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 of 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.

Maynard Institute partners with UNC Chapel Hill Hussman School community to welcome second regional training cohort

By Maynard Institute Staff

The Maynard Institute’s Regional Training Series will welcome another dynamic cohort of emerging media leaders on July 17 and 18, hosted by UNC Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media and the Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media (CISLM).

The program will provide customized training from 15 news experts and a community of support for early and mid-career editors and managers in newsrooms as well as nonprofit and/or communications organizations. The first training day will kick off with a welcome from Dr. Raul Reis, dean of the Hussman School.

“The UNC Hussman Community deeply values the transformative work of the Maynard Institute,” Dr. Reis said. “We are proud to support their mission by sharing our space, time and expertise to help cultivate the next generation of leaders in journalism.

The Maynard Institute’s partnership with the UNC Hussman School and the Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media builds on the allyship of both organizations. Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, director of the Maynard Regional Training Series, said the Institute is grateful for the exceptional support from the university.

“The deep knowledge of regional news and innovative frameworks of the UNC Hussman community’s faculty and specialists will be instrumental in propelling our mission. Alongside the expertise of executive-level Maynard faculty, they will help us continue incubating emerging media leaders who authentically represent our communities and are shaping newsrooms with integrity and courage,” Alcazaren-Keeley said.

“Our second regional training will provide concrete toolkits, cutting-edge frameworks, coaching and the Maynard community of support that will bolster the competency, successful leadership and resilience of frontline editors and managers,” she said. “It is crucial, especially in these adverse times with threats to journalism and vital institutions, to stand with them and their work that defends democracy.

Trainees represent a wide range of state, local, hyperlocal, community-powered and ethnic media outlets serving communities in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Their work includes covering neighborhood businesses and the arts with The Carrborean, reporting on public education through EdNC, and sharing stories from Black communities in Gary, Indiana, through Capital B, among others.

Over the two days, attendees will explore leadership development topics ranging from editorial decision-making and finding the heart of the story to managing difficult conversations, a session led by the Institute’s senior director of strategic initiatives, Felecia D. Henderson.

“We have been very intentional about the sessions we are offering in this program,” Henderson said. “As former news leaders, we know the issues emerging news leaders face, such as having difficult conversations with employees. We want to provide frontline editors and managers with the confidence needed to lead with clarity, navigate change, and make a meaningful impact on those they supervise.

Jean Marie Brown, associate professor of professional practice at Texas Christian University’s Bob Scheffer’s College of Communication, will facilitate the Leaning into your Fault Lines® – Managing News Coverage session, which centers the Institute’s signature Fault Lines framework, designed to help editors understand how biases and blindspots inform the way they guide news coverage. 

Marisa Porto, UNC’s Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability, will lead a session on Best Practices & Ethics in Artificial Intelligence, a topic that is impacting news organizations. “AI is going to continue evolving,” Porto said. “To adapt and remain successful, news organizations will need to have a strategic plan in place for how they can use AI to grow their audience, increase efficiencies, and improve their bottom line, while being prepared to adjust along the way.”

Attendees will also engage in a unique, live demonstration and interactive workshop of CISLM’S local news audience assistant – a custom GPT built to compile best practices, Q&As, tip sheets and more from journalism support organizations. The session will be led by CISLM’s Sarah Vassello and Yanan Sun. 

The two-day training will conclude with a discussion of news leaders representing organizations across North Carolina, such as the Charlotte Observer, La Noticia, Qcitymetro.com, the Asheville Citizen Times and The Assembly. CISLM interim director Jessica Mahone will moderate the discussion, which will focus on the state of media in North Carolina and the challenges of covering news in the midst of distrust of local and national media and government.

Also joining are Alli Pardue and Daneen Khan, respectively editor-in-chief and community engagement managing editor of The Daily Tar Heel, UNC’s award-winning daily student newspaper.

