Letters to his children:

On Robert C. Maynard’s predictions and legacy on the occasion of his birthday

By Amani Hamed, Community Engagement Manager, the Maynard Institute

“It was once said by an eminent journalist that our business at best is ‘writing the first rough draft of history.’ The emphasis in that formulation is obviously on the word rough: in such a process, we are bound to be excessive when the circumstances are dramatic. But we have a responsibility that senators and mayors, police chiefs and attorneys general don’t have. That is the responsibility that accompanies the beleaguered blessings of the First Amendment. It is to be ever so restrained and thoughtful about the implications in the expressions of those with partisan interests in the stories we cover. Hyperbole has no place in the news.” – Robert C. Maynard, “No Place for Hyperbole,” 1973.

Today, Wednesday June 17, is Robert C. Maynard’s birthday. He was born on this day in 1937, and passed away after a long battle with cancer in 1993. Today, he would be 89 years old.

Looking back through the essays, articles and memoirs of Robert C. Maynard collected in the book “Letters to My Children,” compiled after his death by his daughter, Dori J. Maynard, it’s difficult not to view him as a sort of journalistic oracle.

Doubly difficult is the experience of looking through his predictions, his lamentations, his sharp critical analysis of an America struggling to limp into the television news revolution post-Jim Crow and realizing that not nearly enough has changed since his time.

His predictions and lamentations appear equally prescient; the things he predicted have come to pass. The things he mourned as symptoms racism, classism, sexism, geographical and generational bias have, in many ways, lingered.

I struggle to grasp what I would say to him to explain this moment and the things that have transpired since his death. How could I, as a journalist, convey to Robert C. Maynard the murder of George Floyd, the DEI renaissance amid the Black Lives Matter movement, the COVID-19 pandemic, the January 6th insurrection? How could I explain a second Trump administration, the defunding of public media, the attacks on our Civil Rights?

The shortest answer is that I couldn’t. I wouldn’t endeavor to explain. I would simply have him read the news.

Many of us read those more recent headlines as events unfolded. We watched those events tumble out on our television news or social media feeds. Some of us were the journalists recording events like the pandemic shutdown, the student encampments protesting genocide in Palestine, the ICE raids in Chicago and Minneapolis, and recorded them as that “first rough draft of history.”

The words Bob Maynard wrote decades ago may sting in how their truth reverberates, and the echo of the past sounds only too similar to the shrieking injustices of our present reality.

Though examining his words it is easiest to see the things that remain, the wounds our nation has not worked hard enough to heal, a deeper meditation reflects glimpses of the vision he sought to make real: a nation in which “all Americans have front-door access to the truth.” In which journalists of diverse backgrounds tell the stories of their communities, and give us all the tools to shape our nation’s future.

Bob Maynard on Gun Violence:

“The effect of this phenomenon is best viewed from two vantage points. I speak of the funeral homes and the emergency wards of the hospitals. It is in these places that the import of what we have allowed to happen can be fully appreciated.” – A Deadly Proliferation of Guns, 1988.

In the year 2025, mass shootings killed 358 people and injured at least 1,843 others. Even with gun violence on the rise in 1988, and Bob Maynard witnessing the dialogue (or lack thereof) between “urban” and “country” gun owners, the gun lobby, medical experts and grieving parents, I shudder to think what he would have made of Sandy Hook. Of Uvalde. Of Annunciation School in Minneapolis, or a Masjid in San Diego.

As a journalist and someone who believed in the power of good data and the shifting of perspective to cover all angles of a story, I think Bob would have appreciated the intense and thorough reporting done by the Washington Post on the damage done by AR-15s. Using crime scene photos and in-depth analysis from witnesses, surgeons and firearms experts, the Post also created shocking (and accurate) visualizations to illustrate the effect of an AR-15 on the human body.

Though the illustrations and use of crime scene photos may have been considered in poor taste, they gave the American public, or at least those who had not witnessed gun violence personally, a more complete understanding of a national epidemic.

“News value is easier to judge than fairness or taste because the picture must first meet the test of relevancy,” Maynard said in his 1973 essay Taste, Fairness, and News Value. “But there is another element in news value that is important. And that is freshness of approach. A picture might be of something of which we have all seen 100 photos. It might be a person, a monument, or a building, done in such a way as to arrest the eye and tell us something new about the subject.”

Though gun violence persists, journalists covering not only mass shootings but gender-based violence, suicides and accidental gun deaths are solutions-oriented, highly-skilled and trauma-informed.

One of them is Helina Selemon, Maynard 200 alum and the new Editing Fellow at The Trace, “the only team of journalists exclusively dedicated to reporting on our country’s gun violence crisis.”

Bob Maynard on Racism

“Many white Americans, including distinguished commentators, will tell you that race is no longer an issue in America. They say remedial programs are no longer needed. After all, they argue, discrimination is now against the law. But Americans of color will respond that racism is not so easily expunged.” – Racism, 1991.

After the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May of 2020, a DEI renaissance of sorts was ushered in by protests against systemic racial injustice. Almost before the ink was dry on waves of policies on diversity, equity and inclusion, corporations had a change of heart. The government attacks on DEI initiatives were more pointed, less a chilling effect and more a swift blast of liquid nitrogen.

These cycles of adoption and abandonment of DEI principles and hiring practices were seen in the layoffs of journalists in places like the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post. Maynard 200 fellowship alumni Brianna Tucker and Amber Ferguson were affected by layoffs that disproportionately affected newer staff, women, Latinx and Black employees and LGBTQIA+ reporters.

Increasingly, a narrative is being fabricated that we live in a post-racism world, but even in 1991, Bob Maynard knew what journalists and people of color have known since 1865: laws and policies change and shift, but “racism is not so easily expunged.”

Thankfully journalists are also not so easily discouraged. No layoff could stop Amber Ferguson from being a girl with drive. Brianna Tucker is still reporting breaking news, this time for the Huffington Post. Other Maynard alumni report on intersections of life and race, the ever-present fault lines that Bob Maynard built his training methodology on. Emily Elena Dugdale reports for the LA Public Press on potential ICE intimidation at the polls, Aallyah Wright covers Black life in rural areas of the American South.

Racism persists, but so do the journalists Robert C. Maynard would never meet, but who nevertheless became his legacy.

Bob Maynard on Technology and the News

“Most of the emphasis of the new technology has been on the production aspects of the business. The publishers and craft unions are in protracted discussions all across the land over the loss of jobs to machinery and the problem of which unions will have jurisdiction over which aspects of the new technology.” – Technology and the News, 1973.

