Lioness Magazine Accepted Into Poynter, NABJ Inaugural Class For Leadership Academy For Diversity In Digital Media

The Poynter Institute and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) are pleased to announce the 2016 class for the Poynter-NABJ Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media, a transformational leadership program for journalists of color.

The 25 participants, chosen from a pool of more than 200 applicants, are emerging leaders in digital media who have demonstrated an aptitude and potential for leadership through current projects and references. The academy will include guidance on navigating newsroom culture, leadership styles, the business of journalism and entrepreneurship, as well as networking and one-on-one coaching.

“We’re honored to bring so many talented journalists together in this much-needed initiative,” said Poynter President Tim Franklin. “Poynter has always promoted best practices in media management, and this program allows us to work with NABJ to ensure diversity as one of journalism’s highest leadership values.”

“It’s a privilege to work with the next generation of digital journalism leaders in this ground-breaking program,” said NABJ President Sarah Glover. “When this outstanding group of journalists completes the week at Poynter, they will have the resources, network and skills for the work ahead — to progress in their careers and to guide others along the path of leadership excellence.”

The 2016 Poynter-NABJ Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media is made possible through the generous support of the program’s naming sponsor, The New York Times, as well as additional funding from Facebook, Google, the Scripps Howard Foundation and the TEGNA Foundation.

This year’s class includes:

• Modupe Akinnawonu, associate product manager, The New York Times
• Darrell Allen, video graphics editor, The Associated Press
• Joshua Barajas, deputy online editor, PBS Newshour
• Jahna Berry, web editor, Mother Jones
• Zuri Berry, deputy managing editor, Boston Herald
• Juhie Bhatia, managing editor, Womens eNews
• Evette Brown, senior news and identity editor, Revelist
• Crystal Brown, director, editorial operations, She Knows Media
• Kim Bui, former deputy managing editor, reported.ly
• Rana Cash, freelance; former deputy editor, Sporting News
• Natasha Clark, publisher, Lioness Magazine
• Justin Ellis, senior editor, ESPN The Magazine
• Amber Ferguson, politics video editor, Huffington Post
• Michael Grant, senior digital designer, Star Tribune
• Lee Hill, managing editor, WNYC Digital
• Marcus Riley, director of digital media, WTMJ-TV-TMJ4.com
• Nicole Smith, senior digital features editor, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Monica Torres, freelance journalist
• Herman Wong, social media/growth editor, The Washington Post
• Lilly Workneh, senior editor, Black Voices, The Huffington Post
• Ameena Rasheed, community content specialist, The Des Moines Register
• Tanya Ballard-Brown, editor III, digital, NPR
• Shauna Stuart, fellow, The Southern Girls Project
• Amy Adkins Harris, digital communications officer, The World Bank
• Brandon Vaughn, digital content producer, Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.

Participants will spend Dec. 4-9 at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. The week will be led by prominent leaders in the startup, tech, media and academic fields, including media strategist and startup adviser Ju-Don Marshall Roberts, formerly of the Center for Cooperative Media and The Washington Post; Mark Luckie, former head of journalism and media for Reddit; Donna Byrd, publisher of The Root and vice president of digital for Univision; Rashida Jones, managing editor, dayside, for MSNBC; and Mizell Stewart III, vice president of news operations for the USA TODAY Network and president of the American Society of News Editors. Other faculty include Poynter’s Butch Ward and Al Tompkins.