Meet the Maynard Regional Training Faculty & Partners – July 2025
Faculty:

Faculty:

• Diego Barahona, editor, La Noticia
• Jean Marie Brown, associate professor of professional practice, Bob Schieffer College of Communication, TCU
• Glenn H. Burkins, founder/publisher, Qcitymetro.com
• Maria Carrillo, consultant and coach, Carrillo & Associates
• Rana L. Cash, executive editor, Charlotte Observer
• Karen Chávez, executive editor, Asheville Citizen Times 
• Tom Huang, assistant managing editor, Dallas Morning News
• Kyle Villemain, founder/editor, The Assembly
• Paul Hunton, president, North Carolina Public Radio- WUNC

UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media and CISLM
Partners & Faculty:

• Raul Reis, dean, UNC Hussman School of Journalism & Media
• Jessica Mahone, interim director, CISLM
• Prof. Marisa Porto, Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability, CISLM
• Yanan Sun, local news researcher, CISLM
• Sarah Vassello, project manager, CISLM 

Maynard Institute Executive Team:

• Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, director, Maynard Regional Training Series
• Nadia Campbell-Mitchell, director of development, Maynard Institute
• Felicia D. Henderson, senior director of strategic initiatives, Maynard Institute 
• Evelyn Hsu, co-executive director, Maynard Institute 
• Martin G. Reynolds, co-executive director, Maynard Institute

“At a time when trust in institutions is under strain, our partnership with the Maynard Institute reflects our shared commitment to integrity, empathy and equity in journalism,” Mahone said. “We’re proud to support this program that gives emerging editors and managers the space, tools and community to lead with clarity and purpose and to build newsrooms where truth and a deep sense of responsibility to the public are at the center of decision-making.” 

The Maynard Regional Training Series is made possible thanks to the support of our generous funders The Ford Foundation and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and donations from individuals who support our mission of diversifying journalism.

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. 

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.”

The Maynard Institute is proud to announce the hiring of Nadia Campbell-Mitchell as our new Director of Development. As Director of Development, Nadia will be a strategic partner to Co-Executive Directors Evelyn Hsu and Martin G. Reynolds.

With a focus on expanding relationships with existing donors and identifying new philanthropic partners, her expertise in fundraising and nonprofit management is invaluable to the institute.

“This is a major milestone for the Institute,” said Reynolds. “It reflects the remarkable growth our team has achieved, especially since 2018, when we launched Maynard 200.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Nadia, who founded her own nonprofit at just 11 years old. Even then, she was focused on helping others and solving real problems. We’re lucky to have her, and we look forward to supporting her—as we work together to expand the Institute’s reach and strengthen journalism that truly reflects all of us.”

Nadia Campbell-Mitchell is a respected nonprofit leader, fundraiser, advocate, and founder whose commitment to service began at the age of eleven. Known among peers and community leaders for her integrity, leadership, and results-driven approach, she brings decades of experience building relationships, driving growth, and amplifying mission-driven work.

Inspired to action in the nonprofit sphere at a young age, Campbell-Mitchell’s strong desire to foster community, her investment in social justice, and her connection-building interpersonal interactions make her a natural fit for our organization and its many alumni and partners. She started her first nonprofit at only 11 years old, when after hearing about incidences of elder abuse and neglect in New York nursing homes, she started Victorian Hands, and connected youth volunteers to care homes and elderly patients.

With a strong foundation in both nonprofit development and sales, she combines strategic thinking with a natural ability to connect with diverse audiences.

Throughout her career, Campbell-Mitchell has led successful fundraising initiatives, supported organizational growth, and expanded access to resources for underserved communities. As a nonprofit founder, she brings a deep understanding of what it takes to build sustainable, community-centered programs from the ground up.

Her contributions have earned her numerous awards and honors, recognizing her leadership as well as her ability to inspire others to give generously and act with purpose.

An active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), she proudly served for several years on the board of AFP Long Island (AFPLI), where she mentored emerging fundraisers and contributed to strengthening standards across the field.

Whether working behind the scenes or engaging directly with donors, foundations, board members, or community partners, Nadia is known for her collaborative spirit, thoughtful communication, and unwavering dedication to creating lasting, positive changes in the communities she serves.

