Professional Development

Maynard 200 is the cornerstone program advancing the Maynard Institute’s efforts to expand the diversity pipeline in news media and dismantle structural racism in its newsrooms. Since 2018, the Maynard Institute has trained media leaders, storytellers, editors, managers and entrepreneurs through the fellowship program. Maynard 200 is designed to sharpen skills, provide hands-on training as well as a one-to-one year-long mentorship, and build a community of peer support for diverse journalists. In 2024, the program returns with two weeks of in-person training rounds — specifically designed to support the success of newsroom editors and managers. Hosted by the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, the program will convene in March and July of 2024.

Program Overview

About Maynard 200

In 2024, the Maynard 200 Fellowship will focus on the professional development training and year-long mentorship for frontline editors and managers. Our customized curriculum addresses many of the critical issues, challenges and tensions that we know editors and managers struggle with daily in the newsroom, especially those who have recently transitioned to higher leadership roles. We have learned from news executives that there is an acute need for fundamental editing and management proficiency in their teams, and our tactical course work builds these skills.

Led by stellar faculty of journalism executives and relevant experts, our graduates are emboldened to lead newsrooms grounded in equity, resilience and belonging, especially while navigating the industry’s ongoing upheavals and technological shifts. This high-impact fellowship experience includes two weeks of in-person training rounds as well as supplementary sessions, office hours and program support throughout the year.

Maynard 200 remains a tuition-free fellowship program thanks to the ongoing support by our funders including Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Hearthland Foundation and McClatchy.

For the first training week in March, the Maynard Institute will cover the hotel lodging expenses for fellows. However, fellows and/or their employers are asked to directly pay the cost of their airfare and/or ground transportation to Fort Worth, Texas. If requested, airfare booking assistance is available through the Maynard Institute contracted travel agent for March travel.

For the second training week in July, both the airfare and hotel accommodations for fellows will be covered by the Maynard Institute, through the generous funding from The Hearthland Foundation. Fellows are required to book their July airfare through the Maynard Institute contracted travel agent.

In 2024, the Maynard 200 Fellowship will select a cohort of 15 participants and curriculum highlights include:

Training Week 1: Editing Leadership

March 11- 15, 2024

• Building trust and effective editing relationships
• Coaching for story & Editing triage
• Finding the heart of the story through 5 focusing questions
• Hands-on Editing & Hands-on Writing workshops
• Evaluating and coaching successful story pitches
• Mounting and managing major coverage projects
• Developing and managing breaking news coverage
• The Fault Lines® Methodology/ Focus: Fault Lines® in News Coverage
• Gallup Strengths Assessment & 1:1 Coaching

Training Week 2: Management Leadership

July 15 - 19, 2024

• Coaching Workshops: Success in Management & Effective Leadership
• Leading Difficult Conversations and Managing Conflict
• Managing through Authenticity
• Managing Up, Down and Across Generations
• Building Resilience & Mental Well-Being in Teams
• Negotiation Strategies
• Fault Lines® in Management

The program will also provide nuanced frameworks and cultural competency for fellows seeking guidance in covering the ongoing war and humanitarian crises in the Middle East; as well as political coverage for the consequential 2024 U.S. presidential elections.

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.

Mentorship that makes a difference

We often refer to the extended network of our program alumni as the Maynard Family. One of the main benefits of the Maynard 200 Fellowship program is access to Maynard Family mentors in the industry. The Maynard 200 Fellowship program’s unique one-on-one mentorship component continues well into 2025.

After the in-person training curriculum concludes in July 2024, Maynard 200 fellows are paired with a veteran media professional or issue expert who has committed to mentoring the fellow for a full year. Successful fellows meet with their assigned mentors for conversational consultations based on schedules agreed upon by mentor and mentee pairs.

Maynard 200 mentors include veteran media executives, award-winning journalists, academics, communications professionals, and experts from other relevant fields. We are proud to have a diverse and distinguished roster that have included several Maynard Institute alumni, including graduates from its legacy programs and past Maynard 200 Fellowship programs, who serve as mentors.

The community building that occurs with Maynard 200 Fellowship peers and mentors is key to pushing the industry forward. This phase has been transformative to our graduates’ career ascendancy and is aligned with the program’s mission to reinvigorate the diversity pipeline in American media.

