The third round of the Maynard Regional Training Series – hosted by the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University (TCU)  in Fort Worth – brought a powerful close to the inaugural program, after dynamic convenings of media professionals in Detroit and Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

At each training site, Maynard faculty sought to give frontline editors and mid-level managers tools they could immediately use to manage teams and coverage in a rapidly evolving landscape that’s shaped by industry upheaval and accelerating AI evolution.

The bespoke curriculum provided eight sessions and coaching from a distinguished faculty of news executives and academics, covering topics such as: 

• The Manager’s Mindset, an introduction to the role of a news leader. 
• Leaning Into Your Fault Lines® 
• Ethical Editorial Decision-Making
• Finding the Heart of the Story
• Managing Up, Down and Across Generations
• AI Best Practices and Ethics

Participating in the two-day workshop were two TCU students and 18 full-time journalists who work in a variety of editing roles representing the Fort Worth Report, The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, La Prensa de Houston, The Associated Press, Bloomberg Industry Group, The Oklahoman Media Company, Gannett and USA Today Network, TCU-Schieffer College and TCU 360 Media.

“I’m really thankful to have participated in this year’s Maynard Regional Training in Texas,” wrote Maya Earls, deputy team lead/environment and energy at Bloomberg Law
(Bloomberg Industry Group), in a LinkedIn post. “This program included great sessions on how to be a better manager and editor, and provided space to ask the big questions about AI and how we as journalists evolve for the moment.” 

Maynard Regional Training and Communities of Practice Director Odette Alcazaren-Keeley opened the training, saluting the long-standing relationship with TCU Bob Schieffer College of Communication’s Dean Kristie Bunton, Ph.D; Jean Marie Brown, associate professor of professional practice and student media director; and John Tisdale, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the journalism department.

“As a college named for an award-winning, longtime journalist, our TCU Bob Schieffer College of Communication is happy to provide a regional home for the Maynard Regional Training Series,” Dean Bunton said. “Our democracy needs well-trained journalists to lead newsrooms effectively and ethically in reporting news that is vital to citizens.”

Alcazaren-Keeley welcomed the participants, citing their impactful work and acknowledging their organizations’ investment in their career growth.

“We were invigorated by the latest outstanding journalists in the Maynard Regional Training – members of the next generation of news leaders who reflected the diversity of the Texas media ecosystem and beyond.They expressed appreciation for the skills they gained, coaching and conversations they engaged in, and affirmed they are applying these toolkits to their work,” said Alcazaren-Keeley.

Felecia D. Henderson, Maynard senior director of strategic initiatives, echoed that sentiment, reflecting on the impact across all three training programs.

“At each regional training, we saw mid-level editors and managers embrace new strategies for leadership, learn to conduct tough conversations, and explore how AI is reshaping journalism,” Henderson said. “These sessions weren’t just about skills; they were about building confidence and community. It was inspiring to see participants leave ready to lead with clarity and purpose.”

Leaning Into Your Fault Lines®: Managing News Coverage and Managing Time While Building Genuine Relationships
Jean Marie Brown, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, TCU Bob Schieffer College of Communication

Professor Jean Marie Brown kicked off the training with  “Leaning Into Your Fault Lines®,” focused on Maynard’s signature Fault Lines® framework, which helps editors understand how their biases – unconscious and conscious – inform the ways they manage news coverage. She also facilitated the workshop “Managing Time while Building Genuine Relationships.”

One participant wrote when surveyed: “I appreciated the candid discussion about Fault Lines. It made me step back and consider all the different fault lines that exist in my life and how those show up daily as a manager.”

The Manager’s Mindset: Stepping into your Leadership Role
Martin G. Reynolds, Maynard Institute Co-Executive Director

Maynard Co-Executive Director Martin G. Reynolds led the session “The Manager’s Mindset”, focused on what editors and managers need to consider when stepping into leadership roles.

“It’s exciting to provide management training to editors — many of whom have had limited access to the kind of sustained support that helps them grow as leaders,” said Martin G. Reynolds, Maynard Institute co-executive director, who leads the Manager’s Mindset session for each Regional Training cohort. “Managing is about helping others thrive and fueling the success of the whole organization. In a moment of transformation and uncertainty for journalism, the quality of managers often determines whether innovation thrives or fades — and whether morale improves or erodes. Our program helps editors build the awareness, tools, and community they need to lead with care and confidence.”

