A message from NLA President, Alison Gerber
Dear NLA members and supporters,
There are plenty of excellent reasons to love working in an industry as demanding as journalism. At the top of that list are journalists themselves — the people who show up no matter what and ask the questions, tell the stories, and demand accountability. It’s a privilege to do the work, and it’s a particular privilege to lead this group born of two legacy news associations — the American Society of News Editors and Associated Press Media Editors. You are the professionals serving a rapidly changing news industry, and you approach those challenges with innovation and creativity. There’s a lot of work to do, and I’m grateful to be part of an organization committed to getting it done.
While our industry faces strong headwinds, there are also many bright spots — an evolving and varied news landscape with media organizations serving both large-scale and niche audiences on a diversity of platforms. More and more well-funded startups, some covering disenfranchised communities. Legacy companies trying new delivery methods. New revenue and funding models. And, despite the well-documented challenges — newspaper closures, fewer working journalists, a frightening rise in misinformation — quality, fact-based journalism is still being produced in all corners of the United States and across all platforms. We all know how essential that work is to our communities and our country.
I’ve always been a newspaper journalist, but the definition of that term has evolved as more newspapers (including my own) have embraced digital distribution. The NLA family includes digital natives, legacy media newsrooms, television, public radio and academic journalists – all of them engaged in one way or another in evolving to meet complex demands. Using our collective minds and voices, we support those doing the hard work of leading America's newsrooms while investing in and empowering the next generation of journalism leaders. Some of the ways NLA will do that in 2023:
A key part of our mission is championing the First Amendment. March 12-18, NLA will again work with our network of partners to host Sunshine Week, the annual nationwide celebration of access to public information. Please share your success stories, FOIA battles, new laws and other efforts on behalf of open government. Tweet @SunshineWeek or use #SunshineWeek to share.
The annual NLA awards will open at the end of February. Last year we had nearly 400 entries. The awards honored journalists at a variety of news organizations, and showed that outstanding journalism is being produced across the diverse media ecosystem.
Despite having to pause the annual DEI survey of newsrooms last year, we are continuing to work with our partners on improving that initiative for 2023. We are accepting proposals from researchers, and vetting potential job candidates to oversee our training programs. We thank leaders at the Maynard Institute for Journalism Excellence, National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, Asian American Journalists Association, Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Society of Professional Journalists and Google for sharing their insights as we continue to reach out to more of our partners to build the momentum for DEI initiatives in 2023. This year, NLA will continue to work to strengthen the pipeline of diverse leadership talent in America’s newsrooms.
Last year, 30 exceptional fellows at NLA’s Emerging Leaders Institute for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion graduated — our first all-virtual class. The 2023 ELI class will convene in Miami in June during the NAHJ conference. ELI’s goal is to accelerate the rise of traditionally underrepresented journalists into the management ranks of news organizations and to support those who have already launched their leadership careers. We thank ELI co-directors Jill Geisler, the Bill Plante chair in leadership and media integrity at Loyola University Chicago, and Alfredo Carbajal, Al Día/Dallas Morning News managing editor, for their dedication to this renown program. We will open the application process for the one-day, in-person summer class in April.
Coming next month, NLA will partner with Trusting News and Spaceship Media to offer the Dimensions of Difference virtual workshop to NLA members and their newsroom teams at no cost. The workshop is designed to help newsrooms identify, understand and talk about their own differences internally, in service of more accurate, reflective, and relevant coverage of the complex communities they serve. Apply here to join this excellent program.
In 2023, we’re looking to streamline and reconstitute NLA committees. If you are a member and want to participate, reach out to me or NLA Executive Director Myriam Márquez. We’re looking for people with an interest in training, diversity, mentorship, and fundraising/development.
None of this work happens without the many people in news organizations across the country who volunteer time to NLA, and the small but mighty NLA staff for doing the hard work to make all of the organization’s initiatives a reality. Thanks also to 2022 NLA President Manny Garcia, editor of the Austin American-Statesman, for his leadership last year, and for his continued support.
We have an exciting year ahead and look forward to working with you to continue our mission of empowering journalists at all levels with the training, support and networks they need to lead and transform diverse, sustainable newsrooms in service to democracy.
Sincerely,
Alison Gerber
NLA president
Editor, Chattanooga Times Free Press