When Bob Maynard wrote this in 1973, copy editors were still mandatory and valued staff, print journalism was alive and well, and digital photography was having a troubled infancy.

I wonder now what Bob Maynard would make of the havoc AI is wreaking on already fragile digital and media literacy, on our over-reliance on chatbots and our quick investment in stories and images fabricated (or hallucinated) by AI. That’s to say nothing of the jobs placed on the chopping block as journalists, illustrators, photographers and even editors are culled in favor of the bottom line.

I feel Bob would blanch at the flippancy and disdain with which certain AI proponents seem to regard not only the profession of journalism but the First Amendment. I also feel the work of Maynard alum-turned-faculty Ernesto Aguilar has done in AI-assisted reporting and AI reporting ethics could elicit a certain pride, as would the critical and community-focused reporting on AI by Maynard alumni TaMaryn Waters and Megha Satyanarayana.

Bob was skeptical of anyone who pushed new technology with little thought to how it would affect livelihoods and the craft and calling of journalism, but he was quick to adopt things that could be responsibly wielded by trained reporters with a solid understanding of journalistic ethics. After all, he was there when the Institute that would later bear his name implemented one of the first digital reporting training programs in the country when the internet was in its infancy and people were still asking Jeeves.

The future

His words today read may read like stark warnings of the future he saw being shaped. The earliest of his essays quoted here is from 1973. As though to take up the struggle of influencing the future taking shape before him, he would co-found the Institute for Journalism Education four years after writing Technology and the News. Twenty years after writing it he would leave us, and the Institute would take him as its namesake.

Now, we labor in service of the next generation of journalists. The journalists Bob Maynard trained personally have witnessed and covered events and shaped our deeper understanding of their roots in our society and their effect on our communities. In his time, Black journalists didn’t report on police brutality and the “race riots” of the 1960s, LGBTQIA+ journalists were forced to report on the AIDS crisis from the closet, Asian-American journalists covering America’s war on Vietnam were rare and endangered. Today, terrible events still happen. Racism and homophobia remain entrenched in the systems that undergird this country’s foundations, misogyny and class disparity color our daily lives, attacks on press freedom abound.

But the journalists who have been trained by the Institute he co-founded since his death 34 years ago have changed the way we see, experience and change our world. Black reporters covered George Floyd. Latinx journalists cover ICE raids and concentration camps. Asian-American journalists covered COVID-19 and hate crimes against Asian community members. Trans journalists have crafted style guides that cover everything from pronouns to anti-trans legislation.

Robert C. Maynard may not have been able to destroy outright the systems of oppression he saw enduring, but he lived and died the way all great men do: leaving behind them work destined to remain unfinished, but having trained their successors to take up their tools in their absence.

Meeting the Moment in Chicago

Maynard Institute’s training helped editors strengthen skills in ever-changing industry

By Vani Subramony, Master’s Student at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

“We are in the city of Pope Leo, so we will have confession this morning!” exclaimed Martin Reynolds, co-executive director at the Maynard Institute, as he began his session about leadership. The room of editors, new and experienced, brightened as they eagerly began to share their “Why?” for becoming managers.

The Maynard Institute’s Regional Training Series found a home at Northwestern University’s Medill School in downtown Chicago in early June. The two-day program created space for news leaders to collaborate and practice management skills at a time of, what Maynard Regional Training Director Odette Alcazaren-Keeley described as, “imperiled Constitutional rights, volatility in our industry and assaults on journalism.”

The goal of the series, institute leaders said, is to train frontline editors and managers who are often thrust into their positions with very little assistance. Since 2025, the Maynard Institute has hosted training sessions across the country. The Chicago training drew nearly 50 journalists from a range of non-profit, for-profit and ethnic media. 

Early in the day, Medill Dean Charles Whitaker spoke about the role of the university in creating a new generation of leaders at a time of tumult in the industry. 

“At this time of incredible disruption and uncertainty in the industry, we thought we had an obligation to assert ourselves in the field,” he said. “Part of that is providing training and leadership to young and emerging leaders but also to established leaders that were also having a difficult time.”

Program faculty, including Medill’s Mackenzie Warren, echoed this sentiment throughout the event, stating the importance of embracing the calling of journalism at this moment in history.

“There are a lot of reasons that people might suggest you not be a journalist today. It’s dangerous. You could be labeled an enemy of the state or an enemy of the people,” Warren said. “And yet, all of those reasons are why to be a journalist.”

Warren, interim executive director of Medill’s Local News Initiative, has been working with the Maynard Institute for more than 10 years. He said Medill shares the same core values as his collaborators at the institute. 

“The health and wellness of our community is directly tied to the health and wellness of the information our residents have to make their choices – whether that’s voting, grocery shopping, schooling, health or parenting,” Warren said. “We want to make sure that every Chicagoan has access to trustworthy news and information.”

With his colleague Zach Metzger, director of the Medill State of Local News Project, Warren kicked off the training sessions by discussing the condition of local news across the country. On the second day, he moderated a panel of news leaders about the state of media. Executives from Block Club Chicago, Impremedia, Chicago News Weekly and sports media company The Bigs spoke about funding, audience expansion and what it’s like contributing to local news at this time in history. 

“The panel was very invigorating, mainly because they talked about resources I had never heard of,” said Jacqualine Jarju, president and co-founder of the National Association of Black Journalist’s central and southern Illinois chapter. She said she came away with a lot of ideas about possible grant sources and future leadership trainings. 

Another key moment for many attendees, like Jarju, was Jean Marie Brown’s session on the Fault Lines framework. Evelyn Hsu, co-executive director of the Maynard Institute, cited Fault Lines as a key way of understanding the different perspectives that guide journalism.

“Those perspectives are influenced by race, class, gender, generation, geography and sexual orientation,” Hsu said. “This should make us aware of our own blind spots and how that could influence how we cover a story.”

Brown, who is associate professor of professional practice and director of student media at Texas Christian University’s Bob Schieffer College of Communication, had each attendee write about their Fault Lines. She cited her childhood in Indiana, education at Medill and age as aspects of identity that she acknowledges when reporting. 

“What reporting is supposed to do is reflect the audience and the community that is being served, and so today, we live in a nation that is multicultural and multi-ethnic,” Brown said. “Journalists need to go out and represent that in their reporting.”

Deborah Douglas, director of the Medill Solutions Journalism Hub and session presenter, also talked about the importance of diverse identities in the newsroom.