“I am honored to step into the inaugural role of Director of Development at the Maynard Institute,” Campbell-Mitchell said. “Being part of the legacy of Robert C. Maynard and the visionary founders who built this organization is deeply meaningful to me. The Institute has long been a trusted source of support for journalists of color and a champion for equity in media. I’m excited to help grow its impact and carry this mission forward with care, purpose, and gratitude.”

We look forward to Nadia Campbell-Mitchell’s contributions to the growth of the institute and the continued stewardship of its mission to diversify journalism and news.

Please join us in welcoming Nadia Campbell-Mitchell to the Maynard Family!

Changing Staff Roles

In addition to welcoming Nadia Campbell-Mitchell to the Maynard Family we would like to formally announce the evolution of other roles within the Maynard team.

Felecia D. Henderson, who was executive-in-residence for the Maynard 200 fellowship in 2024 and the institute’s Director of Cultural Competency, is now Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives.

Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, once the director of the Maynard 200 program, is now Director of the Maynard Communities of Practice and the Maynard Regional Training Series.

Alida Birnam is now our Operations Manager.

Amani Hamed is our Community Engagement Manager and Staff Correspondent.

The Maynard Institute would like to thank Craig Newmark Philanthropies for a generous grant of $50,000 in support of our mission to diversify news.

This grant will support our new training programs which build on the Maynard Institute’s Fault Lines® framework and the success of the Maynard 200 fellowship program.

Our new initiatives, the Maynard Communities of Practice and the Maynard Regional Training Series, will support existing alumni of Maynard legacy programs and expand our ever-growing network of journalists, media executives and entrepreneurs.

Through these community-focused programs we’re training journalists, editors, managers and media professionals in everything from authenticity in management and AI for audience to ethical editorial decisionmaking and reporting on race, gender and culture.

This generous grant from Craig Newmark Philanthropies will help underwrite convenings and strategic planning sessions with a coalition partner, support research and resource development for policy advocacy and expand our Maynard Regional Training Series to reach more journalists and further propel diversity and belonging in news.

Since 2018, Craig Newmark Philanthropies has contributed $1 million to suppprt the Maynard Institute and was among the first funders of Maynard 200.

Building community is central to the Maynard Institute’s mission. In April we launched our Maynard Communities of Practice, a tuition-free initiative for all institute alumni. This new program serves as a hub for specialized instruction, peer learning, coaching, open conversations, networking and support across various cohorts. It strengthens the network of Maynard alumni across different programs and generations.

This resilient support system helps community members navigate their pivotal roles in newsrooms and media spaces, grounded in belonging. Modeled after the Maynard 200 Fellowship curriculum tracks, the program offers customized training and open conversations led by newsroom executives and subject matter experts. Some themes for discussion include leading through change, ethical editorial decision-making, entrepreneurial journalism, audience & community engagement, innovation and media sustainability.

Each cohort engages in skills-based instruction and expert coaching led by high-caliber faculty. Participants will take part in open dialogues, sharing of best practices, collaborative projects and a supportive network designed to accelerate career growth and leadership development.

In line with one of the key frameworks of the program – peer-to-peer learning, alumni will drive discussions and also lead some sessions, to ensure the communities have relevant, solutions-focused conversations.

Guided by our Maynard legacy and recent programming alumni, our initial meetings discussed their desired topics reflecting the main challenges our alumni face as frontline editors, mid-career managers, executives, storytellers in traditional and remote newsrooms; and as freelance journalists and media entrepreneurs.

Our Maynard Communities of Practice wanted to know:

• How to adapt leadership to change
• How to utilize AI tools in storytelling and management
• How to lead difficult conversations
• How to create a path to sustainability for media entrepreneurs
• How stories can hold power to account
• How to ensure career viability and growth amid industry shifts and volatility
• How to structure teams to create multilingual content
• How to manage up, down and across generations
• How to manage time and projects effectively

Keeping up with the fast-changing world of digital journalism and the news needs of diverse communities, our Maynard alumni are incorporating new and trusted wisdom in team management, ethics & authenticity in storytelling, and audience engagement in their journalistic practices.

They’re also incorporating crisis management, newsroom and journalist safety, and community-centered story development while managing work/life balance and gender equity.

