The 2023 Maynard 200 Fellows (clockwise from top left) Investigative Storytellers: Natalia Alamdari, Dorine Bethea, Janet Cho, Sheila Dang, Angela Dennis, Rachel Hinton, Troy Johnson, Michael Lyle, Josh McGhee, Jaisal Noor, Kaila Philo, Farida Jhabvala Romero, Helina Selemon, and Kristoffer Tigue; Frontline Editors and Managers: Diego Barahona, Scott Bell, April Bethea, Momo Chang, Melinda Coleau, Nia Decaille, Karim Doumar, Christine Hendricks, Yihyun Jeong, Alejandro Martinez-Cabrera, Daniel Moattar, Angelica Obioha, Rheaa Rao, and Walter Smith Randolph; Executive Leaders: Eva-Marie Ayala, Cynthia Benjamin, Khary Brown, Tercius Tarcisius Serrano Bufete, Rachel James-Terry, Nina Martin, Nicole Ortiz, Megha Satyanarayana, Jacob Simas, Ashley M. Slayton, Matthew Tinoco, and Michelle Zenarosa; Media Entrepreneurs and Product Developers: Priya David Clemens, Brandy Collins, Jazmin Goodwin, Ahmed Hamid, Caron LeNoir, Alicia Ramirez, Karina Ramos Villalobos, Ryan Sorrel, and Wendy Todd.
OAKLAND, CA (June 1, 2023): The Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding diversity in the news media and dismantling structural racism in newsrooms, announced today the recipients of its 2023 Maynard 200 Fellowship. Since the program’s inception in 2018, more than 140 storytellers, editors, managers, leaders, and media entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds have been trained and mentored. With its latest class of 49 fellows, the Maynard Institute is on course to surpass its goal of cultivating 200 media leaders dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in journalism, in 2024.
The 2023 in-person program will open June 26th, hosted by the program’s university partner this year, the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.
A second week of training will be held virtually from October 23-27, when fellows will be paired with industry veterans and experts for ongoing, one-to-one mentorship.
“This year’s Maynard 200 fellows join a community of journalists who have ascended into executive-level roles; received awards for coverage; led diversity initiatives that have shifted newsroom cultures; and launched innovative entrepreneurial ventures, many of which bolster local journalism,” said Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, Maynard 200 Director.
“We welcome another impressive class of 49 media leaders, representing diverse gender, geographic, racial and ethnic backgrounds; and are affiliated with legacy, ethnic, community-powered media and emergent ventures. They join the community of peers that we build every year, propelling a mini-movement to dismantle systemic inequity in American media. Our fellows contribute to a program that an industry ally has referred to as one of the most powerful incubators for journalists of color.” Alcazaren-Keeley added.
“Our graduates are reshaping American journalism,” said Maynard Institute co-executive director Evelyn Hsu. “This program is part of the Maynard Institute’s long record of service to a craft that is critical to the health of a functioning democracy.”
The 2023 Maynard 200 cohort includes:
Investigative Storytelling Fellows pictured (clockwise from top left) include Natalia Alamdari, Dorine Bethea, Janet Cho, Sheila Dang, Angela Dennis, Rachel Hinton, Troy Johnson, Michael Lyle, Josh McGhee, Jaisal Noor, Kaila Philo, Farida Jhabvala Romero, Helina Selemon, and Kristoffer Tigue.
Investigative Storytellers
- Natalia Alamdari - Seacrest Greater Nebraska Reporter, Flatwater Free Press
- Dorine Bethea - Multiplatform Editor, The Washington Post / Journalism Educator, Howard University
- Janet Cho - Reporter, Barron’s
- Sheila Dang - Media and Advertising Reporter, Reuters
- Angela Dennis - Race, Equity, Social Justice Reporter, USA Today Network- Knoxville News Sentinel
- Rachel Hinton - Enterprise Reporter, Illinois Answers Project
- Troy Johnson - News Anchor, 16 WAPT News - Hearst Television
- Michael Lyle - Reporter, Nevada Current (States Newsroom)
- Josh McGhee - Reporter, Mindsite News
- Jaisal Noor - Independent Journalist/Democracy Cohort Manager, Solutions Journalism Network
- Kaila Philo - Investigative Reporter, previously for Talking Points Memo
- Farida Jhabvala Romero - Labor Correspondent, KQED Public Radio
- Helina Selemon -Science Reporter, The Blacklight, New York Amsterdam News
- Kristoffer Tigue - Reporter, Inside Climate News
Editors and Managers Fellows pictured (clockwise from top left) include Diego Barahona, Scott Bell, April Bethea, Momo Chang, Melinda Coleau, Nia Decaille, Karim Doumar, Christine Hendricks, Yihyun Jeong, Alejandro Martinez-Cabrera, Daniel Moattar, Angelica Obioha, Rheaa Rao, and Walter Smith Randolph.
