Media leaders can apply up until June 2 to participate in this year-long, global certificate program, think MBA-meets-leadership training for news!
The Executive Program in News Innovation and Leadership, a year-long certificate training program offered by the Craig Newmark School of Journalism at CUNY, is accepting applications from media leaders around the world to join the upcoming fourth cohort. The program runs from September 2023 to June 2024.
As part of the program’s commitment to diversity, candidates from local, national and international news organizations with backgrounds in editorial, product, business, and technology are encouraged to apply.
Want to know more? Join Program Director Niketa Patel and Exec alumni for a virtual open house Wednesday, April 12 at 11 a.m. ET to learn more about the program and ask questions about the application process.
Following a hybrid model, participants will join virtual sessions from anywhere in the world and gather three times a year for in-person residencies hosted in New York City. The program provides an MBA-like, holistic leadership, business and management training for senior level journalists and media managers, led by expert instructors and coaches.
“We strive to empower news leaders to manage the business and product side of journalism, design strategies for sustainability and innovation, and lead their teams more effectively and equitably,” said Niketa Patel, Senior Director of Leadership Programs at the Newmark J-School. “The program has had a tremendous impact on the participants’ own careers as well. Half of them have gotten a promotion during or immediately after the program.”
Past participants have come from international newsrooms such as Estadao and Der Spiegel, national organizations like The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, and local outlets like the Texas Tribune and New York Focus. They started with titles such as Editor-in-Chief, VP of Product, SVP of Content & Audience, Director of Innovation or Managing Editor.
“I’ve been a manager for about ten years, but management and leadership are very different things. And I knew that I wanted a chance to lead,” said Sewell Chan, Exec ‘22, who started the program as editorial page editor at the Los Angeles Times and finished as Editor-in-Chief at the Texas Tribune. “I could not imagine having done this leadership transition successfully in my own career if I hadn’t had this cohort and this program of fellow leaders, you know, kind of at my side, you know, supporting me on my journey.”
The program’s curriculum incorporates topics related to the business of journalism, product, technology, audience, data and metrics, and culture change. Participants will engage in rigorous classes and workshops and complete a capstone project, under the guidance of an executive coach. Participants have reported that the program was immediately impactful to their work and careers.
“About two months after I started the program, I was given a rather large project to launch across several of our markets. I felt like every unit we covered allowed me to go back into my business and confidently use what I was learning to push that project forward. As a result of the program, I actually was able to show the company that I was ready for more responsibility and not just in editorial,” said Cynthia DuBose, Exec ‘22, and the vice president of audience growth & content monetization at McClatchy.
To apply, candidates must submit a resume, two letters of recommendation from people who can speak to their leadership skills and potential, and a 1000-word letter of intent explaining what makes them a good candidate for this program. Acceptances will be sent out on a rolling basis and participants who make it through the first round will be invited for an interview with the admissions committee. Instruction will be in English; fluency is required. Tuition is $27,000 and scholarships are available.
The program is now accepting applications through June 2, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For updates about our training programs, please register for our mailing list.