Embracing AI tools with guidance on ethics and a focus on dispelling misinformation in an increasingly social-media driven news environment, they’re examining the responsibility of media in current political climate and finding ways to rise to the occasion, cultivating media literacy while reporting the news.

Guided by our Maynard Communities of Practice Lead Advisors, those who have joined the Communities of Practice are adapting the skills they need to ensure career sustainability amid shifts in the journalism industry.

In continuing our Maynard Communities of Practice virtual gatherings, we will hold sessions in late May/early June, as well as in September and early December.

Registration for the Maynard Communities of Practice is open. 

If you are a Maynard Institute alum and have not signed up yet, please click on any of the links below. Alumni can be members of more than one community.

• Maynard Managers Community
• Maynard Frontline Editors Community
• Maynard Executive Leaders Community
• Maynard Media Entrepreneurs & Product Developers Community
• Maynard Storytellers Community

Meet the Communities of Practice Lead Advisors:

If you are a Maynard Institute alum and have not signed up yet, please click on any of the links below. Alumni can be members of more than one community.

This year’s Maynard Communities lead advisors have served as former track executives-in-residence, track deputies, keynote speakers and mentors for the Maynard 200 Fellowship Program. They are respected newsroom leaders specializing in different journalism disciplines.

Maynard Media Entrepreneurs & Product Developers Community Co-Lead Advisors:

Dickson Louie – Principal, Dickson Louie Case Writing and Consulting (Dickson Louie & Associates). Visiting Assistant Professor and Lecturer, UC Davis Graduate School of Management. Board Treasurer, Maynard Institute.

Dickson is principal of Dickson Louie Case Writing and Consulting (Dickson Louie & Associates).a Bay Area consultancy providing strategic planning, competitive analysis and executive development services to startups, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies.

He was a research associate at Harvard Business School, where he authored over 20 management case studies for the second-year MBA course.

He is an adjunct at UC Davis Graduate School of Management and the Executive MBA Program at San Francisco State. He has a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, East Bay, and an MBA in finance, marketing and statistics from the University of Chicago. He also serves on the board of the Maynard Institute.

Linda Lloyd da Silva – Brand, Marketing & Communications Strategist. Former Maynard 200 Track Deputy, Media Entrepreneurs & Product Developers Track.

Linda is a marketing and communications strategist whose career spans private and public sectors across diverse areas including media, consumer technology, and international development.

She began her career at the Los Angeles Times as a financial planning department analyst helping the times wrestle with major strategic decisions such as market expansion and new product development.

Linda previously worked for Gemstar TV Guide, marketing products that helped shape the way consumers interact with screen-based content. Later, she directed her interests back to global development and joined World Vision, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations.

She currently works as a Senior Consultant for Greater Life Communications, a communications firm serving nonprofit and humanitarian organizations.

Maynard Managers Community Lead Advisor:

Maria Carrillo – Consultant and Coach

Maria is a former enterprise editor at the Tampa Bay Times and The Houston Chronicle and, before that, managing editor at The Virginian-Pilot. She has edited dozens of award-winning projects, frequently lectures on narrative journalism, co-hosts a podcast (WriteLane) about craft and has been a Pulitzer Prize juror six times.

She is a board member of the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism. Carrillo was born in Washington, D.C., two years after her parents left Cuba in exile. She now lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., with her husband, and they have two grown children.

Maynard Executive Leaders Community Lead Advisor:

Virgil Smith – Principal, Smith Edwards Group, LLC. Author, The Keys to Effective Leadership. Board Member, Maynard Institute.

Virgil, principal of the Smith Edwards Group, LLC, started the consulting firm in October 2015 after retiring from the Gannett company, where he worked for 24 years as a president and publisher at The Record in Stockton, California, and the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Before joining Gannett, Smith spent 20 years with the McClatchy company, where he held several executive positions, including director of consumer marketing and chief labor negotiator.

