Poynter is the Global Leader in Journalism For more than 40 years, The Poynter Institute has had one goal: to strengthen democracy by making journalism better. It has grown from a storefront in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida, to the world’s most influential school for journalists. Poynter plays the role of instructor, innovator, convener, and resource for anyone who aspires to engage and inform citizens, not only in 21st century democracies, but in those corners of the globe where people who serve freedom and self-government struggle against tyrants and autocrats. Poynter is an inspirational place but also a practical one, connecting the crafts of journalism to its higher mission and purpose. From person-to-person coaching and intensive hands-on seminars to interactive online courses, Poynter teaching sharpens skills and elevates work. This unique place brings to life the idea of Nelson Poynter, our visionary founder. For decades, Mr. Poynter published newspapers in Florida and Washington that reflected his belief that journalism, published independently, could help communities prosper and democracies flourish. That’s why he founded this Institute, a non-profit school that would own the controlling stock of the Tampa Bay Times, now one of the nation’s largest and most decorated newspapers and a major player in American journalism and beyond.
The Poynter Medal Honors the Best in Journalism To fulfill its mission, Poynter looks to shine a bright light on the best journalism practiced across the globe, and on the best journalists and media leaders who make it happen. The Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism honors accomplished journalists who have helped inform and inspire the country and the world. Each year, this achievement is celebrated at The Poynter Institute’s annual Bowtie Ball (Nelson Poynter sported a bowtie), where hundreds of prominent media executives, business people, philanthropists, and public servants gather to celebrate the impact of the recipient’s career and the relationship between journalism and democracy.
“We can’t have democracy as we know it without a free press, and that’s why Poynter is so important.” — Bob Schieffer, 2015 Medal Recipient Former CBS News Anchor and Host of “Face the Nation”
“The Poynter Institute has long been an invaluable resource for excellence in journalism. And so I am grateful and honored to receive its lifetime achievement award.” — Tom Brokaw, 2016 Medal Recipient Longtime Anchor, NBC Nightly News
“It’s such an honor to be recognized by Poynter, which from the day it opened its doors has been dedicated to nourishing excellent journalism as the foundation of our democracy. Its mission of educating journalists at every stage of their careers has never been more important than it is now.” — Judy Woodruff, 2017 Medal Recipient Anchor and Managing Editor, PBS Newshour
Poynter Teaches and Inspires While the Poynter Institute is a school for journalism and democracy, it does not limit itself to those two large categories. With the First Amendment as its guide, Poynter pays close attention to all aspects of culture, media, literacy, education, music, technology, communication, and entertainment. We teach without boundaries. Each year, Poynter trains more than 100,000 journalists from over 100 countries in person and online. We teach craft-based skills such as writing, reporting, and editing. We teach ethics and leadership. We teach timely and topical skills. How should journalists cover the opioid crisis in America? How can they give voice to the voiceless, including to poor children of color living in the South? Since the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994, Poynter has been lending support to journalists in South Africa and across the globe.
Congressman John Lewis talks to participants in The Write Field program just before the Pulitzer Centennial Celebration in St. Petersburg.
The Write Field While our influence is global, we do important work helping journalists, students, and teachers in our own back yard. Through a program called The Write Field, we mentor and teach literacy skills to at-risk middleschoolers, most of them students of color. In the program’s eight years, Poynter has touched the lives of more than 200 children, many of whom are already at work to help their own communities.
Diversity in Media Leadership Our country is undergoing profound changes, sparked by controversies and crisis, especially on issues of gender and race. Countless stories have emerged on everything from the abuse of power and the mistreatment of women to the lack of females and people of color in leadership positions in American newsrooms. These stories have exposed significant issues facing the industry. Poynter has responded to these challenges by designing curricula to directly support a new generation of journalism leaders. Now in its fourth year, our Leadership Academy for Women in Digital Media received over 600 applications for 28 positions.
Much like the issues women face in a male-dominated industry, diversity remains an issue as newsrooms do not reflect the communities they serve, and there are even fewer people of color in leadership ranks. We train journalists of color to rise above these circumstances and thrive through our Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media and The Power of Diverse Voices: The Poynter Minority Writer’s Workshop.
News Literacy and Education Poynter is leading a major initiative to build digital literacy skills among middle and high school students. The project will develop curriculum in partnership with a top-tier university to equip these kids to think more critically about information in the digital age.
Public Trust, Media Ethics and Fact-Checking In 2006, Poynter’s senior scholar, Dr. Roy Peter Clark, twice appeared as an expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Dr. Clark outlined a path for viewers to understand news judgment and critical literacy. Today, through her teaching and writing, Indira Lakshmanan, Poynter’s Newmark Chair for Journalism Ethics, is tackling issues related to news media performance, attempts to undermine the credibility of news, and the efforts to regain public trust. She hosted The Press & The President: Trust & The Media in Washington, D.C., leading a challenging conversation with some of the most prominent members of the Washington press corps about how to practice the best forms of journalism. Finally, Poynter is home to the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) and the Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact, which holds the powerful to account by vetting and rating their claims. This movement is sweeping across the globe in the battle against misinformation and propaganda.
Your acceptance of the honor of the Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement will place you in the prestigious company in which you belong, and help Poynter do more of this essential work around the globe.
“… we also know that it is the insatiable dedication to uncovering the absolute truth that keeps us from turning a blind eye to corruption and to injustice. To tyrants and victims and secrets and lies. I want to say that I value the press more than ever before, as we try to navigate these complicated times.” — Oprah Winfrey, Journalist, Storyteller, American Media Proprietor, Actress, Producer and Philanthropist
Poynter. A Global Leader in Journalism.
THE POYNTER INSTITUTE FOR MEDIA STUDIES is the global leader in journalism education and a strategy center that stands for uncompromising excellence in journalism, media and 21st century public discourse. Poynter faculty teach seminars and workshops at the Institute in Florida and at conferences and organizational sites around the world. The world’s top journalists and media innovators come to Poynter to learn and teach new generations of reporters, authors, media inventors, designers, visual journalists, documentarians and broadcast producers, and to build public awareness about journalism, media, the First Amendment and protected discourse that serves democracy and the public good.