“Anytime the industry goes through a challenging time, whether that’s technological disruption or financial disruption, we’re affected especially through downsizing,” she said. “A lot of newsrooms haven’t valued the diverse perspectives that they lose when they downsize. Diversity is often the first thing to go.”

Also included in the two-day training were sessions on the use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom, project management, listening with integrity, navigating difficult conversations, managing big projects,  and Reynolds’ workshop about management that invoked the Chicagoan pope. 

Most striking about the training was the number of young editors in the room. 

“Young journalists are incredibly passionate about this craft,” Alcazaren-Keeley said. “If we’re able to provide a sense of belonging this early on, if they see themselves reflected in the industry and know they have a community of support behind them, then we have succeeded in that part of our mission.” 

One such journalist was Luis Velazquez, an editor for Cicero Independiente, a bilingual news organization in northern Illinois. Between sessions, Velazquez found himself collaborating with other editors and brainstorming ways to include more freelancers at the publication. 

“It’s a universal experience that editors are put in a role where there’s no guidelines,” he said. “I’m very grateful for the Maynard Institute for providing these resources amongst other connections and networks that help reporters and newsrooms.”

Taryn McFadden, the Chicago Reader’s culture editor, was also inspired to create positive change in the newsroom.

“We’ve had sessions about biases and how to show up in the workplace and be a good supervisor, and as a member of the younger generation, I strive to help our workplace become healthier, which helps us do better journalism,” she said.

McFadden said she sees great importance in capitalizing on diversity and identity in all newsrooms, including that of the Reader.

“Right now, there’s no separating politics and the state of the world from what we do all day, every day,” she said. “I see such a value in having a staff that can reflect the city back on itself.”

Leadership Essentials

The sessions and speakers who presented on June 4-5 at the Maynard-Medill Regional Training in Chicago:

News Leaders Panel: State of the Media in the Region – Panelists: Jesús del Toro, director general, general manager and editor in chief, Impremedia; Laura Miller, managing editor, Chicago News Weekly; Terrence Tomlin, co-founder and editorial director, The Bigs; and Maple Walker Lloyd, vice president of partnerships, Block Club Chicago;  and Mackenzie Warren, moderator.

Medill Research Briefing: Mackenzie Warren, interim executive director, Local News Initiative, Northwestern University Medill School, and Zach Metzger, director, Medill State of Local News Project 

The Manager’s Mindset – Stepping into Your Leadership Role: Martin G. Reynolds, co-executive director, Maynard Institute

Identifying Personal Values – A Listening Exercise: Doris Truong, deputy director, Maynard Institute Fire Up Entrepreneurship Program 

Fault Lines® in Motion: Jean Marie Brown, associate professor of professional practice, Bob Schieffer College of Communication, Texas Christian University 

AI with Integrity – Shaping Values-Driven Practices: Mei-Ling Hopgood, Medill Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Clinical Professor, William F. Thomas Professor of Journalism 

Complicating the Narrative: Deborah Douglas, founding director, Medill Solutions Journalism Hub

Managing the BIG Story: Maria Carrillo, consultant and writing coach

Tension to Trust – Navigating Difficult Conversations: Felecia Henderson, senior director of strategic initiatives, Maynard Institute

The People Manager Balancing Act: Lisa-Ann Barnes, adjunct faculty, Northwestern University

A special thank you to our funders, partners, faculty and participants!

We would like to extend again our deep appreciation from our Institute leadership and entire team to our funders, partners, faculty and participants who attended the Maynard Regional Training in Chicago, in partnership with Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications and the Medill Local News Initiative.

Thank you for sharing your expertise, insights and care that enriched our Maynard-Medill Regional Training curriculum last week. Your sessions built on each other’s frameworks and delivered great impact in our allyship with program co-creators Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and the Medill Local News Initiative, with support provided by the Knight Foundation.

Your high-calibre teaching and customized coaching reinvigorate the journalism work of another exceptional cohort of frontline editors and mid-level managers serving Chicago’s diverse news ecosystem, the region, and across the country.

We were energized by the enthusiasm of our participants and the energy (and spectacular weather!) of the lovely city of Chicago.

We hope all participants will stay in touch by following us on social media and joining our Maynard Communities of Practice.

A Joint statement from Propel Initiative Partners on proposed 2026-2027 California state budget

Legislative leaders released a proposed 2026–27 California State Budget that excludes funding for the Propel Initiative and California Local News Fellowship.

Journalism, particularly small, local and ethnic media, are facing a crisis. These two important programs have helped local journalism not only stay open, but have created innovative programs to help sustain them in the future. 

At a moment when immigrant communities and other historically underserved Californians need trusted information more than ever, these programs are helping strengthen local journalism across the state. 

Through Propel, California made an investment in ethnic and community media outlets that collectively serve more than 20 million hard to reach Californians. That needs to continue. The Fellowship is strengthening local reporting and developing the next generation of journalists.

For many Californians—particularly immigrants, communities of color, rural residents, and those who rely on in-language news—ethnic media is the most trusted source of information. These outlets play an essential role in helping communities understand critical issues, access vital resources, and participate fully in civic life.

We are grateful for the Legislature’s groundbreaking support of the California Local News Fellowship beginning in 2022 and last year’s investment in Propel. Continued investment in local and ethnic media is an investment in informed communities, civic participation, and a stronger democracy. We remain hopeful that legislative leaders will renew? the full $15 million investment in the final budget before June 30.

Signed,

Arturo Carmona, President, Latino Media Collaborative

Regina Brown Wilson, Executive Director, California Black Media

Jaya Padmanabhan, Executive Director, American Community Media

Julian Do, Co-Director, American Community Media

Martin G. Reynolds, Co-Executive Director, The Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education

The Mirror Awards

Receiving the Lorraine Branham Award from The Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 the Maynard Institute was honored to receive the Lorraine Branham Award from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. Named for former Newhouse dean and Maynard alum Lorraine Branham, who attended the Summer Program for Minority Journalists in 1977 before the Institute received its first official name, the award “recognizes a media organization that has worked to promote inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in the news media over the previous year.”

Maynard Institute Board Chair John X. Miller spoke at the awards, and later wrote on the experience of attending the ceremony and reception hosted by Syracuse University.

“It was my honor and privilege to represent the Maynard Institute and introduce Evelyn and Martin at the Mirror Awards, where they accepted the Lorraine Branham Award on behalf of the Institute,” Miller wrote after the awards ceremony.

“Being recognized on the national stage as an organization that continues the work of inclusion, equity and truth-based journalism acknowledges Maynard’s decades-long commitment to expand  the community of journalists who aspire to live up to the words and aspirations of Bob Maynard and the founders.

