Updated Aug. 8
The Publicists, the Editors, the Readers, the Hidden Gems . . .
Miles Marshall Lewis
Regina Jones
Bruce Talamon
Felix Contreras
Willard Jenkins
Leonard Pitts Jr.
H. Zahra Caldwell
From New York: Media Watch (Aug. 3, July 20)
Apply to the Chauncey Bailey JoC Reporting Fellowship
July 31: Deadline for Poynter’s Program on Child Welfare
Aug. 3: Truth and Disinformation in the Middle East
Aug. 9: Deadline for Pitches for IRE’s Online AccessFest2026
Aug. 10: Deadline for Local Business Journalism Fellowship
Aug 11: D.C. Preview of ‘Dreams in Nightmares’
Aug. 12-16: NABJ Convention in Atlanta
Aug. 13: Deadline for Applying for SPJ Foundation Grant
Aug. 22: Axios ‘Freedom 250 Grand Prix’ on Future of Transportation
Aug. 25-26: AI x Visual Journalism Forum
Aug. 28: IRE Webinar for Investigative Editors of Color
Aug. 29: Zoom on Disappearing Black Colombia
Sept. 2: Zoom on “Bringing Readers Back”
Sept. 6: Benjamin, Prince to Headline 44th Annual Parker Lecture
Sept. 8: Deadline to Appy for N.Y. Times Editing Residency
Sept. 10: Early Bird Registration Deadline for NYABJ Gala
Sept. 10-13: NLGJA 2026 National Convention
Sept. 14: Deadline for Investigative Journalism Applications
Sept. 18: Deadline for Writing Workshop for Journalists of Color
JOBS
From these journalist organizations
Rebecca Aguilar’s Journalism Job Openings: ‘The July List’
Rebecca Aguilar’s Journalism Job Openings: ‘The August List’
From the Uproot Project (Aug. 5)
From the Maynard Institute (July 23)
From South Asian Journalists Association (July 30)
From Washington and Lee University via Eric Deggans
From Society of Professional Journalists (July 29)
From the Guardian U.S. (July 29)
From the Lemon Media Network, via NYU (July 29)
From LinkedIn (July 11)
Homepage photo: Billie Holiday at the Downbeat in New York, circa February 1947. (William P. Gottleib/Ira and Leonore S. Gershwin Fund Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress)
“The hip hop journalist who was inside Vibe, XXL, and The Source when magazines ran the culture . . . sits down with Lawrence Ross for a masterclass in music journalism, Black literature, and hip hop history.” (Credit: YouTube)
The Publicists, the Editors, the Readers, the Hidden Gems . . .
What’s it like to be a music journalist? From Downbeat to the Village Voice, Soul, Vibe, the Source, XXL, AllHipHop.com and niche and mainstream publications before and after, these venues have provided space for those with a burning desire to explore this universal cultural expression.
We’ve assembled some who can tell us what’s it like chronicling and critiquing the musicians, dealing with the publicists, persuading editors and readers, discovering those hidden gems and keeping up with the trends.
You can join us Monday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. Eastern in person in Washington, D.C., or via Zoom.
With us so far:
Miles Marshall Lewis, cultural historian of the Hip Hop Museum, pop culture critic, essayist, literary editor, fiction writer, and music journalist. Miles is the author of the cultural biography “Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar”; “There’s a Riot Goin’ On,” a book on the making of the seminal 1971 Sly and the Family Stone album of the same name; a memoir about growing up with hip hop in the Bronx, “Scars of the Soul Are Why Kids Wear Bandages When They Don’t Have Bruises“; and an upcoming book on the life and comedy of Dave Chappelle. He is also the former series editor and founder of Bronx Biannual, an urbane urban literary journal of fiction and essays.
Regina Jones, co-founder and publisher of Soul newspaper, the world’s first soul music-focused publication.
Its archives are housed at UCLA. ” ‘The SOUL Legacy’ was created to preserve, collect, exhibit, and share the rich history and cultural heritage of Black entertainment documented in SOUL Newspaper and Soul Illustrated Magazine from 1966 through 1982,” she writes. “My current goal is to create an ancestral history book for my 14 grandchildren and other interested family members. Future goals: write and publish the SOUL story, and complete a couple novels.”
Bruce Talamon, photographer who started out with Soul, and was our guest at Roundtables on Jesse Jackson (last December) and on his own photography of “R&B royalty” in 2022. Bruce traveled with the 1984 and 1988 Jackson campaigns. At the 2022 Roundtable, Bruce displayed photos that were part of his exhibit, “Hotter Than July,” at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. (Credit: Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
Felix Contreras, co-creator and co-host of “Alt.Latino,” NPR’s pioneering radio show and podcast celebrating Latin music and culture since 2010. “There is a long history of music going beyond enjoyment to have a much deeper meaning for a particular moment in history,” Felix has said. When Beyoncé crossed over into country music, “Alt.Latino” presented the history of Latino artists making country music. It’s that kind of show. (Credit: Jeanine L. Cummins at our December 2023 Roundtable on Cuba.)
