The first cohort of our new Emerging Leadership Program for journalists has been selected and will kick off on April 2, 2024.
The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY is pleased to announce 21 participants of the inaugural cohort of the Emerging News Leadership Program, a training program in partnership with the Google News Initiative.
The six-month, tuition-free program prepares a diverse group of rural and local media leaders to run sustainable news organizations by focusing on advanced digital skills, the business of journalism, management and leadership.
“We are thrilled to welcome such a diverse group of local and rural journalism professionals. Each participant brings their unique experiences; all with the common goal of developing or growing their leadership skills in their newsroom. We can’t wait to see their growth throughout the program,” said Niketa Patel, Senior Director of Leadership Programs at Newmark J-School.
These journalists come from five countries including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and Zimbabwe. Many of them work in small newsrooms for magazines, newspapers, radio stations and online startups with fewer than 25 employees.
This training program offers online classes led by industry experts from newsrooms and organizations around the world. Additionally, participants will also receive small-group coaching throughout the program.
Meet the 2024 cohort of the Emerging News Leadership Program:
- Alejandro Riano is CEO of MIWISCONSIN where he leads the reporting of local and national news for immigrant communities. He is based in Madison, Wisconsin.
- Alma Martinez serves as the executive director of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative (CVJC). She is based in Fresno, California.
- Calvin Manika is the chief executive officer of Besana Media and Publisher of The Besana Mail, covering borderline communities in Zimbabwe and marginalized groups such as children. He is based in Hwange, Zimbabwe.
- Daniel Evans has over 11 years of experience in the newspaper business, previously serving as editor and publisher of The LaGrange Daily News in LaGrange, Georgia and The Valley Times-News in Lanett, Alabama. Most recently he worked as an editor for three publications in Northwest Florida.
- Filipe Speck is co-founder and current CEO of the local Porto Alegre newsroom, Matinal. He is based in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Hanna Raskin is editor and publisher of The Food Section, a twice-weekly newsletter covering food and drink across the American South. She is based in North Charleston, South Carolina.
- Jamese Branch is the audience engagement manager at Fort Worth Report, a nonprofit newsroom based in North Texas. She is based in Fort Worth, Texas.
- Jim Daley is the investigations editor at South Side Weekly, a nonprofit community newspaper in Chicago. He is based in Chicago, Illinois.
- Judith Morales Del Barco is the social media and audiences strategist at the Buenos Aires Herald. She is based in Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Laura Brache is an audience growth producer at The Raleigh News & Observer and The Durham Herald-Sun in North Carolina. She is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Lindsay Deutsch is the senior program manager for engagement in the newsroom at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she manages newsletter and optimization teams. She is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Margaux Maxwell is a news product practitioner currently serving as the director of platform and product at Oregon Public Broadcasting. She is based in Seattle, Washington.
- Maya Srikrishnan is a California-based investigative journalist. She has reported for The Center for Public Integrity, Voice of San Diego and the Los Angeles Times. She is based in San Diego, California.
- Nisa Talavera is a leader delivering community driven news through accuracy, dedication, and consistency. She is based in Patagonia, Arizona.
- Pete Havens navigates funds and partnerships at WJCT Public Media in Jacksonville. He is based in Jacksonville, Florida.
- Rachel Alexander is the managing editor of the Salem Reporter, a digital news outlet covering Oregon’s capital city. She is based in Salem, Oregon.
- Rachel Smith is director of strategic initiatives at The News Reporter, a digital-first newspaper serving a rural, small-town community in southeastern North Carolina. She is based in Whiteville, North Carolina.
- Taya Rtichsheva is journalist, director, TV and film producer, and founder of community television and radio broadcaster U Multicultural. She is based in Winnipeg, Canada.
- Trev Schellenberg is a provincial content lead at Golden West focused on building teams that drive hyper-local content-based radio and digital audience growth. He is based in Steinbach, Canada.
- Valerie Osier is the assistant managing editor at RANGE Media, a worker-owned news outlet in Spokane, WA. She is based in Spokane, Washington.
- Vicky Collins is the publisher of Bucket List Community Cafe, an online community journalism site for Denver and president of the television production company, Teletrends. She is based in Denver, Colorado.