It was a milestone moment for Maynard. In my remarks as the award presenter, I lauded Martin and Eveyln’s stewardship, vision, leadership, adaptability and humanity as they help carry forward Maynard’s mission with urgency and purpose. 

As board chair, I am very appreciative of the recognition because it champions the Institute’s persistent work. I share congratulations with the staff and board, too, because the award acknowledges your dedication.

Thank you to the Newhouse School of Public Communications for the Lorraine Branham Award, presented at a fantastic event where NBC News’ Lester Holt was among the six honorees, as the recipient of the Fred Dressler Leadership Award.”

On legacy: Evelyn Hsu

On accepting the Lorraine Branham Award, Co-Executive Director Evelyn Hsu recalled founders Bob and Nancy Maynard, and Bob’s daughter and Institute President Dori J. Maynard.

“We stand on the shoulders of our founders, including Bob Maynard and Nancy Hicks Maynard,” Hsu said. “And we carry deep appreciation for the leadership of our former president, Dori Maynard, who left us far too soon just over a decade ago. I know Dori would have been proud to see the Institute receive an award named for Lorraine Branham, a Maynard graduate whose life and work reflected the power of this legacy.”

Hsu expounded on carrying forward the legacy of the founders, and the generational mantle carried forward by Maynard Institute faculty, staff, fellows and trainees.

“That work has never belonged to one person or one generation. It has been carried by mentors, trainers, editors, reporters, board members, funders and alumni who kept showing up because they believed journalism matters — and because they believed who gets to shape journalism matters, too.”

On the future of belonging: Martin G. Reynolds

Co-Executive Director Martin G. Reynolds spoke on past and future visions of belonging in news.

“Nearly 50 years ago, the founders of the Institute believed something simple and profound: the beacons of news in this country should reflect the full diversity of the nation. That mission has always mattered. But it meets this moment with particular urgency,” Marting G. Reynolds said, referencing recent attacks on diversity not only as a practice, but as an ideal and as a reality in America.

“…this honor feels like more than recognition. It is a deeply appreciated act of affirmation for our board, our staff, and especially our graduates, who remain the most powerful reflection of our legacy. Because this work has never been only about who is represented inside newsrooms. It is also about whether the people in our communities are seen fully, heard clearly, and understood for who they are.”

Reynolds hit on the most desired outcome of representation in news: true belonging and investment in communities, and investment in the belonging of each individual within the collective.

“Our hope is that our shared humanity will prevail — and that corrosive attempts to divide us will be met by stories that reveal the beauty, complexity and authenticity of the person beside you.

They do belong. And you belong. Because we belong.”

Rebuilding Local News: Why Strong Journalism Is Essential in Every State

Local news is where communities learn what’s happening in their own back yards, from school board decisions to public safety updates. Across the country, these essential sources of information are disappearing, creating news deserts that leave many Americans in the dark. This article explains why rebuilding a strong, sustainable news industry ecosystem is critical for every state.

What Is a News Desert?

A news desert is a community with little or no access to credible, original local news reporting. News deserts form when local newspapers close or shrink to the point that they can no longer consistently cover key community issues and local events. These gaps in news coverage leave residents without reliable information about what is happening in their own neighborhoods, making it more difficult for residents to stay engaged and connected.

Why Local News Coverage Matters More Than Ever

A strong local news ecosystem is foundational to a healthy democracy, thriving communities and informed decision-making. Yet across the United States, that ecosystem is weakening at an alarming rate. News deserts stats reveal that thousands of local news outlets have closed in recent decades, leaving many counties with only one, or even zero, reliable sources of local reporting. No state is immune; both rural and urban communities are experiencing newsroom losses, often leaving underserved populations without a voice.

This decline has far-reaching consequences. 

Strengthening Civic Engagement and Accountability

Local journalism plays a critical role in holding public officials accountable. Investigative reporting, city council coverage, and school board updates ensure transparency. Communities with robust local news coverage are more likely to have engaged voters and informed public discourse. Strong local media systems are linked to better civic outcomes, including higher levels of community participation and more effective governance.

Without this oversight, misinformation and corruption in local government spreads more easily, and residents may feel disconnected from or powerless to influence decisions that directly affect their lives.

Filling Critical Information Gaps

When local news outlets disappear critical information gaps emerge. Residents may struggle to find accurate updates on emergencies, public health issues or infrastructure changes.

The Pew Research Center notes that while many Americans still value local news their connection to it is changing, with fewer people relying on traditional outlets. This shift increases the risk that communities will rely on fragmented or less-than-reliable sources.

Strengthening Economic and Social Opportunities

Local journalism contributes to economic vitality. Coverage of local businesses and development projects helps drive commerce and informs residents about opportunities in their area.

Supporting Community Identity and Connection

Local news does more than report facts, it tells the story of a community. Coverage of local businesses, cultural events, and neighborhood initiatives builds a shared sense of identity and belonging. 

Local news ecosystems also foster trust and collaboration by highlighting community voices that might otherwise go unheard. This storytelling function is especially important in diverse states where regional differences shape daily life. Declining local news access leads to increased polarization and reduced trust in institutions, making it easier for bad actors to take control of regional and national narratives and disenfranchise geographically and socially marginalized communities.

By expanding local news coverage, organizations can:

• Restore consistent reporting on local government and public services
• Provide equitable access to information across communities
• Strengthen disaster preparedness and public safety awareness
• Elevate underrepresented voices and perspectives

Investment in local journalism is an investment in stronger, more resilient communities.

How the Federal Local Journalism Sustainability Act Is Helping

The 2025–2026 Local Journalism Sustainability Act represents an important first step toward rebuilding local news. It creates targeted tax incentives that support local journalism organizations and community engagement. The bill offers credits for newspaper subscriptions, journalist payroll, and small business advertising, all designed to strengthen the financial sustainability of local media outlets and preserve access to reliable community reporting. 

As policymakers respond to ongoing cuts to public broadcasting and shrinking newsroom resources, supporters argue that measures like this are essential to stabilizing and expanding local news coverage across the country.

How States Are Taking Action: California’s News Desert Challenges and Emerging Solutions

Despite its weighty political and economic influence, even California is not immune to news deserts. Its massive overall size and large unpopulated areas mean that many of its communities have lost local newspapers or seen significant reductions in newsroom staff, limiting consistent coverage of regional issues.