Ethical Editorial Decision-Making and Coach for Story and Building Trust.
Maria Carrillo, Consultant and Coach

Coach and consultant Maria Carrillo led two workshops: Ethical Editorial Decision Making and Coaching for Story and Building Trust.

In “Ethical Editorial Decision-Making,” Carrillo led discussions with trainees highlighting real-world news coverage ethical dilemmas. She said this session showed that our moral code can help us to make decisions when we are faced with tough calls, which happens often in any newsroom.

“My hope is that the editors in these classes walk away feeling empowered to make tough decisions and to execute more powerful stories,” Carillo said.

Carrillo also facilitated the workshop “Coaching for Story & Building Trust” where she shared lessons about developing relationships and trust with reporters as well as best practices for vetting ideas and executing stronger stories.

Finding the Heart of the Story and Tactical Frameworks for Editors
Tom Huang, Assistant Managing Editor, The Dallas Morning News and Adjunct Faculty, The Poynter Institute

Tom Huang centered this workshop on story focus, introducing five questions that will help editors and reporters focus their stories and identify underlying themes. He used the movie Titanic to illustrate how stories can have a central theme and secondary themes. An interactive exercise helped participants understand how stories can often have strong emotions lying beneath the surface.

“I hope the editors in the class took away the idea that they can and should coach their reporters and discuss what their stories are truly about. Most stories should just be told simply and in a straightforward way. But some stories deserve a little more time in exploring themes and meaning. That’s the fun part of storytelling,” Huang said.

AI: Best Practices and Ethics
Marisa Porto, Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

In the workshop “AI: Best Practices and Ethics,” Professor Marisa Porto explored how AI is transforming newsrooms, focusing on ethics and innovation. Participants discussed real-world examples and practical ways to use AI that is grounded in journalistic values.  

“I hope participants left ready to use AI in their news organizations with purpose and transparency, guided by a commitment to public trust,” Porto said.

Managing Up, Down and Across Generations
P. Kim Bui, Consultant and Founder, Quen Media

This workshop led by audience engagement consultant and newsroom management expert P. Kim Bui was centered on her observation that newsrooms are now multi-generational and each generation has its own working style. In this interactive workshop, she examined how today’s managers and leaders cross generational differences to lead more empathetic and valuable newsrooms. 

“It is always such a joy to work with others in the Maynard family to create better workplaces for us all in turbulent times,” Bui said. “Attendees always approach tough problems with deep solutions as well as humor and hope.” 

Regional Roundtable: Panel of Texas News Leaders
Moderator: Dorothy Bland, Ph.D.
Professor, University of North Texas Mayborn School of Journalism. Board Member, Maynard Institute. Author.

Panelists: 

• Cheryl Smith: Publisher and Editor, I Messenger Media
• Evelyn Castro: Publisher, La Prensa de Houston
• Rebekah Allen: Managing Editor, The Texas Tribune
• Steve Coffman: President and Editor, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
• Tom Huang: Assistant Managing Editor, the Dallas Morning News and Adjunct Faculty, The Poynter Institute

The regional roundtable of news leaders highlighted the state of Texas media and each editors’ perspectives on building a culture of courage and integrity in newsrooms in defense of democracy. Executives of legacy, nonprofit, ethnic and local media discussed challenges that news organizations are facing, including in covering federal and state policies impacting their audiences.

They shared innovations and approaches that are crucial in this era of political division. The panel was moderated by professor, author and Maynard board member Dr. Dorothy Bland.

Panelist Evelyn Castro of La Prensa de Houston, who also participated in the training, shared with her LinkedIn network that “The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education continues to set the standard for leadership, collaboration, and integrity in journalism. [I am] grateful for the opportunity to learn, share, and connect with so many passionate newsroom leaders committed to truth and community.”

Participants in the regional training programs are automatically eligible to access the benefits of the peer-to-peer learning and coaching hub, the Maynard Communities of Practice.

Program director Alcazaren-Keeley said the insights shared by trainees during session conversations and office hours consultations drive the impact of each training.
They value the space to be seen, heard and supported, and give that support to each other.

She sees the training programs embodying hope as the industry forges forward.

“The program is vital in helping journalists unlock their full leadership potential, to navigate this inflection point in our history and the tide of AI disruption. Our newest journalism cohort carries the professional advancement and movement-building legacy of the Maynard Institute. Together we bring our collective mission of integrity and courage to the future,” Alcazaren-Keeley said.