He continues involvement with diversity and leadership issues, serving on the Fox News Workplace Professionalism and Inclusion Council, as a consultant and career coach for the Asian American Journalists Association Executive Leadership Program, the WAN-IFRA World Newspaper Congress and as executive-in-residence for the Maynard 200 Advanced Leadership Program.

Maynard Storytellers Community Co-Lead Advisors:

Tom Huang – Asst. Managing Editor, The Dallas Morning News. Adjunct Faculty, The Poynter Institute.

Tom Huang is the Assistant Managing Editor for the The Dallas Morning News and Adjunct Faculty at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Tom is Assistant Managing Editor for Journalism Initiatives atThe Dallas Morning News, where he edits enterprise stories,oversees the newsroom’s internship program and leads the newsroom’s community-funded journalism initiative, which seeks philanthropic support of public service journalism.

Since 2020, he has helped launch The News’ Education Lab, which has expanded education reporting with the support of local foundations; Arts Access, a partnership with KERA that covers arts and culture through an equity lens; and the Dallas Media Collaborative, an alliance of news outlets and universities focused on solutions-based reporting on affordable housing.

As an adjunct faculty member of The Poynter Institute, he organizes seminars for professional journalists on writing, reporting and editing. For the past six years, he has served as a coach in the Poynter Table Stakes program, which helps newsrooms make the transition to sustainable digital publishing.

Monique O. Madan – Award-Winning Investigative Journalist

Monique O. Madan is an award-winning investigative journalist with over 17 years of experience at legacy publications across the country. Throughout her career, Madan has tackled complex issues at the intersection of social justice, criminal justice, government accountability, immigration and technology. As an investigative reporter for CalMatters and The Markup, she uncovered pivotal stories on these topics. While at USA TODAY, she led a groundbreaking investigation, “Left to Rot,” revealing botched construction and evidence of money laundering in the tragic collapse of the Surfside condominium in South Florida.

Earlier in her career, Madan covered immigration for the Miami Herald, earning accolades for her in-depth series, “Immigration Pandemic.” Her investigative work has been published in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, and El Nuevo Herald and The Dallas Morning News. Her reporting was instrumental in the release of a man who had been held in solitary confinement in ICE detention for an astounding 11 years, and she also exposed coercive self-deportation tactics and significant flaws in immigration policies.

In 2019, she was selected as a fellow at Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting. Madan is a graduate of both Harvard University and Emerson College.

Aaron Glantz – Annenberg Fellow at Stanford University, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences

Aaron Glantz served as Executive-in-Residence for the Maynard 200 Fellowship’s Investigative Storytelling Track in 2023.

He served as California bureau chief and a senior editor at The Fuller Project, the global newsroom dedicated to groundbreaking reporting that catalyzes positive change for women.

Aaron is a two-time Peabody Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist, who produces journalism with impact. His work has sparked dozens of Congressional hearings and investigations by the FBI, DEA, Pentagon inspector general, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur for extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary execution. One project prompted the second largest redlining settlement in Justice Department history, against Warren Buffett’s mortgage companies.

In 2024 Aaron joined Stanford Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, an interdisciplinary research lab at Stanford University, as a fellow.

Maynard Frontline Editors Community Lead Advisor:

P. Kim Bui – Media Consultant. Founder, Quen Media.

P. Kim Bui is a digital journalist and consultant who’s spent her career exploring new ways to tell stories and helping newsrooms become more inclusive and supportive. She runs Quen Media, where she works with news organizations on audience strategy, editorial workflows, and leadership development. She was most recently a 2023–24 John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford. In past roles, she led product and audience innovation at the Arizona Republic, was editor-at-large at NowThis News, and helped shape social reporting at reported.ly (http://reported.ly/).

Originally from Iowa, she was part of the first cohort of CUNY’s Executive Program in News Innovation and Leadership. She’s spoken around the world on journalism, equity, and newsroom culture, and her writing on empathy and power in journalism has been published in a range of research outlets.

Questions?

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

The Maynard Regional Training Series kicked off April 5 and 6 in Detroit in partnership with the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity on the campus of Wayne State University.

The inaugural weekend-long training, led by 21 veteran journalists and educators, brought together an impressive cohort of nearly 20 emerging news leaders representing varied backgrounds from across the United States.

