Jeff Sigmund
NAA Director of Communications, (571) 366-1088
Jeff.Sigmund@naa.org
www.naa.org
January 21, 2011
NAA FOUNDATION AWARDS POWERMIND AND MINORITY FELLOWSHIP GRANTS TO FUTURE INDUSTRY LEADERS
Arlington, Va. – The Newspaper Association of America Foundation announced today that it has awarded grants as part of its PowerMind and Minority Fellowship programs, two initiatives designed to increase leadership diversity throughout the newspaper industry.
"This year’s fellows are the future of our industry, and we are looking forward to working with them to ensure they reach their full potential," said Jeanne Fox-Alston, vice president of the NAA Foundation. This diverse group – representing both the business and editorial side of newspapers – has a very bright future, and we are confident these programs will have a positive impact on their professional development."
2011 PowerMind Fellows
The NAA Foundation’s PowerMind program prepares high-performing, mid-career minority professionals in management positions to become even more effective contributors at newspaper companies by expanding their organizational knowledge and leadership skills. The program involves four hours of self-development each month over a six-month period, focusing on such topics as leadership, personal branding, career strategizing, networking and managing up. The fellows also will attend NAA’s mediaXchange conference in Dallas in March. This year’s PowerMind fellows are:
- Anna Costello, digital classifieds manager, New York Times Regional Media Group
- Peter Gutierrez, circulation director, The Record (Stockton, Ca.)
- Katrice Hardy, Urban Team Leader, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.
- Elizabeth Johnson, GHM/Y! BT channel sales manager, GateHouse Media
- Johnny Kidd, database manager, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
- Ernesto Lopez, consumer sales manager, The Arizona Republic
- Toni Mitchell, manager, human resources, Dayton Daily News
- Alvin Nesmith, production manager, St. Petersburg Times
- Monica Norton, local news day editor, The Washington Post
- Preston Pierce, customer support systems manager, The Tampa Tribune
- Cynthia Philpot, product and business development consultant, Morris Communications
- Nancy San Martin, interactive editor, The Miami Herald
- Jacqueline Sergeant, editor of In Jersey magazine, Asbury Park Press (Neptune, NJ)
- Jorge Velasquez, director, circulation sales, Naples Daily News
NAA Foundation Spring 2011 Minority Fellows
The Minority Fellowship program is designed to widen opportunities for minority professionals to enter or advance in newspaper management. Newspaper executives and journalism educators were asked to nominate candidates who demonstrate managerial potential. Recipients will attend newspaper-related programs offered by the American Press Institute, the Media Management Center at Northwestern University and The Poynter Institute. This year’s Minority Fellows are:
- Lois Alapo, reporter, Knoxville News Sentinel, “Essential Skills for the Digital Journalist,” Poynter
- Elysa Batista, multimedia journalist, Naples Daily News, “Becoming a More Effective Editor,” Poynter
- Luis Carrasco, web producer, Chattanooga Times Free Press, “Digital Strategies for Today’s Newsroom Managers,” Poynter
- Enrique Carrión, deputy editor, La Prensa, Riverside (Ca) Press-Enterprise, “Designing the Digital User Experience,” American Press Institute
- Charles Davis, reporter, Green Bay (Wis.) Press-Gazette, “Becoming a More Effective Reporter, “ Poynter
- Jason Gonzales, reporter, Wilmington (NC) StarNews, “Becoming a More Effective Writer,” Poynter
- Alexander Hicks, photojournalist, Spartanburg (SC) Herald-Journal, “Essential Skills for the Digital Journalist,” Poynter
- Edwin Ruis, market development & digital media director, Greeley (CO) Tribune, “Media Academy,” Maynard
- Thomasi McDonald, reporter, The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), Becoming a More Effective Writer, Poynter
- Margo Morgan, graphics editor, Rockford (Ill.) Register Star, “Essential Skills for New Managers,” Poynter
- Diayna Payan, photographer & photo editor, Arizona Republic, “Picture Editing 101,” Poynter
- George Howard, integrated client solutions manager, Detroit Newspaper Agency, “Media Academy,” Maynard
- Ashley Smith, reporter, Marshfield (Wis.) News-Herald, “Becoming a More Effective Reporter,” Poynter
- Robert Underwood, copy editor, Dayton Daily News, “Becoming a More Effective Editor,” Poynter
- Suzanne Wardle, chief copy editor, Roanoke (Va.) Times, “Writing Better Headlines,” Poynter
- Mike Williams, managing editor, Triangle.com, The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), “Designing the Digital User Experience,” American Press Institute
The NAA Foundation strives to develop engaged and literate citizens in our diverse society through investment in and support of programs designed to enhance student achievement through newspaper readership and appreciation of the First Amendment. The Foundation also endeavors to help news media companies increase their readership and audience by offering programs that encourage the cultivation of a more diverse work force in the press. Information about the Foundation and its programs may be found at www.naafoundation.org.