In 2019, Maynard Institute leaders collaborated with Table Stakes creators to infuse Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into the Table Stakes framework. The Table Stakes Coordinator teaches participants Maynard’s signature Fault Lines framework and serves as a DEI adviser to coaches and newsroom teams on performance challenges, coverage issues and hiring. The goal? To create anti-racist news organizations.

There are five Table Stakes programs, and they are managed by the American Press Institute, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Arizona State University (for broadcast news organizations), Gannett-McClatchy and the Poynter Institute. Table Stakes is underwritten by the Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund, and The John S. Knight and James L. Knight Foundation.

Read more about our collaboration with Table Stakes.

Check out a case study that transformed one newsroom’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.


Table Stakes Participants:

Hussman School of Journalism and Media’s Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Cohort 3; ended August 2020)

  • American South
  • Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Asheville Citizen Times
  • Charlotte Post
  • Charlottesville Tomorrow
  • Duke Chronicle
  • The Item (Sumpter, SC)
  • NC Health News
  • North Carolina Press Association
  • UNC-TV
  • QCity Metro
  • Restoration News

Gannett-McClatchy (Cohort ended June 2020)

  • Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
  • Asbury Park Press
  • Courier Journal (Louisville, KY)
  • Democrat & Chronicle, (Rochester, NY)
  • Fort Worth Star Telegram
  • Kansas City Star
  • Lexington Herald Leader
  • McClatchy D.C.
  • Miami Herald-el Nuevo Herald
  • The News Journal (Wilmington, DE)
  • Sacramento Bee
  • The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

Knight-ASU Table Stakes for Broadcast at Arizona State University (Cohort 2; ended August 2020)

  • KEYT (Santa Barbara)
  • KPBS (San Diego)
  • KPRC (Houston)
  • KXXV (Waco, TX)
  • Univision (Phoenix)
  • WSOC (Charlotte)
  • WSYX (Columbus)

Major Metro (2021 Cohort)

  • Akron Beacon Journal
  • Albany (NY) Times-Union
  • CalMatters
  • The Oklahoman
  • San Diego Union-Tribune
  • The Tennessean

Poynter Institute’s Local News Innovation Program (Cohort ended June 2020)

  • The Boston Herald
  • Chattanooga Times Free Press
  • The Daily Memphian
  • The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA)
  • The Keene Sentinel, Keene, NH
  • Las Vegas Review-Journal
  • The Post Bulletin (Rochester, MN)
  • San Antonio Express-News
  • The Record-Journal (Meriden, CT)
  • Wisconsin Public Radio
  • Vermont Public Radio