Frontline Editors and Managers
- Diego Barahona - Digital Editor, La Noticia
- Scott Bell - Breaking News Editor, Dallas Morning News
- April Bethea - Deputy Education Editor, The Washington Post
- Momo Chang - Co-Director, Oakland Voices
- Melinda Coleau - Planning Manager, NBC4/T44, NBC Universal WRC / NBC4
- Nia Decaille - SEO Editor, The New York Times
- Karim Doumar - Deputy Editor, Newsletters, Los Angeles Times
- Christine Hendricks - VP, Marketing, Local Media Consortium
- Yihyun Jeong - Deputy Metro Editor, The Seattle Times
- Alejandro Martinez-Cabrera - Education and Urban Affairs Editor, The Texas Tribune
- Daniel Moattar - Articles Editor, Mother Jones
- Angelica Obioha - Managing Editor, The Sacramento Observer
- Rheaa Rao - Markets Editor, Bloomberg
- Walter Smith Randolph - Investigative Editor, Connecticut Public Broadcasting
Executive Leadership Fellows pictured (clockwise from top left) include Eva-Marie Ayala, Cynthia Benjamin, Khary Brown, Tercius Tarcisius Serrano Bufete, Rachel James-Terry, Nina Martin, Nicole Ortiz, Megha Satyanarayana, Jacob Simas, Ashley M. Slayton, Matthew Tinoco, and Michelle Zenarosa.
Executive Leaders
- Eva-Marie Ayala - Education Lab Editor, The Dallas Morning News
- Cynthia Benjamin - Senior Director/News Learning & Development, Gannett-USA Today Network
- Khary Brown - Vice President Media Sales, Mother Jones
- Tercius Tarcisius Serrano Bufete - Executive Editor, USA Today - Reviewed
- Rachel James-Terry - Director of Public Relations, Jackson State University
- Nina Martin - Features Editor/Reporter, Center for Investigative Reporting
- Nicole Ortiz - Freelance Editor/ Former Sr. Story Editor, Adweek
- Megha Satyanarayana - Chief Opinion Editor, Scientific American
- Jacob Simas - Managing Editor, The Oaklandside (Cityside Journalism Initiative)
- Ashley M. Slayton - Audience Development Editor, The Dallas Morning News
- Matthew Tinoco - Publisher, Los Angeles Public Press
- Michelle Zenarosa - Deputy Editor, Reckon Media
Media Entrepreneurs and Product Developers Fellows pictured (clockwise from top left) include Priya David Clemens, Brandy Collins, Jazmin Goodwin, Ahmed Hamid, Caron LeNoir, Alicia Ramirez, Karina Ramos Villalobos, Ryan Sorrel, and Wendy Todd.
Media Entrepreneurs and Product Developers
- Priya David Clemens - Founder, Bridge Media Company / News Anchor, KQED Public TV
- Brandy Collins - Freelance Writer & Alumna, Oakland Voices/ Consultant
- Jazmin Goodwin - Founder and CEO at Stealth Startup
- Ahmed Hamid - Co-Founder, Refound Journalism
- Caron LeNoir - Founder & Executive Producer, CARONISMedia Group
- Alicia Ramirez - Founder/ Publisher, The Riverside Record
- Karina Ramos Villalobos - Founder, Mundo De Scorpio/ Multimedia Journalist, Redwood News
- Ryan Sorrel - Founder & Executive Editor, The Kansas City Defender
- Wendy Todd - Founder, Carbon Media Ventures. LLC/ PR Writer, University of Missouri–St. Louis
Read the bios for the 2023 Maynard 200 Fellows(PDF)
Maynard 200 has been supported by Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Google News Initiative and The Hearthland Foundation.
Learn more about the Maynard 200 Fellows of 2023
Interested in learning more this year's fellows? Get to know the 49 media leaders joining the fellowship in 2023.
About the Maynard Institute
For more than 45 years, the Maynard Institute has fought to push back against the systemic lack of diversity in the news industry through training, collaborations and convenings. Founded by Robert C. Maynard, the Institute promotes diversity and antiracism in the news media through improved coverage, hiring and business practices. We are creating better representation in America’s newsrooms through our Maynard 200 fellowship program, which gives media professionals of color the tools to become skilled storytellers, empowered executives and inspired entrepreneurs.
About the Maynard 200 Fellowship
Maynard 200 is the cornerstone fellowship program advancing the Maynard Institute’s efforts to expand the diversity pipeline in news media and dismantle structural racism in its newsrooms. It is designed for and serves the next generation of media leaders, storytellers, editors and entrepreneurs, in order to advance their career growth and leadership power in newsrooms and organizations. The professional development program provides customized training courses, resources and 1:1 mentorship by industry professionals, to fellows who have represented a wide spectrum of racial, gender and geographic backgrounds.
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Questions?
For more information about the Maynard 200 Fellowship, please reach out to: Maynard 200 Director, Odette Alcazaren-Keeley at okeeley@mije.org.