Reporting Workshop for Rising Stars

The secret to success isn’t getting to the biggest newsroom; it’s creating the career you want where you are.

The best reporters have a distinct style that not only earns praise, but moves the audience to engage and creates change. In a 24/7 news cycle, standing out is a particularly incredible feat.

Poynter’s new workshop is designed to mentor early-career journalists in a small-group setting to unlock their superstar potential. Participants will grow as investigators and storytellers, and learn how to better manage their personal brand and navigate their career.

Like all Poynter training, this workshop will be off-the-record to encourage honest, candid conversation and meaningful connections. Participants will leave with a new cohort to help them achieve success beyond the four-day training.

Instructors

Program details

This intensive four-day workshop is an investment in journalists with great potential during a time when local newsrooms have fewer resources than ever before. Sessions will be devoted to the development of both career and craft.

Participants will learn how to thrive in their newsroom by focusing on relationships, culture and communication. They’ll reflect on their own learning and working styles and will be coached on how to build allies and seek opportunities to propel their growth where they currently work. Through expert one-on-one coaching, they will also gain skills to excel as reporters, writers and original thinkers.

Read a Q&A with lead instructors, Erin Ailworth and John Sutter, about this new workshop.

What you will learn

Career

• Insights into your personality type and communication preferences
• A framework for defining — and refining — your career objectives
• Where to find funding for big projects and manage budgets
• What makes a good mentee and how to mentor your peers
• Strategies to improve your relationship with your editor
• How to navigate newsroom culture
• Advice from fellow journalists on managing life outside of work

Craft

• How to infuse your stories with originality and polish your prose
• How to balance personality and objectivity in your writing
• Investigative reporting basics
• Envision great reporting, both large projects and daily stories
• Develop sources and manage your material
• Understand story structures
• Get the most traction with your successful reporting projects

Schedule

Schedule is subject to change.

Cost

The tuition is $1,150.

Travel to and from St. Petersburg and your hotel is on your own. Scholarships may be available.

Who should apply

Rising star reporters who want to fast-track their career development by growing in their current newsroom should apply. Editors who want to retain their top talent and local newsrooms that need to capitalize on the resources they have should refer their staff.

Application process

The process to apply is straightforward and simple. Please be prepared to answer questions about your professional experience, areas of interests and basic demographic information. We also require a letter of recommendation from your direct supervisor.

Questions?

We’d love to hear from you. Email us at seminars@poynter.org.