In response, state lawmakers and news leaders are working to rebuild the state’s local news ecosystem. Initiatives include proposed legislation aimed at:

• Creating sustainable funding streams for local newsrooms
• Supporting newsroom jobs and journalist retention
• Expanding coverage in underserved areas

The Essential Role of Journalism Nonprofits

In the meantime, nonprofit news organizations like the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education are playing a critical role in strengthening local news capacity across California. The Maynard Institute provides leadership and DEIB training, business strategy support and professional development resources to journalists and publishers working in local and community-based outlets.

The Maynard Institute helps newsrooms become more sustainable and resilient by equipping them with the tools needed to adapt to changing media landscapes, strengthen audience engagement and build viable revenue models. It also prioritizes support for diversity-rich community media organizations, ensuring that all Californians have access to relevant, culturally competent reporting.

Together, legislative efforts and nonprofit capacity-building programs reflect a growing recognition that local journalism is a public good, one that requires both policy support and long-term investment in the people and institutions behind the news.

California’s experience offers a clear lesson for the rest of the country: even in states with large media markets, local news can erode without sustained investment. Rebuilding it will take collaboration among policymakers, nonprofit organizations, journalists, and community members alike.

Get Support for Your Local Media Organization With the Maynard Institute

The Maynard Institute inspires and powers the national, collaborative drive for equity, belonging, and diversity in news media. We’re working to create a healthy democratic society informed by a representative, equitable, and reflective news media.

For nearly 50 years, the Maynard Institute has helped newsrooms do the work necessary to create journalism that is more accurate, reflective, and inclusive of the communities they serve.

Our fellowships and training programs equip journalists and news organizations with the tools to reimagine coverage, sourcing, audience engagement, hiring, and retention — all while fostering a culture of belonging.

Connect with us today to learn more about what we do and how we can help you as a journalist or your organization as an essential local news outlet. You can also give to Maynard to become part of our family—along with our staff, board, community partners, and thousands of graduates. 

For Maynard Regional Training faculty and participants, journalism leadership is “more than a profession”

by Alice Finno, Maynard Institute reporting intern

This post contains promotional material for the Maynard Regional Training Series in Chicago.

The Maynard Institute will host a free training for entry- and mid-level editors and managers in Chicago, Illinois, on June 4 through 5, as part of its regional training series.

In partnership with Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications, the training will provide coaching and mentoring to help editors and managers working in print, broadcast and digital platforms navigate the complexities of newsroom leadership. Northwestern will cover the standard registration fee on behalf of registrants. Two meals will be provided each day, and limited discounted hotel rooms will be available.

Anyone from the Chicago regional area is invited to attend the training. Registration is open until Tuesday, May 26. Anyone with questions can contact Maynard Regional Training Series Director Odette Alcazaren-Keeley. 

Award-winning journalists and Medill professors will lead workshops and discussions together with Maynard Institute faculty.

Empathy

Martin Reynolds, co-executive director at the Maynard Institute, said that people often start managerial positions without receiving any training, especially when transitioning from a reporter role to a manager or editor position. 

However, Reynolds said, only one in ten people have the skills to be a successful manager, according to Gallup, a research and polling organization. During the Chicago training, Reynolds will hold a session about “The Manager’s Mindset” and core aspects of leadership roles, including authority, influence and empathy.  

“Having empathy and compassion for your people is really one of the elements that I think is essential,” Reynolds said. “If you don’t have that, it’s very difficult to be an effective manager, a good manager, where your colleagues will thrive under your leadership.”

Integrity

Mei-Ling Hopgood, journalism professor at Northwestern, will hold a session on using AI with integrity, where participants will discuss newsrooms’ standards and practices when using large language models, such as ChatGPT and Gemini.

“They’re going to be part of newsrooms, they’re going to be part of our workflow, but to be able to say aloud  — or to have in writing  — this is my philosophy, these are the values that are guiding my use, is very important,” Hopgood said, adding that she hopes people will leave the session having a sense of the guiding principles they want to follow when using AI.

Complexity

Deborah Douglas, director of the Medill Solutions Journalism Hub, will hold a session called “Complicating the Narrative,” where she will teach people a deep listening technique used in interviewing developed by journalist Amanda Ripley, who currently partners with Maynard alum Hélène Biandudi Hoffer at Good Conflict, guiding and facilitating communication by reimagining conflict “to help people listen and be heard in times of profound disagreement.”

“In a time of deep polarization and shrinking trust, I want to introduce a deep listening technique that models deep listening so that people feel heard and so that they feel safe enough to open up and give us the real answer, not just the surface level answers that people tend to give,” she said.

Trust

At the training, Mackenzie Warren, interim executive director of the Medill Local News Initiative, will also present the findings of a study about how Chicago gets its news. The researchers surveyed 1,101 adults in the Chicago metropolitan area and examined consumer behavior, obtaining insights about audiences’ evolving habits and interests.

Warren said the survey focused on 14 counties and included urban, suburban and rural communities in proportions roughly mirroring the United States’ population while also taking race, class and socio-economic status into account to have a representative index. 

“I feel somewhat confident in using it as a directional information about how the United States as a whole is getting local news,” he added.

Warren also shared that the Medill Local News Initiative is designed to help the local news ecosystem thrive and highlighted the correlation between positive performance in local news and in democratic norms. 

“Without trusted local journalism, it’s not as possible for ordinary people to make good decisions in their lives,” he said.

Perspective

Doris Truong, deputy director of the Fire Up Entrepreneurship Program at the Maynard Institute, will lead a session on listening and identifying personal values. Truong will talk about interviewing people you disagree with without expressing judgement. 

“When you’re talking to sources, it’s really important for them to understand that you’re just trying to understand them, not trying to change their minds,” she said. “You may end up having to interview somebody that you can say ‘I don’t agree with this, but I really want to help my audience understand your perspective.’”

Felecia Henderson, senior director of strategic initiatives at the Maynard Institute, will hold a session about navigating difficult conversations, providing useful steps managers can follow and then role-playing scenarios.

“When you’re a manager, you really have to find a way to strike the right tone, the right setting, the right approach. And a lot of people don’t know what that is,” Henderson said.

Henderson added that when people finish a regional training, they become part of the Maynard Communities of Practice, a program that connects people working in the same field and provides continuous training across different curriculum tracks.

Community

Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, director of the Maynard Regional Training and Communities of Practice Programs, shared that the training will include a roundtable with news leaders from the region to talk about the state of the media in the region.

Alcazaren-Keeley said what participants always appreciate about the programs is sharing the room with other journalists who face the same challenges and be able to learn from each other. 

“What we hope is that when they leave, they feel they are not alone, that they have us, and they have each other, and they grow the community with us: they become part of the Maynard family that endures,” she said.

