Nonprofit news is growing rapidly, and so is demand for people with the vision and skill to lead the field. INN formed the Emerging Leaders Council in 2017 to identify and support current and future leaders in nonprofit news through a professional development program. Nominations for the 2021 cohort open in March.
This program teaches leadership, management and business tools that yield immediate results, and it creates space for participants to develop and launch a project with help from a supportive network.
This program is for full-time staff at INN member organizations who can advance the nonprofit news sector throughout the next decade. We encourage the nomination of individuals mid-level in their careers who have the potential to lead their own or another organization, or leaders of small organizations who want to develop their ability to run larger nonprofits.
In particular, we seek candidates who:
- Show potential to lead a nonprofit news organization
- Express interest in management strategies and building business leadership skills
- We want to retain in nonprofit news
- Reflect the diversity of the communities they serve
- Will invest in the peer group as well as draw from it
Throughout the four-month program, participants will come together once in person for a workshop designed for nonprofit leaders, and they will meet twice monthly via videoconferencing for project development and follow-through, leadership and business skills discussions.
Applicants must be nominated by their Executive Director/CEO, or if they themselves are the director of a small organization, nominated by their board chair. The cohort will be selected from among the eligible nominations by a panel of INN and industry leaders.
If you have questions about the program, please email Sara Shahriari at sara.s@inn.org
Emerging Leaders Alumni
These leaders represent the excellence and diversity of nonprofit news organizations working to inform communities through factual journalism and build philanthropic support for news. Positions are those held at the time of their participation in the program.
Suzanne Behnke (2020) Executive Director and Editor, The Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism
Jahna Berry (2020) Chief Operating Officer, Mother Jones
Annie Chabel (2020) Chief Operating Officer, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting
Lauchlin Fields (2020) Audience Development Director, Mississippi Today
Mukhtar Ibrahim (2020) Editor and Executive Editor, Sahan Journal
Judy Lin (2020) Assistant Editor, CalMatters
Loren Lynch (2020) Chief Revenue Officer, The Texas Observer
Corrie MacLaggan (2020) Managing Editor, Texas Tribune
Jim Malewitz (2020) Investigations Editor, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Reporting
Irene Romulo (2020) Co-Founder, Cicero Independiente
Brandon Quester (2020) Executive Editor and Director, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Thomas Brennan (2019) Founder, The War Horse
Brian Calvert (2019) Editor-in-Chief, High Country News
Candice Fortman (2019) Chief of Engagement and Operations, Outlier Media
Lucas Grindley (2019) Executive Director, Next City
Andrea Faye Hart (2019) Co-Founder and Director of Community Engagement, City Bureau
Brian Hiatt (2019) Marketing and Membership Director, Mother Jones
Kay Lima (2019) Director, INN Labs
Byrhonda Lyons (2019) Video Journalist, CALmatters
Asraa Mustufa (2019) Digital Editor, The Chicago Reporter
Akoto Ofori-Atta (2019) Managing Editor, The Trace
Tasneem Raja (2019) Executive Editor, The Tyler Loop
Jim Small (2017) Executive Director and Editor, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Natalie Choate (2017) Director of Media Relations and Partnerships, Texas Tribune
Lauren Fuhrmann (2017) Associate Director, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Sarah Garland (2017) Executive Editor, The Hechinger Report
Dave Levinthal (2017) Federal Politics Editor and Senior Reporter, Center for Public Integrity
Ben Nishimoto (2017) Director of Philanthropy, Honolulu Civil Beat
Brad Racino (2017) Senior Reporter, Assistant Director and Director of Partnerships & Innovation, inewsource
Amber Rivera (2017) Engagement Editor, Inside Energy
Paula Saha (2017) Director of Audience and Donor Development, NJ Spotlight
Halle Stockton (2017) Managing Editor, PublicSource