and independent news organizations across the country. Applications for the Equity and Belonging Newsroom Transformation Program must be submitted by 11:59 P.M. PDT on Oct. 7.

Each news organization will work closely with the Maynard Institute team and consultants Global Equity Collective and CRB Global LLC & Rich Diversity Consulting LLC to create the strategies, plans, benchmarks and training to implement DEIB values for lasting impact. Joining the Maynard team will be Jean-Marie Brown, Maynard Fault Lines® senior trainer and professor of professional practice in journalism at Texas Christian University. Mei-Ling Hopgood, journalist and professor at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communication at Northwestern University, will document the impact of the initiative and publish a case study at the conclusion of the pilot program.

“Too often diversity efforts are performative,” said Martin G. Reynolds, co-executive director of the Maynard Institute. “We want to operationalize belonging so that BIPOC and folks of diverse backgrounds can thrive and contribute even more meaningfully to the growth, sustainability and credibility of the outlets where they work.

“We want to show that when organizations invest in equity and inclusion, working relationships between people improve, there is less labor strife, attrition and toxicity. Newsrooms that center the concept of belonging foster innovation, better journalism, and more importantly, the capacity to build or repair relationships with communities. We are excited to see what we can create through this program,” Reynolds said.

“This initiative presents a great opportunity to bring experts in the field together to lead two news organizations toward sustainable, equitable change,” said Felecia D. Henderson, director of cultural competency at the Maynard Institute. “Our goal is to test methodologies, re-test, and document the processes of both pilot programs in order to replicate the work to assist future media outlets that want to make meaningful change.”

About the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education

For 45 years, the Maynard Institute has fought to push back against the systemic lack of diversity in the news industry through training, collaborations and convenings. Founded by Robert C. Maynard, the Institute promotes diversity and antiracism in the news media through improved coverage, hiring and business practices. We are creating better representation in U.S. newsrooms through our programs , which gives media professionals of color the tools to become skilled storytellers, empowered executives and inspired entrepreneurs. Visit the Maynard Institute website to learn more.

Questions?

CONTACT:

Felecia D. Henderson
Director of Cultural Competency, Maynard Institute
fhenderson@mije.org

Martin G. Reynolds
Co-Executive Director, Maynard Institute
mreynolds@mije.org

Join the Newsroom Transformation Program

Applications are now closed. Subscribe for email updates about our next program application period.

From Left: Oakland Voices alumni Marabet Morales Sikahall and Tony Daquipa meet with Norman “Vogue” Chuck and his wife Gloria at their studio. (Photo by Kat Ferreira)

This article was originally published on the Oakland Voices website.

Today, we updated the Oakland Voices website–for ease of reading, maximizing visual storytelling, and improved accessibility. We also updated the Oakland Voices design and masthead to capture the history and spirit of our community journalism program, formed in 2010 by a partnership between the Oakland Tribune and the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. We commissioned local, veteran aerosol artist Norman “Vogue” Chuck of the legendary Bay Area street art collective, TDK crew.

Chuck was engaged to create a new logo for the Oakland Voices program that reflected elements of the city’s history, diversity, and pluralities. When Chuck was approached to design the logo for Oakland Voices, he said it wasn’t normally something he did. While he did graphic design when he was younger, he normally paints aerosols on large-scale canvases. “I wanted to try stuff that may be challenging,” Chuck said.

Oakland Voices needed a visual identity to emphasize the program’s deep East Oakland roots and its long history of amplifying the voices of everyday Oakland residents. Engaging a legendary street artist like Vogue for custom artwork made sense because TDK murals are so iconic and regionally-specific to Oakland’s local culture.

Chuck’s artwork has been commissioned all over the world. But, he refined his art chops in the Town. Chuck started out as a youth painting the train yards in Oakland and developing his lettering flair in the 1980s. Chuck grew up in San Leandro but spent much of his career painting in Oakland. He also owned a shop in East Oakland, airbrushing and doing custom artwork on low-riders. Chuck notes that his style is influenced by BMX, lowrider culture, and nature.

Over the years, Chuck has developed an exquisite, almost hyperreal painting technique for aerosol spray paint. His influence can be seen in commissioned murals throughout the region– from the Dubs Dynasty mural at the downtown Marriott to the East Bay Dragons mural and Ghost Ship fire memorial. In 2018, Chuck’s work was curated by the Oakland Museum of California in the exhibit titled RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style and Wisdom.