They represented a wide spectrum of media affiliations, including the Kansas City Defender, EducationNC, The Detroit News, The Associated Press, Detroit Free Press, The Conversation US, Telegram Newspaper, PBS News Hour, independent journalists, media consultants and students from WSU’s Journalism Institute for Media Diversity.

“The training sessions, helmed by executive-level faculty, aimed to advance their proficiency, confidence and resilience as frontline editors and mid-level managers in U.S. newsrooms,” said Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, director of two Maynard Institute programs – Regional Training and Communities of Practice.

“Their diverse perspectives are driving courageous news coverage and discourse, informing and emboldening audiences. Their work is vital especially in this volatile time, with relentless assaults on our industry, First Amendment rights, and truth.”

Trainees engaged in customized workshops, panels and group office hours led by faculty with extensive newsroom experience.

The Manager’s Mindset

Maynard Co-Executive Director Martin G. Reynolds set the tone for the weekend with a session on “The Manager’s Mindset” and what editors need to consider when stepping into leadership roles.

“I especially appreciated that Martin Reynolds emphasized the interpersonal aspects of management — that leadership is not just a title or a set of responsibilities, but a mindset you embody and uphold,” one participant wrote in a post-training survey. “His slideshow also offered thoughtful guidance on fostering belonging within a team, which really resonated with me.”

Leaning into your Fault Lines®

Maynard Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Felecia D. Henderson facilitated a problem-solving discussion on management issues with Jean Marie Brown, associate professor of professional practice at TCU Bob Schieffer College of Communications.

Professor Brown led a session on “Leaning Into Your Fault Lines®,” built around the Maynard Institute’s signature Fault Lines® framework, which helps editors understand how their biases – unconscious and conscious – inform the ways they manage news coverage.

“This was my favorite presentation,” a participant wrote of the session. “I really appreciated that the approach to this topic wasn’t to villainize fault lines or personal identity in journalism, but rather to recognize that we all have them, and that they can be an asset in our coverage.”

Reporting on Race, Gender, and Culture

Alicia Nails, director of Wayne State’s Journalism Institute for Media Diversity, moderated a discussion on race, gender and culture reporting with panelists Laurén Abdel Razzaq of Bridge Detroit, Kat Stafford, global race and justice editor at Reuters, and anchor/reporter Demond Fernandez of WDIV-TV in Detroit.

“I thought this session was great,” an attendee wrote in the survey comments. “The panelists reinforced the aspect of belonging, which Martin had introduced the day before. I have tried to be intentional about looking out for and checking in with new people in the newsroom, particularly those who may be the only ones they see who look like themselves. I realize I need to do that more frequently and in a more sustained manner.”

Ethical Editorial Decision Making

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

“I hope to be as thoughtful to the people I mentor/supervise,” an attendee wrote of Carrillo. “She really drove home that managers are there to serve their people.”

Strategizing Innovation, Engagement and Sustainability for Teams and News Organizations

During the panel discussion “Strategizing Innovation, Engagement and Sustainability for Teams and News Organizations,” Erin Perry, editor of Outlier Media, Ruby Bailey, editor-in-chief of the Illinois Answers Project, and Martina Guzman, director of the Race and Justice Reporting Initiative at the Damon J. Keith Law Center, discussed the changing face of journalism and local news audiences with moderator Hayg Oshagan, associate professor of communication at Wayne State University and founder of New Michigan Media.

“I was blown away by some of the examples of engagement that were given and the lengths that some of the newsrooms are going to support their communities,” a survey respondent wrote. “It opened my mind to how innovative a news organization must be to truly serve and inform its audience.”

Closing Roundtable Discussion

In the closing roundtable discussion moderated by Vincent McCraw, regional manager of Report for America and president of Detroit NABJ, local and statewide leaders of legacy print and broadcast, nonprofit, and ethnic media discussed the challenges of covering news in the midst of distrust of local and national media and government.

“This was amazing!” one participant responded. “It was just really great to see some of the regional news leaders in Detroit all in one place and they had very insightful comments to share about the future of news, especially for reporters of color.”

