Power of Diverse Voices: Writing Workshop for Journalists of Color (US)

With the support of expert instructors and fellow journalists of color, you’ll develop the confidence and skills to share your unique perspective in persuasive writing. You will learn both through instruction as well as intensive coaching in small writing groups. You will focus on fact-based opinion writing and using social media to spark a conversation across platforms.

The Power of Diverse Voices workshop grew out of collaboration between the Association of Opinion Journalists and The Poynter Institute.

The seminar is led by Tom Huang, a senior editor at The Dallas Morning News who has been a champion of diverse storytellers for 35 years and who has taught at Poynter for 20 of those years. This in-person, immersive experience will foster the diversity of voices necessary in the profession and train the next generation of opinion writers from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. Additionally, it will explore how opinion writing plays a vital role in explanatory, features and watchdog journalism, and is important in a thriving democracy.

Overview

• Visit Poynter’s campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, for four days of intensive, transformational learning.
• Deeply connect with and be inspired by your cohort of fellow journalists of color.
• Practice new techniques during dedicated writing sessions.
• Get feedback during small group coaching sessions.
• The training is free to accepted participants. Travel costs are not covered by Poynter.

Learning Outcomes

• You will learn how to:
  • Develop and hone your arguments, presenting these arguments effectively and persuasively.
  • Support your arguments using solid research and reporting.
  • Strengthen your reporting skills with an emphasis on fairness and accuracy.
  • Maximize your journalistic success on digital and social media platforms.
  • Generate strong ideas for your opinion pieces, broadening your access to diverse points of view.
  • Focus your ideas, developing a compelling pitch to editors.

Who should apply?

• Enrollment is open to new- and mid-career journalists of color based in the United States looking to add effective opinion writing to their tool kit, as well as those building a career path toward opinion journalism.
• Journalism students, journalism educators, freelancers and opinion journalists who work online or in social media are also encouraged to apply.

For more information, visit Poynter Institute.