Now entering its third year, Poynter’s online Executive Leadership Summit will bring together 20 top-level media leaders in October for three dedicated days of forward-thinking conversations and lessons.
“Leaders are at their best when they have space to focus on the future,” said Sitara Nieves, vice president of teaching and organizational strategy at Poynter. “Our executive summit provides leaders not just that space but the key frameworks to prioritize their vision, strategy and goals.”
A highlight of the program each year is hearing from keynote speakers during candid chats with Nieves and Poynter adjunct Cheryl Carpenter. Participants have the opportunity to ask their own questions, get advice and discuss their unique challenges with prominent industry leaders who have a wealth of experience to share.
This year’s keynotes are:
Hélène Biandudi Hofer, Journalist & Co-Founder of Good Conflict – Oct. 18
Biandudi Hofer is the founding principal of Good Conflict, LLC, which helps communities and companies get smarter about how they fight. Through her work in conflict, Hélène has trained over 1,000 journalists across 175 newsrooms worldwide on how to transform their coverage of controversial and divisive issues. Biandudi Hofer will talk to Executive Leadership Summit participants about how to productively manage conflict.
Kevin Merida, Executive Editor, Los Angeles Times – Oct. 19
Merida is an award-winning journalist, media executive and co-author of books on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and former President Barack Obama. He is currently the executive editor of the Los Angeles Times, a former senior vice president at ESPN, and a former managing editor of The Washington Post. In 2016, he launched The Undefeated, a multiplatform initiative exploring the intersections of race, sports and culture that is now on a trajectory to become a global Black brand for the Walt Disney Co. Merida will talk to Executive Leadership Summit participants about leading change and retaining people through change.
Lori Waldon, President and General Manager of KOAT TV, the ABC affiliate in Albuquerque-Santa Fe, New Mexico (owned by Hearst Television) – Oct. 19
Waldon oversees an award-winning station with a strong reputation for journalism excellence and outstanding community service. Prior to KOAT, Waldon served as Regional Director of News for Hearst Television and news director of the KCRA/KQCA duopoly in Sacramento, California. Under her leadership, KCRA earned two national Edward R. Murrow Awards for Overall Excellence and Breaking News and three consecutive Northern California Emmy Awards for News Excellence. Before KCRA, Waldon was the news director at WISN TV News in Milwaukee and assistant news director at duopoly CBS 13/CW31. She previously spent 13-years in news management roles at KPIX TV in San Francisco. Waldon will talk to Executive Leadership Summit participants about managing effectively across generations.
Kelly McBride, Senior Vice President and Chair of Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at Poynter – Oct. 20
At Poynter, McBride guides professional news organizations in the best practices for serving citizens, building trust and elevating democracy. She also serves as NPR’s Public Editor. In that role, she and her team listen to audience feedback and hold NPR accountable to their mission to serve the American public. She’s also worked as a public editor at ESPN and co-edited the book, “The New Ethics of Journalism: Guiding Principles for the 21st Century.” She will talk to Executive Leadership Summit participants about ethics and transparency.
“The Executive Leadership Summit gave me renewed energy to be a present and authentic leader,” said Stine Carsten Kendal, CEO of the Danish newspaper Dagbladet Information, and 2022 alum. “I was impressed by the honesty and sharing of the other participants and by the way faculty helped us realize that we as leaders need to work with our own issues, hopes, dreams and fears, in order to help others.”
Learn more about the 2023 Executive Leadership Summit. The deadline to apply is Aug. 14.