Panelists included Laurén Abdel Razzaq, executive director of Bridge Detroit, Jeremy Allen, executive editor of the Michigan Chronicle, Nicole Avery Nichols, vice president and editor of the Detroit Free Press, Martina Guzman of the Damon J. Keith Law Center and creator of Spanish-language app VERDAD, Gary Miles, editor and publisher of The Detroit News, Kennan Oliphant, VP news and station manager for CBS Detroit, Levi Rickert, editor, publisher, and founder of Tribal Business News ad Native News Online, and Osama Siblani, publisher of Arab American News.

“The training concluded with a stirring roundtable of leaders from local, state, mainstream, nonprofit, and ethnic media—each offering a unique lens shaped by their communities and coverage. Together, they explored the evolving landscape of news coverage, showcasing the vibrancy of the region’s media ecosystem,” Alcazaren-Keeley said.

Participants enthusiastically told organizers they enjoyed learning from veteran journalists and connecting with fellow editors.

“This training was overall an amazing experience!” one participant wrote in the post-training survey. “I enjoyed connecting with the Maynard team as well as the other journalists in attendance. As a first-time editor and news leader, this was just what I needed to move forward confidently in my new position!”

The Maynard Institute will provide more training for entry-level and mid-career editors and managers this year. The next Regional Training weekend will be hosted July 17-18 by the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media at Chapel Hill.

The Maynard Regional Training Series is made possible thanks to the support of our generous funders The Ford Foundation and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and donations from individuals who support our mission of diversifying journalism.

Questions?

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

The inaugural Maynard Regional Training Series launches on April 5-6, 2025 with the program’s university partner, the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity at Wayne State University’s campus in Detroit, Michigan. The Maynard Regional Training Series is an ongoing in-person, weekendlong leadership and management training program for early- and mid-career journalists across the United States.

Faculty members will lead training sessions on ethical editorial decision making, reporting on race, gender and culture and strategizing innovation, engagement and sustainability for news organizations.

Guided by core Maynard training principles, these professionals lead the charge in building more inclusive, dynamic media spaces.

In partnership with universities, these sessions give entry- and mid-level editors and managers the tools and confidence they need to traverse the complexities of newsroom leadership.

Maynard Institute staff, journalism professors, award-winning journalists and subject-matter experts lead all trainings, which are focused on essential areas for news leaders.

Through this dynamic training series, the Maynard Institute continues to live out its mission to equip journalists with the skills, strategies and leadership mindset they need to thrive in an evolving media landscape.

Partners in the historic city of Detroit

This year’s program is made possible thanks to the generous partnership of Wayne State University and the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity.

The first full day of programming, April 5, will kick off with an assembly and breakfast followed by opening remarks by Professor Alicia Nails, Director of the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity as well as welcoming remarks from Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, Director of Maynard Regional Training and Communities of Practice programs, and Felecia D. Henderson, Maynard Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives.

Professor Alicia Nails, Director of the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity at Wayne State, is an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist with 40 years of experience in television, radio and print. She was named Journalism Educator of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists at the 2018 national NABJ convention in Detroit. During her several decades of experience,

Nails has reported breaking news and features, and worked as a writer and producer for broadcast news in Detroit, Atlanta, and New York City.

As a freelance journalist, her writing has also appeared in the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, the Michigan Chronicle, and BLAC magazine, where she also served on the advisory board. She also continues to freelance through her company, SaidWrite.

Nails also serves on the board of the Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation.

The first training round is in partnership with Wayne State University’s Journalism Institute for Media Diversity. Director and Professor Alicia Nails will moderate a panel on: “Reporting on Race, Gender & Culture.”

“The proactive training of media professionals has never been more vitally important than it is at this moment. Bombarded by messages that all seem urgent, important and true, today’s journalists will have to use discernment to decipher – separating valuable content from the distractions that masquerade as news,” Professor Nails said. “Our role in society demands that we pay close attention as we distinguish ourselves from other content creators and relay accurate information with the sensitivity and context that the public deserves.”

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.