Maynard Institute Launches Media Academy To Train First-Time Newspaper Managers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Amanda Elliott, Maynard Institute
(510) 891-9202; aelliott@maynardije.org
www.maynardije.org

Goal is to increase number of minority supervisors at newspapers across the country

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education is launching the Media Academy, an intensive program that will help first-time managers, particularly minority supervisors, polish their skills so they can be more effective supervisors at their newspapers.

Two of the premier journalism programs in the nation will host the academy’s classes. The first class will be held at the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., in January and June. The second class will be held at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., in March and July. While everyone is welcome to attend the Media Academy, sponsors hope the program will increase the number of minority supervisors in the business and editorial departments of the nation’s newspapers.

“Our goal is take first-time managers and prepare them for the challenges that they will face so they can excel as supervisors,’’ said Dori J. Maynard, president of the Maynard Institute, an Oakland-based training organization dedicated to increasing diversity in the media. “We will help a new generation of minority journalists make an impact on the industry.’’

Evelyn Hsu, past president of the Asian American Journalists Association, is director of the Media Academy. In her 25 years in journalism, Ms. Hsu has served as associate director of the American Press Institute and, most recently, as a member of the Poynter Institute faculty. She is a graduate of the Maynard Institute’s Summer Program for Minority Journalists.

“We will have a broad mix of students,” Ms. Hsu said, noting that the annual survey by the American Society of Newspaper Editors found that only 1,312, or 9.9 percent, of the 13,247 supervisors at the nation’s newspapers were minorities in 2003.

“Our goal is to increase that number substantially and, just as importantly, ensure that minority managers are prepared for the challenges that will lie ahead,’’ Ms. Hsu said. “New managers need to learn to get things done through others, how to deal with conflicts, how to have difficult conversations. Those are some of the areas we will cover.’’

The tuition of $2,500 per person covers the two nine-day sessions, housing and most meals. Sponsoring newspapers must pay fees and travel expenses for participants from their organizations. However, the Maynard Institute is offering 10 paid fellowships to help people working at small newspapers to participate in the program.

Each 24-student class at the Media Academy will be divided into two sessions. The Harvard class will meet Jan. 8-16- and June 11-19. The Medill class will meet March 19-27 and July 16-24. During the break between sessions, participants will return to their jobs and continue their coursework through online lessons and mentoring.

More information about the Media Academy can be found at www.maynardije.org or by contacting Amanda Elliott at (510) 891-9202.

The Media Academy is supported by contributions from: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; Belo Corp.; Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.; Cox Newspapers, Inc.; Gannett Co., Inc.; Hearst Newspapers; John L. and James S. Knight Foundation; Knight Ridder; Landmark Communications, Inc.; Lee Enterprises, Inc.; The McClatchy Co.; Pulitzer, Inc.; Media General, Inc.; MediaNews Group, Inc.; Morris Communications Co.; The New York Times Co.; Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation, Inc.; Ottaway Newspapers, Inc.; The E.W. Scripps Co.; McCormick Tribune Foundation; and the Philip L. Graham Fund/The Washington Post.

The Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education (MIJE) is the oldest organization dedicated to training journalists of color and helping the news media reflect the nation’s diversity in staffing, content and business operations. MIJE offers nationally acclaimed management training programs and Reality Checks, a Web-based content audit software program. Incorporated in 1977 as the Institute for Journalism Education, MIJE was renamed in 1993 to honor its first chairman, the late Robert C. Maynard, former owner and publisher of the Oakland Tribune.