Watch this 3 minute video to understand why the Maynard 200 program is so meaningful to both fellows and faculty. The video kicks off with scenes from the 2022 welcome reception, where guests were asked to describe how they felt about the program in one word. From “Inspired” and “honored” to “supported” and “connected,” fellows shared how they felt. The one word spoken into the microphone by Denise Watson, features editor at The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press in Virginia, was “empower…that’s what Maynard has always done and that’s what I hope to do.“

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Application Requirements

Start your application today!

Maynard 200 applications were due on Monday, February 12, 2024 by 11:59 pm PST.

Applicants living outside the United States must be affiliated with or contributing content to a U.S.- based media outlet or organization.

Note: A Google account is required to apply. This allows applicants to autosave draft applications, upload files and automatically receive an emailed copy of their final submission.

Applicants are asked to provide an updated resume, work samples, one reference letter, and a short essay. The essay question prompts explore an applicant’s professional background, desired takeaways from the program, unique life experience and perspectives.

Key requirements of the online application include:

• Current Resume
• 750-1,000 word essay response to question prompt
• 500-word narrative Bio
• Work samples and/or relevant materials (optional)
• 1 reference letter with contact information

The application form allows applicants to upload a reference letter. The recommendation letter should be 500 words or less and include the reference’s name, role, and their preferred method of contact information (email and office/cell phone). The reference provided should be a current or previous supervisor, or someone familiar with the applicant’s work.

When submitting applications, candidates are required to acknowledge that Maynard 200 fellows must attend both weeks of training sessions, as well as fulfill all program components, in order to graduate from the program.

To assist you in the application process, this editable document is provided as a time-saving tool for drafting your application answers. You will need to make a copy of this Google Doc for drafting answers, then copy and paste those answers into the online Google Form application. IMPORTANT: all applicants must submit their application using the online Google Form application by Monday, February 12, 2024 by 11:59 pm PST. Other document formats will not be considered.

Eligible applicants will be contacted during the interview selection process with more details by the week of February 20, 2024.

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Dates and Location

Convening in person in March 2024!

The 2024 program will kick-off on March 11 in person at Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Note: The training dates and meeting location are subject to change due to potential COVID-19 variant surges. The Maynard Institute will adapt to pandemic developments to protect the health of all participants. If necessary, the program sessions may pivot from in-person to virtual sessions. Whether in-person or virtual, Maynard 200 fellows are required to attend both weeks of training sessions, as well as fulfill all program components, in order to graduate from the program.

Training Dates

• Week 1: March 11-15, 2024
• Week 2: July 15-19, 2024

Travel Subsidy

For the first training week in March, the Maynard Institute will cover the hotel lodging expenses for fellows. However, fellows and/or their employers are asked to directly pay the cost of their airfare and/or ground transportation to Fort Worth, Texas. If requested, airfare booking assistance is available through the Maynard Institute contracted travel agent for March travel.

For the second training week in July, both the airfare and hotel accommodations for fellows will be covered by the Maynard Institute, through the generous funding from The Hearthland Foundation. Fellows are required to book their July airfare through the Maynard Institute contracted travel agent.

For fellows based outside of the United States, travel allocations will also be capped. However, we will make every effort to minimize costs for international fellows.

Applicants who have a financial hardship that would prevent them from participating in this program may cite their reasons for seeking additional financial aid as part of their application essay. For more information, reach out to: Maynard 200 Director, Odette Alcazaren-Keeley at okeeley@mije.org.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply?

We are inviting newsroom editors and managers interested in advancing their careers who seek hands-on editing and effective management skills.

Applicants living outside the United States must be affiliated with or contributing content to a U.S.- based media outlet or organization.

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.

Do I need prior experience in the track to apply?

Yes, applicants are required to have 1-5 years of experience in a manager and/or editor role. This program welcomes new editors, including assigning editors both print and online; as well as assignment editors and executive producers in broadcast who supervise either in-house reporters, writers, and producers or freelancers or both. It is also geared for mid-level managers who may or may not have direct reports, but hold strategic leadership or communications roles in their newsrooms or media organizations.

Can media professionals based outside the United States apply?

Yes, however, applicants living outside the United States need to be affiliated with or contributing content to a U.S.- based media outlet or organization.

For fellows based outside of the United States, travel allocations will also be capped. However, we will make every effort to minimize costs for international fellows.

How does one apply?

Note: A Google account is required to apply. This allows applicants to autosave draft applications, upload files and automatically receive an emailed copy of their final submission.

