The Propel Regional Training Series
What my
Fault Lines taught me
A story from Propel Initiative participant Jeremy Garza, Managing Editor, Mustang Media Group, California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
The Propel Regional Training Series
The Propel Regional Training Series is the Maynard Institute’s professional development training program, and is part of the greater Propel Initiative, a strategic intervention to strengthen California local news.
Starting in Spring 2026, the Propel Regional Training Series will fulfill the training goal of the Propel Initiative by offering statewide skills advancement and leadership training to support the media professionals who power California’s local newsrooms. Two training sessions are planned for 2026: one in April in San Luis Obispo, and another in Northridge in October.
Propel Regional Trainings are completely free of cost to participants. Two meals are provided per day during training sessions, and limited travel assistance is available.
Each weekend-long in-person training offers specialized workshops, discussions and coaching led by award-winning journalists and news leadership experts. The Propel Regional Training Series helps California-based storytellers, editors and managers become more proficient and confident journalists and news leaders.
Propel Regional Training participants receive specialized coaching and one-on-one mentorship from our esteemed faculty of investigative journalists, documentary filmmakers, editors and media entrepreneurs.
Propelled into Spring in San Luis Obispo:
The first Propel Regional Training was held in partnership with the Journalism Department of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, and focused on Storytelling in journalism. Open to students, freelancers and independent as well as staff journalists working in any capacity and across all platforms, this training drew nearly 50 participants from California newsrooms.
Focus on Storytelling
Our inaugural Propel Regional Training focused on Storytelling, providing sessions on the craft of storytelling, feature writing, narrative documentary reporting and deeper interview techniques. Read more below.
Propel Regional Trainings:
San Luis Obispo, April 24-25
Our inaugural Propel Regional Training focused on Storytelling in Journalism in partnership with California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
Northridge, October 22-24
Our upcoming Propel Regional Training focused on skills growth and career development for entry- and mid-level managers and editors. In partnership with the journalism department at California State University Northridge in Northridge, California. Registration open soon!
FAQs:
Frequently asked questions about our Propel Regional Training Series.
Two Propel Regional Trainings will take place in 2026. The first took place April 24-25, 2026. The next will take place October 22-23, 2026.
Our inaugural Propel Regional Training took place in San Luis Obispo in partnership with California Polytechnic State University.
Our second Propel Regional Training will take place in Northridge, California in partnership with the Journalism Department at California State University Northridge.
The Propel Regional Trainings are completely free of cost to all participants. Two meals will be provided per day, and limited financial travel assistance will be offered to participants.
Our second Propel Regional Training for early- and mid-career editors and managers will feature sessions including:
- The Manager’s Mindset: Stepping into Your Leadership Role
- Identifying Personal Values: A Listening Exercise
- Fault Lines® in Motion
- AI with Integrity: Shaping Values-Driven Practices
- Tension to Trust: Navigating Difficult Conversation
This training will also feature a regional roundtable of news leaders discussing the state of journalism and media in the Chicago area.
The first Propel Regional Training, focused on Storytelling, included sessions such as:
- Writing Techniques You Need Everyday
- The Art of the Story
- Environmental Reporting
- Radio Storytelling / Production and Podcasting
- Digital & Social Media Video / Broadcast Production
- TV / Digital Storytelling / Investigative Coverage & Production
- Advanced Interview Techniques
- Fault Lines® in News Coverage
- Immigration Enforcement & ICE Coverage / Journalism & Imperiled Civil Rights
- Harnessing AI Ethically in Sourcing, Reporting & Writing
- The Investigative Mindset
- Data Journalism
This session also featured a regional roundtable of news leaders discussing “Building a Culture of Courage & Integrity in Newsrooms in Defense of Democracy.”
Trainings are led by award-winning journalists, storytellers, documentarians, editors and newsroom managers and are facilitated by Maynard Institute staff.
Past faculty have included:
- Ernesto Aguilar – Executive Director of Radio Programming and Content Innovation Initiatives, KQED Public Media
- Andrés Cediel – Visiting Professor of Visual Journalism,
Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication/ Former Professor, UC Berkeley Graduate
School of Journalism - Patrick Howe – Professor, Journalism Department, Cal Poly
- Ian James – Reporter, The Los Angeles Times
- Joe Lambert – Chief Listener, Storyhost /Founder, StoryCenter
- Julie Nicole Lynem – Assistant Professor, Journalism Department, Cal Poly
- Steve Padilla – Editor of Column One and Foreign Affairs, The Los Angeles Times
- Patti Piburn – Associate Professor, Journalism Dept., Cal Poly & Adviser, KCPR 91.3 FM Cal Poly Radio
- Martin G. Reynolds – Co-Executive Director, Maynard Institute
- A.C. Thompson – Senior Staff Reporter, ProPublica / Correspondent & Producer, FRONTLINE [PBS]
- Neeti Sansare Upadhye – Video Consultant / Former Senior Video Manager, The Washington Post
Regional Roundtable participants have included:
- Joe Tarica – Editor, The San Luis Obispo Tribune, part of McClatchy Media
- Vandana Kumar – Publisher and CEO, India Currents
- Dave Lesher – Co-Founder & Director of Digital Democracy, CalMatters
- Esperanza Guevara – Managing Director, Latino Media Collaborative
- Brandon Brooks – Project Manager, California Black Media (CBM) / Founder/CEO, Rose Mary Communications, LLC
- Julian Do – Co-Director, American Community Media
- Moderator: Brady Teufel – Professor & Chair, Journalism Department, Cal Poly
Registration for our Propel Regional Training in Northridge, California will open soon! Check back and subscribe to our newsletter to stay in touch.
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