“Oakland allowed me to thrive in painting and be creative,” Chuck told Oakland Voices about his love for the Town.

Oakland Voices design inspiration in murals and mastheads

The new Oakland Voices visual identity uses the old English font for the word “Oakland” as a nod to The Oakland Tribune masthead, where the community journalism training program first began. Oakland Voices was co-founded by Martin Reynolds, managing editor at the Tribune at the time and now Maynard Institute’s Co-Executive Director. The Oakland Voices program emerged from a partnership between the Oakland Tribune and the Maynard Institute so it was important to capture the program’s history in the new design.

Another part of the inspiration for Oakland Voices’ new look was the “Oakland is Proud” mural, painted by Chuck’s TDK crewmate, Del Phresh. The original mural located on East 12th Street no longer exists, but many artists have painted the phrase including Ise Lyfe’s 2013 art exhibit called Brighter than Blight.

In 2013, artist Ise Lyfe transformed East Oakland’s Greenside housing complex into an art exhibit before it was demolished. The exhibit included a version of the iconic mural. Photo via KALW Staff.

The lettering of “Voices” is a throwback to East Oakland street art culture. The early years of the Oakland Voices program focused on training community members specifically from East Oakland to tell stories of their neighborhoods.

The collage color palette was influenced by the mash-up of design elements, directly influenced by local street art and the Maynard Institute’s branding. The choice of green as the primary color echoes the city’s green street signs, and more importantly, the iconic green patina of the Oakland Tribune Tower bronze roof. Oakland Voices is over 10 years old and still thriving. The new design’s primary green color is both minty fresh and rooted in Oakland’s rich history. Just like oxidized bronze grows more beautiful with time and exposure, so does the Oakland Voices program.

Inclusive design process with Oakland Voices alumni

Some Oakland Voices alumni participated in the design process. Marabet Morales Sikahall (2016) and Tony Daquipa (2016-2017 and 2022 Maynard 200 Fellow) both went to Chuck’s art studio in San Leandro to look at the design and give their thoughts. Sikahall grew up in East Oakland and Daquipa lives in East Oakland.

Chuck had created an initial mock up before the meeting. “We all agreed we liked the old English, and we agreed that we also liked the way the other Oakland worked,” Daquipa said about the process. “So [Chuck] said, I’ll make the Voices look like this. So we all participated.”

Chuck said that sometimes these things go bad in person, with too many ideas, “because they don’t usually know anything about art, but it went really well.”

“There aren’t many living artists that could better represent that legacy than Vogue, whose legendary TDK crew earned international acclaim by writing their stories on the walls of East Oakland.” Tony Daquipa, Oakland Voices alum.
Photo: Norman “Chuck” Vogue drafting design ideas for Oakland Voices at his studio (credit: Tony Daquipa).

Sikahall, who is now the Program & Community Manager at Oakland’s Chapter 510, a nonprofit youth writing center, said that Oakland Voices–and the new logo–represents Oakland well.

“This is the real Oakland, that’s always made ripples in the world. Oakland is small but mighty–I’ve always thought that about Oakland. The logo is one of these opportunities to say, we’re here, we’re going to keep kicking butt. Oakland Voices has succeeded in that it’s maintained its integrity by honoring that truth of Oakland, because people take storytelling to heart. Oakland Voices is just a really amazing community of people, people who grew up in Oakland but also people who moved to Oakland and felt naturally at ease in Oakland.”

Daquipa adds that he is proud to be associated with Chuck in any way, as he sees him as one of the most legendary–and certainly of living graffiti artists–of the Bay Area.

“There aren’t many living artists that could better represent that legacy than Vogue, whose legendary TDK crew earned international acclaim by writing their stories on the walls of East Oakland,” Daquipa added.

About Oakland Voices

Oakland Voices is a journalism training program led by the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education that trains Oakland residents to tell the stories of their neighborhoods. Oakland Voices correspondents are trained in digital media storytelling — writing blogs and online pieces, taking photos, shooting video, and using social media to discuss issues that matter most in their communities. Visit oaklandvoices.us for the latest stories and more!