Jasmine Barnes, program manager at the Maynard Institute, said she enjoys creating the vision for a Maynard training and thinking about all the details that will enhance the participants’ experience.

“I’m really hoping that the Chicago training can be a really good opportunity for Northwestern’s network and broader community, as well as some Maynard alumni and some folks who haven’t really been involved with either of those institutions to meet and to really talk about the region and the unique challenges and opportunities that are present in Chicago,” she said.

Calling

Mackenzie Warren expressed his excitement for having frontline editors and leaders in journalism come together for the training. 

“There’s going be a room full of people who have signed on to this mission and dedicated themselves to this profession that’s more than a profession, it’s a calling,” Warren said.

“Our contributions to journalism will outlast ourselves if we do it right — I’m really encouraged that there’s a room full of people, the next generation of people, who see themselves that way and see this as not just their job, but their mission, and are invested in themselves to get better at their craft.”

The Business Case for DEIB Training in Journalism

By Celeste Barker Bright for Nonprofit Megaphone

In an era when public trust in news is both more fragile and more essential than ever, how stories are told matters just as much as the stories themselves. For journalism employers, investing in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) training is a powerful way to strengthen reporting, build audience trust, and create newsrooms where every voice contributes to more accurate and impactful storytelling. 

What DEI Training Means and Why Belonging Matters

Diversity, equity, and inclusion training, or DEI training, helps organizations build workplaces where people of all identities and backgrounds are fairly represented, treated, and supported in contributing fully. DEI training programs focus on improving awareness around the experiences of nonwhite and noncisgender male workers. This helps to reduce both conscious and unconscious bias and create systems that ensure equitable access to workplace opportunities and resources.

Many organizations now emphasize DEIB, which adds a critical fourth pillar of social equity: belonging. Belonging goes beyond representation and fairness. It reflects whether employees actually feel accepted, valued, and psychologically safe enough to contribute authentically. Without belonging, even diverse and equitable workplaces may struggle with disengagement or high turnover when employees don’t truly feel included.

In other words, DEI creates access and opportunity, while belonging ensures people feel connected and empowered once they are there. For news media organizations and the American public media as a whole, where storytelling depends on authentic voices and perspectives, that distinction is especially important.

The Real-World Benefits of DEIB Training for Media Employers

DEIB training isn’t just a nice-to-have workplace initiative. Diversity in the media directly influences the quality, accuracy, and impact of reporting. Research and industry guidance consistently show that inclusive representation in media outlets produces stronger journalism and more sustainable organizations.

Stronger, More Accurate Reporting

A diverse and inclusive newsroom is better equipped to cover stories that concern all American communities and the challenges they face. When journalists reflect a broader range of lived experiences, coverage becomes more representative and less likely to overlook or misinterpret marginalized perspectives.

Inclusive practices help journalists ask better questions, build trust with sources, and avoid harmful stereotypes. DEIB training equips staff with the tools to recognize bias in sourcing, framing, and language, leading to more accurate and nuanced reporting.

Increased Audience Trust and Engagement

Trust is a core currency in journalism, and DEIB training plays a significant role in strengthening it. When audiences see themselves reflected fairly in coverage, they are more likely to engage with and trust a news outlet. That translates to positive company reputations and ratings in very real ways.

Inclusive journalism fosters stronger relationships with communities, particularly those historically underrepresented or misrepresented in media. By improving cultural competency and awareness, DEIB training helps newsrooms build credibility and deepen audience connections.

More Innovative and Resilient Newsrooms

Organizations that invest in DEIB often benefit from greater creativity and innovation. Forbes explains that diverse teams bring a wider range of ideas, perspectives, and problem-solving approaches, which can lead to better decision-making and more innovative content strategies.

In the fast-changing media landscape, adaptability is essential. DEIB training encourages open dialogue, collaboration, and inclusive leadership practices that help teams respond more effectively to new challenges and opportunities.

Improved Employee Engagement and Retention

Employees who feel valued and included are more likely to stay and contribute at a high level. DEIB-focused environments improve morale, job satisfaction, and overall performance.

For journalism employers, this translates into lower turnover and a more stable workforce. Given the demanding nature of newsroom work, fostering a sense of belonging can help prevent burnout and ensure that talented journalists remain engaged and committed.

Reduced Bias and Ethical Risk

Bias in journalism can lead not only to misinformation but also to reputational damage and loss of public trust. DEIB training helps staff identify unconscious biases and understand how they may influence reporting decisions. Structured DEI workshops provide practical tools for addressing bias, improving communication, and fostering accountability. This is especially important in journalism, where ethical standards require fairness, accuracy, and sensitivity.

Stronger Leadership and Organizational Culture

DEIB training also shapes leadership practices. Inclusive leaders are better equipped to manage diverse teams, support equitable advancement, and create transparent decision-making processes. Organizations that prioritize DEIB develop healthier workplace cultures characterized by trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. In newsrooms, this can lead to stronger editorial alignment and a more cohesive mission.

Why News Organizations Should Partner With DEIB Training Experts

While internal efforts are valuable, many news organizations stand to gain the most from working with third-party DEIB specialists who bring expertise, structure, and objectivity to the process.

Specialized Industry Expertise

Organizations such as the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education provide tailored training specifically designed for media professionals. Their programs address the unique challenges of journalism, such as inclusive sourcing, equitable storytelling, and newsroom culture. External partners bring proven frameworks and up-to-date best practices that may not exist internally. 

Objective Assessment and Accountability

Third-party consultants can offer an unbiased perspective on workplace culture and practices. External experts can identify gaps, measure progress, and recommend data-driven strategies for improvement. This objectivity is particularly valuable in journalism organizations, where internal dynamics and hierarchies may make it difficult to address sensitive issues openly.

Customized, Scalable Training Programs

External partners can design training programs that align with an organization’s size, goals, and audience. Partnering with experts can strengthen broader diversity and inclusion strategies, including hiring and retention efforts. For news organizations with multiple teams or locations, scalable training ensures consistency while allowing for customization based on local needs.

Long-Term Strategy and Sustainable Impact

DEIB is not a one-time initiative. It requires ongoing commitment and continuous improvement. External consultants can help organizations move beyond one-off workshops to develop long-term strategies that embed DEIB principles into daily operations. Outsourcing enables companies to build sustainable programs with clear goals, metrics, and accountability structures — all without guesswork or strain on company staff.

