Blog
Minority Leadership Institute continues to cultivate leaders in its third year
- By: ASNE staff
- On: 09/16/2014 23:58:44
- In: Convention
By Cariema Wood
Ball State University ASNE-APME Convention Coverage Team
ASNE partnered with Northwestern University, The Scripps Howard Foundation and the Poynter Institute for Media Studies to effectively execute one of its core pillars - leadership development by way of the Minority Leadership Institute.
ASNE partnered with Northwestern University, The Scripps Howard Foundation and the Poynter Institute for Media Studies to effectively execute one of its core pillars - leadership development by way of the Minority Leadership Institute.
The first conference started in 2012 and since then it has provided about 70
mid-level editors with tactical training on skills like coaching, effective
communication, goal-setting and financial literacy.
Over the past three years the American Association of News Editors has presented professional-grade training to up-and-coming leaders.
“The goal of the AMLI is to help prepare minority journalists to acquire the
skill set and be ready to assume leadership roles in our newsrooms,” said Alfredo Carbajal co-chair of ASNE's Leadership Committee.
Editors around the country were asked to nominate journalists who have potential to become leaders. Program executives found that when companies nominate participants. It's an investment in their development.
Carbajal, managing editor at Al Día and the Dallas Morning News Co., also
wants to make sure that mid-level managers are trained for an immediate and
positive impact on their careers.
ASNE conducts a census that shows minorities and women remain under
represented in America's newsrooms at all levels and positions, according to
Poynter.org. The society now has a goal to match the percentage of minorities in the
newsroom to that of the nation's population by 2025. When newsrooms are able to
mirror their diverse community the stories can be accurately told.
“It's a constant effort as a news executive to enhance the value of news
coverage and the opportunities that minorities present change culture in the
newsroom,” said Mizell Stewart, the vice president of content and the newspaper
division for the E.W. Scripps Co.
Stewart believes race and gender were integral to recent coverage of Ferguson and Baltimore Ravens' player Ray Rice.
“The conversation becomes broader and happens more naturally,” Stewart said.
The two-day institute included workshops about news literacy and budgeting finances. The focus will be on enhancing and molding the skills of participants but speakers hope more informal bonds will be created. “The need to innovate and adapt to new societal paradigms, to increasing fragmentation, to evolving economy models for all media, and improvements in technology will always be present,” Carbajal said.
This year the Institute was a part of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists conferences and Carbajal said hey plan to partner with any group who would like to expand the mission of leadership development.