Apply for this global, year-long certificate program until May 2.
The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY is accepting applications for the sixth cohort of the Executive Program in News Innovation and Leadership. This certificate program will run from September 2025 to June 2026 and is open to global leaders from editorial, product, business, and technology backgrounds, with positions in local, national, and international news organizations.
The year-long program follows a hybrid format, offering online sessions combined with three in-person residencies in New York City. The curriculum will provide a comprehensive approach to leadership, business, and management, specifically for senior-level media executives. Under the guidance of industry-leading instructors and coaches, participants will gain the skills needed to navigate the business of journalism, drive innovation, and lead teams with greater effectiveness.
Yukari Kane, Co-Founder and CEO of the Prison Journalism Project and Executive alum of the 2024 cohort, has been able to build on her experience and gain new insights into leading in the evolving media landscape.
“I feel like it set me up with solid fundamentals necessary to be a leader and it also gave me a set of peers that I can rely on for the rest of my career. It gave me confidence, new tools and a framework to be a better leader, manager and strategist. It gave me language to articulate what the publication wants to accomplish.”
You can join Yukari, Program Founder & Senior Advisor Anita Zielina, and other alumni for a virtual information session on Tuesday March 25 at 11 a.m. ET, where they will dive deeper into the program and answer any questions.
Participants in the program have come from high-profile global newsrooms, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, O Globo, GMA Network, Reuters, Zetland, The Baltimore Banner, and have job titles including Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Head of Audience, Executive Director of Product, Chief Revenue Officer, Senior Director of Strategy & Innovation, and more.
Previous alumni include Sewell Chan, Executive Editor of Columbia Journalism Review, Amber Payne, Publisher and General Manager of The Emancipator, Ethar El-Katatney, Editor in Chief of Documented, and Styli Charalambous, Co-Founder of The Daily Maverick.
Niketa Patel, Senior Director of Leadership Programs at the Newmark J-School, said, “As we begin this journey alongside news leaders from across the globe, our goal is to equip them with more than just management skills; we seek to cultivate a deep sense of leadership. The Executive Program expands beyond conventional boundaries, and empowers participants to navigate the ever-changing world of journalism with strategic insight, to inspire innovation, and to guide their teams towards a future that is not only sustainable but intentional as well. Many of our alumni have transformed their careers and experienced advancements, securing promotions and moving up ladders after completing the program.”
The curriculum covers key topics including the business of journalism, product development, technology integration, audience engagement, operations, and cultural change. Participants will engage in coursework and workshops that will culminate in a capstone project. They will also be mentored by an executive coach who will guide them through their project.
To apply, prospective candidates must submit a resume, two recommendation letters that highlight their leadership abilities, and a 1,000-word letter of intent detailing their motivation and goals for participating in the program. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and selected applicants will be invited for an interview with the admissions committee. Fluency in English is required, and the program tuition is $27,000, with scholarship opportunities available.
Applications will be accepted through May 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. To stay updated on this program and others, please sign up for our mailing list.