For journalism employers, this means creating a newsroom culture where inclusive practices aren’t just passively or abstractly encouraged, but actively and concretely integrated into every aspect of reporting, editing, and leadership. By investing in DEIB training and partnering with experienced organizations, news media employers can strengthen both their workplace culture and the quality of their journalism.

Get Expert DEIB Training for Your Media Organization With the Maynard Institute

The Maynard Institute inspires and powers the national, collaborative drive for DEIB in news media. Our antiracism training programs have helped create decades of news industry trailblazers, all of whom belong to the “Maynard Family”: a community of deep caring and intergenerational support for journalists of color. Programs by the Maynard Institute are open to all applicants, and the Maynard Institute is committed to addressing the under-representation of people of color and other historically disadvantaged groups in media-related professions.

The Maynard Institute’s Fault Lines® Culture Shift Program gives media professionals the tools to recognize and address biases that shape news coverage. Rooted in the Fault Lines® framework, our program helps organizations move far beyond performative DEI efforts. 

Instead, we use intentional DEI practices — built on nearly 50 years of DEI training in media spaces — that are proven to create inclusive workplaces that connect with diverse communities. Fill out our interest form to Register to bring Maynard’s Fault Lines® training to your company today!

Journalists balance transparency, safety in the wake of ICE escalation

By Alice Finno, Reporting Intern

As Immigration and Customs Enforcement increased activity in recent months, journalists across newsrooms began having difficult conversations about balancing transparency in coverage with protecting their sources.

In January 2025, El Tímpano, a Bay Area newsroom that reports on Latino and Mayan immigrants, published guidelines to better protect immigrant sources and the communities it covers, focusing on three key areas: ensuring informed consent, limiting identifying details, and increasing in-person engagement. The policies seek to balance the dangers of exposing immigrants’ stories with the benefits journalism provides. 

For instance, Miriam Jordan, an immigration reporter for the New York Times, revealed in 2018 that President Trump employed undocumented workers in his properties, identifying two immigrant women with their full names and photographing them. One of them, Victorina Morales, made numerous media appearances after the story was published, applied for asylum, and received a work permit, but months later, she found out her case had been referred to a court for removal proceedings, as reported by the Columbia Journalism Review. 

During the first Trump administration, immigration reporters told CJR they were more inclined to grant anonymity to undocumented sources and explain the potential consequences of being quoted in a story.

Educating sources

El Tímpano’s guidelines recommend that reporters make greater efforts to explain the risks of participating in stories and how content may be shared, so immigrant sources can make fully informed decisions. This includes telling sources about the risks of speaking with journalists, which could include being identified and contacted by ICE, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security or other law enforcement.

Drawing from material by Define American and PublicSource.org, El Tímpano also tells sources that when reporters reach out for a story, they should clearly state what news outlet they work for, what story they are working on, ask whether the source is willing to speak, answer any questions they might have and clarify at the beginning of the interview if the conversation is on the record, on background, off the record or anonymous. El Tímpano explains to sources where and how the story will appear online.

Sources can decide how much of their name and identifying information is included in the piece. At the same time, El Tímpano has chosen to reduce the amount of identifying information it uses, selecting from details such as first and last name, initials, age, city of residence, job, country of origin, and other information, avoiding the use of more than three identifiers.

If sources ask for additional protection, the outlet says it will honor their request by using only their initials or a pseudonym. It will only ask for last names and citizenship status when this information is essential and store information with robust security measures.

El Tímpano notes that its journalism is rooted in a close connection with the community and prioritizes maintaining trust with the community, ensuring its reporting is neither extractive nor harmful. The outlet’s journalists also avoid including the names of sources’ family members, especially if they have a different legal status, and filming or taking photos at locations that might reveal the source’s home or work location.

The publication also emphasizes more face-to-face reporting and an increased presence in the East Bay, while avoiding publicizing the locations of these interactions to protect participants. Overall, El Tímpano argues that journalism can counter dehumanization and bridge social divides, reminding readers that undocumented people are entitled to respect.

Informed consent, focus on community

The Los Angeles Public Press also published strategies to navigate media interviews during ICE raids last July amid an increase in ICE operations in Los Angeles. The publication tells immigrant sources that sharing their story can amplify their voice and highlight critical issues, but it can also put them at risk.

With the increased press attention on immigrant communities due to immigration enforcement, the outlet highlights that many people are speaking to journalists for the first time without knowing how to protect themselves. It advises individuals to verify reporters’ identities, ask questions about the story, and set boundaries before agreeing to interviews, including deciding how much identifying information they want to share.

Sources can decline questions that feel uncomfortable and be as specific or vague as they like when sharing information, with the understanding that anything they disclose could potentially become public. The LA Public Press guidelines emphasize that sources may end the conversation at any time, as well as decline to have the interview recorded or photos taken, unless they are in a public space or during a protest, in which case people can wear masks, sunglasses, or hats if they want to conceal their identity.

The guide also warns against reporters who use leading questions or push a narrative, highlighting that sources can voice their concerns if they see that happening and assert their own point of view. They can also ask clarifying questions or information about how the article is going to be used to make sure the reporters will handle the story and their community with care.

Journalist safety and self-care

Brenda Verano, a journalist who has been covering social justice and immigration at CALÓ News, said that even her newsroom had conversations about how to keep sources safe when immigration raids and protests started happening in Los Angeles. 

For example, Verano said that the newsroom decided not to publish photos of street vendors during protests or to blur faces to avoid exposing people’s identity in case they didn’t have a legal status. In other instances, she said sources who weren’t used to speaking with the press mentioned during an interview that they were undocumented, so she talked with them about it to make sure they were okay with that information becoming public and discussing what she would include in the article.

“We also made that agreement of if people say that they don’t want to be on record, or if they don’t want to use their full name, that is totally okay, and we will respect that,” Verano said. She would also try to meet people in person and make sure sources felt safe, she said, interviewing them in Spanish and explaining what she was working on.

Verano attended the Maynard Institute’s Propel Regional Training in San Luis Obispo at the end of April and said she was still thinking about some of the sessions, such as A.C. Thompson’s session on investigative journalism and Andrés Cediel’s session on immigration coverage and imperiled civil rights. Verano said Cediel’s session also made her realize it’s okay to consider taking a break from covering immigration. As someone from a mixed-status household, Verano said the topics she has been reporting on feel very personal.

“It takes a lot of mental and emotional strain on you, but I think that’s also what helps you connect with the fewer sources to a greater extent,” she said.

Verano said she has also taken measures to protect herself as a journalist, such as letting people know where she is when covering a protest, making her social media private, and using Signal to communicate with sources and other journalists.