Candidates must submit their application by 11:59 PM PDT on Monday, February 12, 2024. A completed online application includes:

• Current Resume
• 750-1,000 word essay response to question prompt
• 500 word narrative bio
• Work samples and/or relevant materials (optional)
• 1 reference letter with contact information

The application form allows applicants to upload a reference letter. The recommendation letter should be 500 words or less and include the references name, role, and their preferred method of contact information (email and/or phone). At least one of the references provided should be a current or previous supervisor, or someone familiar with the applicant’s work.

To assist you in the application process, this editable document is provided as a time-saving tool for drafting your application answers. You will need to make a copy of this Google Doc for drafting answers, then copy and paste those answers into the online Google Form application. IMPORTANT: all applicants must submit their application using the online Google Form application. Other document formats will not be considered.

What is the time commitment for and required program components to graduate from the program?

Fellows are required to attend two training weeks (approximately 4 days each) in-person at the TCU campus in March and July.

There are also webinars that provide additional curriculum enrichment, alongside specific follow-up readings and/or assignments. Fellows may also benefit from one-on-one “office hours” and coaching sessions via Zoom with faculty members.

Then, fellows also commit to participate fully in the one-to-one mentorship that kicks off after the July session and continues for a full year. Successful fellows meet with their assigned mentors at least once per month for conversational consultations as scheduled by mentor and mentee.

Do fellows need to pay for tuition? What are the travel costs for fellows?

No, Maynard 200 continues to be tuition-free thanks to the ongoing support of our generous funders including Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Hearthland Foundation and McClatchy.

For the first training week in March, the Maynard Institute will cover the hotel lodging expenses for fellows. However, fellows and/or their employers are asked to directly pay the cost of their airfare and/or ground transportation to Fort Worth, Texas. If requested, airfare booking assistance is available through the Maynard Institute contracted travel agent for March travel.

For the second training week in July, both the airfare and hotel accommodations for fellows will be covered by the Maynard Institute, through funding support from The Hearthland Foundation. Fellows are required to book their July airfare through the Maynard Institute contracted travel agent.

For fellows based outside of the United States, travel allocations will also be capped. However, we will make every effort to minimize costs for international fellows.

Applicants who have a financial hardship that would prevent them from participating in this program may cite their reasons for seeking additional financial aid as part of their application essay. For more information, reach out to: Maynard 200 Director, Odette Alcazaren-Keeley at okeeley@mije.org.

Where will the in-person training be held?

For the 2023 program we are excited to continue our partnership with Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Note: the format of the training weeks may shift to a virtual program due to COVID-19 developments and public health protocols, specifically if a pandemic variant surge occurs.

What are the COVID-19 safety protocols for the in-person training sessions?

The Maynard 200 Fellowship will follow all pandemic protocols required by our host venue, and adhere to local and federal public health guidelines.

If there are any participants who cannot meet pandemic public health requirements due to medical or religious reasons, participating virtually for in-person training rounds may be an option.

Does the program offer an all-virtual option?

No. Maynard 200 shifted back to in-person convenings in 2022. If a training week is held in person, a full online program will not be offered. However, the Maynard Institute will follow all COVID-19 safety protocols of the host venue as well as federal and local public health guidelines. A training round may shift to a virtual format if required.

In the rare case for selected fellows who have a medical or religious exemption, or may have a sudden extenuating emergency situation that prevents them from attending in person, a limited virtual offering of key parts of the program will be available, but the experience would not be ideal.

What is the mentorship process?

The year-long 1:1 mentorship phase of the fellowship will match fellows with a relevant industry expert, many of whom are Maynard Institute alumni. Fellows are matched with mentors on the last day of the second training round in July. Successful fellows meet with their assigned mentors at least once per month for conversational consultations as scheduled by mentor and mentee. Mentors will provide valuable guidance, coaching and expertise throughout the 12-month period.

Through the years, the mentorship phase has proven to be a key contributor to the advancement of fellows in their positions or entrepreneurial ventures. Many Maynard 200 graduates have either been promoted to C-suite positions, hired in new roles or secured grants/funds for their media start-ups, through the expertise and connections provided by their mentors, aside from the overall Maynard 200 curriculum and allyship of their fellow cohort members and the Maynard Family.

When will I hear back about my submitted application?

Screening begins after the application deadline and selected candidates will be contacted about next steps by the week of February 20, 2024.

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Questions?