About the Maynard Institute

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. We are creating better representation in U.S. newsrooms through our programs which give media professionals the tools to become skilled storytellers, empowered executives and inspired entrepreneurs.

For more information about the Regional Training Series, please reach out to Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, Maynard Regional Training Series Director at okeeley@mije.org.

About the Maynard Regional Training Series

The Maynard Regional Training Series is a new training 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 frontline managers and editors in order to advance their career growth and leadership power in newsrooms and organizations.

Maynard Institute programs are open to all. We are committed to addressing the under-representation of people of color and other historically disadvantaged groups in media-related professions.

This 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. The Maynard Institute’s new training programs are supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and The Hearthland Foundation.

Questions?

For more information about the Maynard Regional Training Series, please reach out to:

Director of Maynard Regional Training and Communities of Practice, Odette Alcazaren-Keeley at okeeley@mije.org.

Remembering our dear friend and colleague, Michael Days.

We are heartbroken at the loss of our friend, Michael Days.

Michael’s connection to the Maynard Institute spans decades. He was an exceptional teacher, a generous mentor to up-and-coming professionals, and a wise strategic adviser to the institute’s leaders.
His positive approach uplifted all of us during stressful times. It was a gift to be in his presence.

Michael mentored so many. He was officially matched with Martin as a mentor by Evelyn at the conclusion of the 2005 Maynard Media Academy at Northwestern University. They stayed connected ever since and spoke just last month.

This loss hits so close to home for both of us. We are deeply saddened and send our condolences to Michael’s family and to all who knew and loved him.

-Evelyn Hsu and Martin G. Reynolds

News, Growth, Awards, Accolades and Impact.

Every so often we get to highlight the incredible ongoing work and accomplishments of our Maynard Institute alumni and faculty, and for the first time we’re touting their achievements on our new website!

Maynard Institute faculty and alumni from our legacy programming continue to amaze us with their impactful work, their effect on their colleagues and peers, and the way they continue to shape journalism and the news.

Here are just some of the many achievements, awards, and career transitions of our extended network of Maynard Family.

Awards, Grants and Fellowships

Jahna Berry (Maynard 200 class of 2019), Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Investigative Reporting, received the 2025 NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists Leadership Award. The award recognizes those who have positively affected their newsrooms, increasing diversity and improving news coverage of the LGBTQ+ community. Berry will be presented with the award at the NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists’ annual National Convention, taking place in Atlanta from Sept. 4-7.  

Helina Selemon (Maynard 200 class of 2023) was awarded a National Press Foundation grant for Environmental Justice Reporting. Helina and fellow reporter Jordan Gass-Pooré will receive $10,000 for their four-part multimedia project investigating the human and economic toll of extreme heat on communities of color in New York City. “Their stories will explore efforts to expand mitigation and adaptation efforts to communities most in need, spotlight the systemic issues driving these deadly outcomes, and provide evidence-based responses that can be used to address them.” Their solutions-oriented reporting on one of the nation’s “most intense urban heat islands” are the actionable climate journalism that creates lasting community benefit.

Lottie Joiner Maynard (200 class of 2021) became a Carter Center Mental Health Journalism Fellow. Fellows “receive training and mentorship to responsibly report on a variety of topics related to mental health and substance use disorders.” As a freelance/independent journalist, Lottie will use this fellowship to “explore the link between response to stress and childhood trauma, including what stress looks like for Black women — at work, at home and in the community, and Black women’s response to that stress.”

In a landscape of rampant medical racism and the defunding of health data science, Lottie’s reporting on this topic is critically important to Black women’s health in America.

Kaila Philo (Maynard 200 class of 2023) became an African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Fellow working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This fellowship supports work surrounding the preservation of Black history and culture in the United States, helping fellows develop and implement innovative approaches to preservation. Past cohorts have created documentary photography exhibitions, work supporting HBCUs, published work, and the preservation of historical sites.

Sudeep Reddy joined MSNBC as their Washington Bureau Chief after having been at Politico for 8 years as Managing Editor in North America. The Maynard 200 Mentor led a staff of 150 journalists at Politico and “launched dozens of new products, including newsletters, podcasts, live events and digital offerings; guided strategy and operations for Politico Playbook during the first Trump administration; and built the newsroom’s first audio team from the ground up,”  Scott Matthews, senior VP of newsgathering for MSNBC, said in a memo to staffers. Reddy will report to Matthews and work with Erin Zimmerman, vice president of newsgathering.

