Widening the Pipeline Fellowship

National Press
Foundation

Donate

Journalists of Color Trained to Lead U.S. Newsrooms

American journalism is experiencing a severe and systemic diversity crisis, one that was foretold yet long ignored. There are simply not enough reporters and editors of color to inform, engage and accurately and fairly reflect our society.

Many newsrooms have tackled urgent social issues with majority white staffs— some more successfully than others. The National Press Foundation is addressing this problem through all-expenses-paid training and monthly virtual webinars to support journalists of color staying in – and leading – the newsrooms of tomorrow.

NPF is pleased to welcome 20 journalists from across the country to its 2024 Widening the Pipeline Fellowship cohort, designed to support journalists of color staying in – and leading – the newsrooms of tomorrow.

The 20 journalists represent local, national and non-profit news outlets from Massachusetts to Utah and bring with them a wealth of experiences from a variety of media.

This program is managed by Rachel Jones, NPF’s Director of Journalism Initiatives. To donate or sponsor fellowships, please contact Jason Zaragoza at jason@nationalpress.org.

Training highlights

The 25 journalists selected for the 2022-23 National Press Foundation’s Widening the Pipeline Fellowship spent three and a half days in Washington, DC during March 2022, and again in March 2023, examining the challenges and opportunities facing journalists of color in American newsrooms.

The initial training event offered the fellows intensive guidance, advice and instruction from industry veterans including pioneering Hispanic journalist Ray Suarez, National Geographic’s Executive Editor for History and Culture Debra Adams Simmons, the Maynard Institute for Journalism and Education’s Felecia Henderson and PBS Newshour Digital Editor Kenichi Serino.

Brittany Caplin and Amanda Finney speak to fellows. Photo: Jeff Hertrick, NPF

The highlight of the first training for many fellows was a trip to the White House Briefing Room, where journalists had questions for Amanda Finney, President Joe Biden’s chief of staff for the press office and special assistant to Chief Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Assistant Press Secretary Brittany Caplin.

The fellows continued the journey during eight monthly virtual trainings focused on topics including data journalism, health reporting, multimedia journalism and reporting for non-profit media.

The closing training sought to leverage the career guidance, skills training and networking opportunities the journalists received during the monthly virtual training sessions. Speakers included NAHJ President Yvette Cabrera, the Marshall Project’s Emma Carew Grovum, Poynter’s MediaWise director Alex Mahadevan, veteran journalist and leadership Coach Mizell Stewart III, Philadelphia Inquirer food editor Jamila Robinson and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Wesley Lowery.

Also during the final training, journalists received an update on Politico Managing Editor Sudeep Reddy’s career strategy advice and rated Mizell Stewart’s leadership counseling session and Phoebe Gavin’s advice about layoff-proofing careers as highlights.

Widening the Pipeline fellows said that the program sessions gave them a new take on their career paths and provided them with tools to reset and plan for new opportunities. During the year, seven of the fellows landed new jobs, and others said the advice from their program-assigned mentors helped them navigate career challenges or negotiate pay raises.

The 2022-2023 Widening the Pipeline journalists were:

During the fellowship, fellows were paired with mentors who offered them career strategy advice, resume reviews and more.

NPF thanks these generous mentors for their time and efforts:

"Widening the Pipeline" fellows visiting the White House March 22, 2022. Photo: Sydney Clark, National Press Foundation

All NPF Fellows

Highlights from Widening the Pipeline trainings:

Maintaining Indigenous Sovereignty In the Newsroom and Abroad

April 15, 2024

Ensuring the Native American Political Identity is a Key Focus, Indigenous Journalist Says

Indigenous journalist Pauly Denetclaw juggles informing her core audience for ICT News with the opportunity to educate all Americans about tribal history and laws.

White House Bureau Chief: Centering People in Politics and Policy

April 11, 2024

Whether Covering the State House or the White House, Olorunnipa Focuses on What’s at Stake

As White House Bureau Chief for the Washington Post, Toluse Oloronnipa never forgets that political reporting is about people, not just polls and campaigns.

Extracting Data That Illuminates the Past

April 3, 2024

From Neglected Cemeteries to Undervalued Homes, Context Matters, Caresse Jackman Says

Investigative reporter Caresse Jackman explores some of the nation’s most complex issues in her consumer reports for Gray Television’s InvestigateTV.

Training highlights

Maintaining Indigenous Sovereignty In the Newsroom and Abroad

White House Bureau Chief: Centering People in Politics and Policy

Extracting Data That Illuminates the Past

Newsletter