“I found a sense of optimism that I didn’t have before.” For newspaper companies thinking about the next generation of leadership, that’s an opportunity for growth.
It came from a recent graduate of the America’s Newspapers Foundation Executive Development Program, reflecting on a year of leadership training, peer connection and direct exposure to some of the most important issues facing local newspapers.
Applications for the next Executive Development Program are still being accepted, and now is the time for owners, publishers and senior leaders to identify the team members they want to invest in.
The program is designed for emerging and advancing leaders across departments — not just young professionals, and not just future publishers. Participants work through the business challenges local newspapers are facing now, including revenue development, digital growth, audience strategy, AI, leadership, subscriptions, events, culture and new product development.
The value comes through in the words of the people who just completed the program.
One participant described the cohort as “passionate problem solvers who were excited about the future of newspapers.” Another said the program gave him a broader view of the industry and a renewed sense of optimism. Rachel Smith of The News Reporter said the program gave her organization “the knowledge, connections and confidence” to move forward with a digital expansion. Elizabeth Engelhardt of the Seguin Gazette said it strengthened her confidence during a major leadership transition and helped inspire a successful new community event.
That is the point of Executive Development. Participants do not just attend sessions. They build a network, test ideas, hear directly from industry leaders and return home with practical thinking they can put to work.
For employers, this is a direct investment in retention, leadership capacity and future performance. For participants, it is a chance to step outside the day-to-day, build confidence and see the industry through a wider lens.
If there is someone on your team who is ready for more responsibility, broader exposure and a stronger industry network, this is the program to put in front of them now.
Find out more and register at https://newspapersfoundation.org/executive-development