P. Kenneth Burns (Maynard 200 Class of 2022) was awarded First Place for an Education Feature from the Public Media Journalists Association for his story on Princeton High students building a STEM project to preserve an Indigenous Guatemalan Language. 

The article profiled students at Princeton High School utilizing AI and applied technology to save one of the world’s disappearing languages, and using their findings to enter the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition. Over 7,000 languages are currently being spoken in the world, but as many as 90% of them could disappear over the next century.

Esmy Jimenez (Maynard 200 Class of 2018) won yet another award for Lost Patients. A podcast, Lost Patients is “a deeply-reported, six-part docuseries examining the difficulties of treating serious mental illness through the lens of one city’s past, present and future.” Produced by KUOW and The Seattle Times, “with real-life testimonials from patients, families, and professionals on the front lines,” Lost Patients is solutions-oriented journalism that seeks to remedy a health system that is, itself, sick.

Dr. John Paul Higgins (Maynard 200 Class of 2018) was featured in ABC’s Our America series. On the heels of the successful release of their book “Black. Fat. Femme. Revealing the Power of Visibly Queer Voices in Media and Learning to Love Yourself” in March, Higgins embarked on a speaking tour and joined the ABC feature to highlight diversity within the LGBTQIA+ Community.

“I think representation is important to me because I didn’t have it when I was a kid,” they said in the special. “When I was growing up, I felt very isolated and alone in many of my own experiences. And so, when you start to feel like you’re the only person that’s going through something, you oftentimes feel like no one is truly going to understand your walk or what you’re going through.”

Angela Dennis (Maynard 200 Class of 2023) won three Golden Press Card Awards from the East Tennessee Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, First Place in General Reporting (Digital Only) for her story on the tragic burning of Elnathan Hall, a historic building on the campus of Black Knoxville College, First Place in Sports Reporting for a feature story on NFL prospect Zack Dobson and his struggle after losing his brother to gun violence, and Second Place in General Reporting for her story on Muslims who said their religious freedom was violated by the Sheriff’s office after University of Tennessee arrest during a protest against the genocide in Gaza.

Changing roles

Emily Elena Dugdale (Maynard 200 Class of 2022) became Managing Editor of the LA Public Press. After having utilized her investigative prowess at LAist, The Guardian, ProPublica, NPR and the LA Times covering the carceral system and law enforcement misconduct, Dugdale will turn her talents towards crafting a newsroom and investigative coverage that reflects the diversity of LA.

“Many newsrooms claim to want to write for a young, local BIPOC audience — LA Public Press not only does that, but the newsroom actually reflects what LA looks and feels like,” Dugdale said in the article by the LA Public Press announcing her role change. “There’s something not only special, but deeply necessary about a journalism organization full of people who are from the communities they write about.”

Michelle Zenarosa (Maynard 200 Class of 2023) also moved up in the LA Public Press, and is the new Editor In Chief of the local publication. After nearly three years as Deputy Editor at Reckon News, Zenarosa is excited to serve her home city and the “thousands of stories” that make up LA.

“Los Angeles isn’t just where I work—it’s home. I grew up here with parents who, together with their collective 15 siblings, are scattered across every corner of LA County. This means I know the city not just as a journalist, but as someone whose family is woven into its fabric,” Zenarosa said in an LA Public Press article.

Juan Michael Porter II (Maynard 200 Class of 2024) started a new position as the Communications Lead and Spokesperson at U.S. PLHIV Caucus. The group is made up of networks of people living with HIV (PLHIV), and works to abolish systems of oppression and center the experiences of people living with HIV.

Juan has been a vocal advocate for people living with HIV, and has documented his own experiences living with HIV and navigating the still-rampant stigma surrounding the medical condition, which often serves to denigrate or criminalize people living with HIV or AIDS, especially Black and gay men. Juan is the perfect fit for an agency that advocates for human rights and dignity for people often faulted for contracting a medical condition.

Making an Impact

Nancy Flores (Maynard 200 Class of 2022) won a “Texas Women Making a Difference” award from the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce for her work as publisher of Austin Vida. Nancy revived Austin Vida in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, reimagining the digital Latinx news and culture site to amplify, inform and celebrate the Latinidad of the Austin community with culturally-competent news that centers the voices of nuestra gente,” the Latinx audience that makes up about 33% of the population of Austin, Texas.