Michelle Zenarosa, former editor-in-chief at LA Public Press, wrote about the impact that covering immigration has had on reporters and how the newsroom had to rethink how to protect its journalists due to the increased risks they faced, from personal threats to rubber bullets and arrests. They quickly realized the need for safety training and started to collaborate with reporters across different newsrooms.

“When local journalists can’t safely document what’s happening in your community, you lose the ability to hold power accountable. And right now, that’s the calculation we’re all making,” wrote Zenarosa.

An attack on Civil Rights

Andrés Cediel, visiting professor at Arizona State University and one of the speakers at the Propel training, said that journalists need to be careful about protecting themselves and sources at the same time. Today, journalists are frequently facing attacks by the government, he added. One of them is Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran journalist who was covering a “No Kings” rally last June when he was arrested and detained by ICE for livestreaming their activity.

Guevara was in the country legally with a path to receiving a green card through his son, who is a U.S.-citizen, but he was still deported to El Salvador.

 “Whenever, as a journalist, you’re doing reporting that involves some level of trauma or vulnerability, it’s really important to be paying attention to how that’s affecting you personally, and sometimes doing reporting that is too close to your own trauma can be especially difficult,” Cediel said in an interview.

Cediel also highlighted the critical role journalists play in documenting what is happening during a period of crisis and how their reporting and the evidence collected could eventually lead to more accountability.

“When this administration is no longer in power, at that time, there will be an opportunity to hold those actors responsible for any potential crimes they committed,” Cediel said. “For that to happen, we need to be documenting those abuses now.”

Cediel said he hopes the Propel training inspired journalists to recommit to the mission of documenting what happens in their communities. “All this work is building towards a higher mission and goal,” he said.

*This article references Maynard Institute programming and interviews Maynard Institute training participants and faculty, including Brenda Verano, who works at CALÓ News. CALÓ News is a central initiative of the Latino Media Collaborative, a Propel Partner of the Maynard Institute.

What My Fault Lines Taught Me

A Maynard Institute training helped me understand my perspective — and the responsibility that comes with it

By Jeremy Garza, Managing Editor, Mustang Media Group, California Polytechnic State University.

Photos by Jennifer Shaevitz, SLO Media Creations.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – “The phone rang. It was my mom telling me my brother died.”

That’s how Joe Lambert, founder of StoryCenter, said he would start a story about his brother. By jumping right into it, I was immediately itching to hear his next word. I felt tears welling in my eyes, imagining my own mother calling me to tell me about a tragic loss.

I went up to him after his presentation at the Maynard Institute’s Propel Regional Training in San Luis Obispo, held April 24-25. I wanted to thank him for changing the way I see storytelling and sharing personal stories — to which he just said, “Of course, and a little emotional manipulation never hurts.”

As an involved journalism student, I’ve found myself at a lot of conferences. I’ve sat through professionals talking about their glory days and college students rehearsing for their glory days more times than I can count. After Lambert’s kickoff session, I knew Maynard was going to push me to think differently about storytelling — including how I will tackle stories after I graduate from my college sandbox.

Over the course of two days, I heard frank presentations about immigration reporting and investigative work. In partnership with Cal Poly Journalism, Maynard took a page out of Cal Poly’s playbook and had participants “Learn by Doing.” Peers workshopped current stories and tackled personal biases. 

Co‑executive director of the Maynard Institute Martin G. Reynolds, while teaching about the
Fault Lines® framework, tasked us to write down six people we trusted, beyond relatives. Then, based on the six fault lines — race, gender, generation, class, sexual orientation and geography — we placed check marks next to each person if we shared the same identity. 

Most of my names, ranging from childhood friends to current roommates, had three to four check marks. A subconscious truth came forward: I often surround myself with people who are eerily similar to me. This can’t be the case in a newsroom, and I hope that I am able to foster belonging in more spaces that I join. 

All of my trusted individuals lacked the check mark that represents sexual orientation. Not many people in my life are queer, and even fewer are gay men. I often find myself in gray areas — too gay for masculine spaces, but still too “man” for female spaces. I’m often perceived as white, but my last name and my grandfather’s immigration from Mexico shape experiences that don’t always align with that perception.

Fault Lines® taught me how to analyze spaces. Not only for myself, but for my peers and for sources. Where do more people need to be heard? When does my privilege need to stand up for others? And when does it need to sit and listen? This perspective will now shape my coverage as I search for a place in the industry.

Our Cal Poly Journalism Department chair, Professor Brady Teufel, moderated a panel of community-oriented newsrooms, including representatives from ethnic media organizations, such as Latino Media Collaborative and India Currents. These small, but mighty organizations are cracking open fault lines and making room for those who do not see themselves in traditional coverage.

This conversation was taking place in a town that looks different than many in California and hosted by a state university unlike any other — predominantly white. This training was an important reminder in 2026, very eloquently stated by Reynolds.

“Belonging in newsrooms is the essential outcome of deliberately confronting bias,” Reynolds said. “When we name and dismantle the identity‑based biases that shape our coverage and culture, we create spaces where journalists of all backgrounds can bring their full selves to their work.”

During the campus tour, I showed a group of attendees around KCPR 91.3 FM, Cal Poly’s student-run radio station. The station’s motto is “Where Different Matters.” The station is developing into a space for belonging, internally and externally, from the “boys club” it once was in the ’70s. 

I was proud to show my station off to attendees and speak of how we are able to serve our audiences. I was especially proud, and a little nervous, to show Ernesto Aguilar. As executive director of radio programming and content innovation initiatives at KQED Public Media, Aguilar taught us not only technique and style tips, but also encouraged us to have hope for the future.

Aguilar, kind with his words, told me to keep pushing, and my path will work out. This represents the best part about Maynard. The connections I formed with innovators and daily grinders inspire me as I’m leaving my college bubble. The Maynard Institute showed me that the journalism industry is alive and well, just as I needed the reminder that I belong in this space.

“Harnessing the power of journalists’ diverse lived experiences is the cornerstone of genuine belonging, and our humanity,” said Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, director of the Maynard Regional Training Program.

About Jeremy Garza

Jeremy Garza is a journalism and political science student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, where he serves as managing editor of Mustang Media Group and was previously a CalMatters fellow. His work has been republished by the Associated Press and earned two California College Media Association first-place awards. 

About Mustang Media Group

Mustang Media Group (MMG) is an award-winning, multi-platform news organization based at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Covering digital, print, radio and social media, the student-run organization works to tell campus and community stories accurately and equitably.