ASNE/APME Fellows
11.16.04
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Begun in the fall of 2000, the ASNE/APME Fellows program placed journalists of color in full-time, permanent newsroom positions at small newspapers. In four years, 43 journalists of color were named Fellows.
More than two-thirds of participants have completed the two-year fellowship. Others will "graduate" from the fellowship by fall 2006.
What has been the goal of the ASNE/APME Fellows program?
An increase in both the number and percentage of journalists of color working at daily newspapers under 75,000 circulation.
How did the program come about?
It was a $1 million partnership of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the Associated Press Managing Editors and the Freedom Forum, which funded and administered the program. The program was a recommendation from a group of editors that included the APME Diversity Committee and ASNE Diversity and Small Newspaper committees.
Why was the program chosen?
Smaller newspapers — which make up the majority of the nation's 1,413 daily newspapers — provide critical all-around career grounding for most journalists. Yet too many newspapers of this size have no journalists of color.
One goal of this program was to level the playing fields for smaller newspapers to compete with larger newspapers for talent and to allow journalists of color to make employment decisions based on what will be best for their long-term careers, rather than only on the larger salary a larger newspaper usually can offer initially.
What impact have the Fellows had on their newspapers?
Fellows have made important contributions to the content of their newspapers, including stories about minority issues and immigrants that in many cases would not have been in their newspapers otherwise. The Fellows have offered story ideas and suggestions for improving current newspaper sections and creating new ones. Their voices have been heard through participation in budget meetings, newsroom task forces and newspaper-wide committee work.
A reporting Fellow and a photography Fellow covered appearances by the president. Others have reported and written front-page stories and section-front centerpieces. Many have contributed to newspaper projects.
Some Fellows have taken on more responsibility. One Fellow was promoted to an assistant editor position. Another fills in regularly as a city-desk editor. Several copy-editing Fellows have been responsible for Page One.
What other accomplishments have the Fellows made?
Several Fellows have written columns for their newspapers, and one Fellow made editorial-page contributions. Two Fellows have held leadership roles in regional journalism organizations.
Have participants been recognized beyond the fellowship?
Yes. One received a Public Service Award from the Associated Press Managing Editors association. Others have been honored for their work in journalism awards contests sponsored by such organizations as the Colorado Associated Press Managing Editors, the Garden State Association of Black Journalists, the South Carolina Press Association, the National Press Photographers Association and the New Mexico Press Association.
Fellows also have been recognized by their employers with awards in the Community Newspaper Company contest, Gannett's Well Done competition and The New York Times Regional Newspapers' chairman's recognition.
Another of the program's goals has been to encourage long-term commitment to newspaper careers. How well has the program succeeded in this goal?
Many of the graduates have remained at their fellowship newspaper. Several have been promoted into senior reporting roles or management assignments. Other fellowship graduates have gone on to jobs at larger newspapers.
Who are the Fellows?
The Fellows are a diverse group of news reporters, business reporters, sports reporters, copy editors and photographers. Twenty-nine are female; 14 are male.
The majority of Fellows joined the program in their first full-time jobs. Three others had previous full-time experience at daily or weekly newspapers but had left the newsroom and wanted to return. Journalists also have come to the program through work for newspapers outside the United States, work for Internet products and experience in publishing. Twenty-two Fellows are alums of the Freedom Forum's Chips Quinn Scholars internship program.
Where did candidates for the fellowship come from?
The Freedom Forum developed a pool of candidates from such sources as metro-newspaper interns, job fairs, collegiate journalism programs and its own Chips Quinn Scholars Program. Participating newspapers also suggested Fellow candidates, and interested candidates applied directly. More than 360 journalists expressed interest in the program.
Which newspapers employed Fellows?
Forty newspapers representing all regions of the country and 14 companies participated: Advance Publications, Community Newspaper Co., Cox Newspapers Inc., E.W. Scripps Co., Freedom Communications Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., Knight Ridder, McClatchy Co., Media News Inc., Morris Communications Corp., North Jersey Media Group Inc., Pulitzer Inc., Swift Newspapers Inc., and The New York Times Co. Three privately owned newspapers also participated: The Santa Fe New Mexican, The Truth, Elkhart, Ind., and The Wilson (N.C.) Daily Times. Ninety additional newspapers expressed interest.
What resources did the fellowship provide?
The fellowship provided ongoing career and journalism coaching and a $20,000 stipend over two years beyond the salary paid by each newspaper.
Beyond career coaching, was any training provided?
In each of the two years of the fellowship, participants attended a professional journalism convention along with a key editor. Expenses for the Fellows' attendance were paid by the Freedom Forum.
In addition, the Freedom Forum hosted and funded a training conference for Fellows. Because the Fellows' relationship with an editor is key to their success, the Freedom Forum also organized a training conference for Fellows' newsroom supervisors. A third and joint training conference was held in November 2003 in which participants did hands-on exercises, worked in small groups and heard from nationally known speakers, including Tim Russert of NBC News and author and linguist Dr. Deborah Tannen.
Fellows have been required to work with high school students interested in newspaper careers. What are the results?
Fellows have mentored high school students, represented their newspapers in school job fairs and advised student newspapers. One group of students mentored by a Fellow won a first-place award for superior achievement from Quill and Scroll International, a group that encourages student journalism. Other Fellows have spoken to journalism classes, and one Fellow was a visiting professional at the University of Alabama's Minority Journalism Workshop.
What did the Freedom Forum learn from the Fellows program that could benefit all small newspapers?
Small newspapers have appeal. A small newspaper can provide broad experiences, giving new journalists a strong foundation of skills. At a small newspaper, journalists with enthusiasm and talent get story assignments that land their bylines on Page One and have opportunities to work on projects. A small newspaper is a great place for journalists to get management experience — or chances to see if management is right for them. The story of small newspapers is one of opportunity, but it is one that is not told often enough.
For information on the ASNE/APME Fellows Program, contact:
Kate Kennedy
Director/Partnerships and Initiatives
Freedom Forum
1101 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: 703-284-3932
Fax: 703-284-3543
kkennedy@freedomforum.org.
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