Since Nancy took the helm, Austin Vida has also won the 2023 Best Latino Media Award from HABLA (Hispanic Business Advocates Business Leaders of Austin) and was a 2023 Finalist for Product of the Year from LION (Local Independent Online News Publishers) Local Journalism Awards.

Aallyah Wright (Maynard 200 Class of 2022) brought Sinners to Clarksdale and interviewed director Ryan Coogler, and became an Obama Foundation USA Leader.

After community organizer Tyler Yarbrough penned an open letter to the cast and crew of Sinners, the groundbreaking horror film set in Clarksdale, Mississippi and helmed by visionary director Ryan Coogler, Clarksdale native Aallyah joined in the efforts to bring the film to the town that gave it place. Although Sinners, which broke box office records shortly after its release in April, was set in Clarksdale, the Mississippi Delta town doesn’t have a movie theater, and residents would need to travel nearly 80 miles to see the film.

Their efforts paid off, and the cast and crew paid a visit to Clarksdale. Sinners was shown in multiple free screenings for several audiences of 1500 people at the Clarksdale Civic Auditorium and Aallyah, working for Capital B, hosted the Q&A session in her home town.

For this and her constant dedication to reporting on marginalized and majority-Black communities in the rural South, Aallyah became an Obama Foundation USA Leader. The program “for emerging leaders working in government, civil society, and the private sector who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the common good,” connects cohorts of people working to make change in their communities, amplifying their impact.

Maynard 200 faculty and Maynard Communities of Practice Storytellers Community Co-Lead Advisor Aaron Glantz is once again working with the Guardian, investigating issues related to Trump administration policies and veterans. In August, Aaron published a piece abortion bans through the department of Veterans Affairs which would not include exemptions for rape or incest. This month, Aaron wrote about veterans decrying the arrest of a former Army sergeant after a protest against ICE, as well as the Trump administration rolling back federal efforts to combat human trafficking, threatening decades of progress in the fight against sexual slavery, forced labor, and child sex trafficking.

Aaron’s work highlights issues facing veterans and active-duty service members and those within the armed services who face challenges due to gender discrimination.

Maynard alumni and faculty continue to make us proud with their contributions to the field of journalism and to their communities, broadening our understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tapestry of American news.

Building community with Press Forward grantees in Kansas City

A group of small news publishers, all grantees of Press Forward, met in Kansas City, Missouri last month for the launch of a six-month training and mentorship program focused on strengthening local journalism. The two-day program was led by Maynard Institute Co-Executive Directors Evelyn Hsu and Martin G. Reynolds and marked the launch of “Reigniting Local News: Building Community and Democracy.”

This training was the first of a six-month long relationship that will continue through group calls and mentoring sessions, culminating in another two-day, in-person training at the close of the program. 

This cohort represents the efforts of community driven media in the South and Midwest. Attendees included Dustin Bartholomew of the Fayetteville Flyer, Samuel Jason Cole and Courtney Cole of the Excelsior Citizen, Safiyyah El-Amin and Talibdin El-Amin of the St. Louis Argus, Dana James and Mary Smith-Johnson of Black Iowa News and Maria Ramirez of Te Lo Cuento News. 

Participants said they arrived expecting “professional development,” but left with a “deeper sense of purpose and community,” alongside sessions that addressed the challenges “we face daily”—from business model sustainability to community trust and editorial decision-making.

Our faculty included Caesar Andrews, Professor and Leonard Distinguished Chair in Media Ethics and Writing at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada at Reno,  Lisa Armstrong, Assistant Professor at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, Ryan Kellett, 2025 Nieman-Berkman Klein Fellow, Harvard University, 

A day was devoted to building revenue and audience with sessions led by Fran Scarlett, principal of Scarlett Ink Media. Mentoring sessions were led by Maynard Institute board member and consultant Dickson Louie. 

“We are grateful to our incredible faculty and the intrepid Press Forward grantees who keep residents in their communities informed and engaged, and look forward to a fulfilling six months of continued mentorship and support,” said Co-Executive Director Evelyn Hsu, who designed the program. 

“What stayed with me was the depth and diversity of this group—not just where they’re from, but who they are. Journalists of different races, faiths, and lived experiences, all deeply rooted in their communities,” said Martin G. Reynolds, Maynard Institute co-executive director. “This isn’t just about mentorship or training—it’s about investing in what journalism must become to truly reflect and serve the needs of the society we live in. Being together in this moment—sharing space, ideas, and purpose—was meaningful not just for them, but for us too.”