Willard Jenkins, artistic director of the DC Jazz Fest, author of “Ain’t But a Few of Us” (Duke University Press, 2022), “of dialogues with Black music writers – primarily jazz writers, though the majority of us have contributed on other genres in addition to jazz music – on their respective journeys & challenges. The premise of the book is that while Black contributions dominate what we know as American music, there has been a decided dearth or lack of Black writers published on this music, and the challenges my book contributors faced getting in print.”
Leonard Pitts Jr. describes working with Soul newspaper, which he edited, in this 2008 interview. “Soul was backstage at the entertainment industry. Soul was your ticket to places you otherwise could not go. . . . Somebody was holding them to account. Somebody was saying, ‘you know, that there’s meaning to this, and here’s what we think it is.’ ” (Credit: YouTube)
Leonard Pitts Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning former syndicated Miami Herald columnist who got his start in the business writing for Soul newspaper. “Sounds like too much fun. Count me in,” Leonard messaged. Here are some of Leonard’s books. This is his goodbye column for the Herald in December 2022.
Also in the room:
H. Zahra Caldwell, author of “The Fiercest King: Five Black Women in Art, Performance and Resistance, 1937-1965,” who has written about musicians and music.
Who’s in?
You can RSVP by hitting “reply” to this message, if you’re receiving this by email, or by messaging
< jroundtable5 (at) gmail.com >. Please specify in-person or Zoom.
Zoom information and D.C. location come after RSVPs.
From New York: Media Watch (Aug. 3)
HOSTS: Alan Singer, PhD, Raymond Peterson, Robert Anthony and Eric V Tait, Jr:
Mamdani-Netanyahu and the ICC Warrant/Lindsey Graham-Netanyahu and Netanyahu-West Bank Atrocities. Rand Paul’s kangaroo-court Senate Hearings rehashing Dr. Faucci and COVID instead of the current dysfunctional CDC-NIH-FDA and the rash of food-borne illnesses sweeping the country, not to mention the troubling national legislative assaults on vaccination programs now putting our nation – especially children – at risk. NY Reporter wins 2.4 million discrimination suit against WPIX-CHN 11, and, surprise-surprise – a new (questionable?) 60 Minutes slate of “Correspondents?” announced by CBS.
From New York: Media Watch (July 20)
HOSTS: Robert Anthony, Alan Singer, PhD, and Eric V Tait Jr:
Discuss/assess: Todd Blanche (as AG) Confirmation Hearings tied to continued DOJ assault on Journos and Press Freedom AND its outlandish “Settlement” with tRUMP over the release of his taxes (which a Fed Judge has referred to the NY Bar Assn for possible sanctioning of Mr. Blanche); Hegseth’s wacked out “Testosterone Testing” for the US Military (can’t make up this stupidity); Rep. Ro Khanna “detained” by Israeli West Bank Settlers and dissed by the IDF; Rahm Emmanuel calls out Netanyahu and Israel for allowing itself to become a global pariah by allowing the Netanyahu govt to run amok in Gaza and the West Bank.
From Investigative Reporters & Editors
Apply to the Chauncey Bailey JoC Reporting Fellowship
IRE is now accepting applications for the Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship, a year-long program designed to support and prepare journalists of color for strong careers in investigative reporting.
The fellowship provides extensive training, mentorship and data support, including attendance at an IRE Data Journalism Bootcamp, NICAR Conference, IRE Conference and AccessFest.
The application deadline is Sept. 1.
Learn more and apply.
July 31: Deadline for Poynter’s Program on Child Welfare
- Application deadline: July 31, 2026
Covering Child Welfare: A Journalist’s Guide to Impactful Reporting (September 2026)
Build a stronger child welfare reporting beat with free expert-led training, practical tools and newsroom-tested strategies.
Aug. 3: Truth and Disinformation in the Middle East
Aug. 9: Deadline for Pitches for IRE’s Online AccessFest2026
Join Investigative Reporters and Editors for our fifth-annual, virtual-by-design conference. The conference will provide professional development opportunities that focus on diversity, belonging, equity and inclusion issues within the newsroom and in news coverage. AccessFest will also feature some of the best sessions from past NICAR and IRE Conferences, including tried-and-true data skills and investigative techniques.
Remember: You must be a current IRE member through October 31, 2026, to attend the conference.
Expired members must renew their membership before registering for the conference. Not an IRE member? You can apply online.
From Francisco Vara-Orta, interim deputy executive director:
It’s been wonderful to see the excitement and engagement around our virtual programming grow year after year. Last year we had almost 500 people attend the event globally and appreciate your support in the past as a speaker, attendee, and/or partner related to the conference!
This year, we’re back online October 8 -10, 2026. Our team is working hard to make the conference even better, but we always welcome your help and feedback. What topics are you interested in? Which speakers would you like to hear from?
Let us know by Sunday, August 9th using this pitch form.
Aug. 10: Deadline for Local Business Journalism Fellowship
The National Press Foundation is accepting applications for its expenses-paid Local Business Journalism Fellowship. The four-day training, scheduled for Oct. 5-8 in Chicago, helps journalists strengthen coverage of small businesses, housing, labor, AI, and other issues shaping local economies. Applications are due by Aug. 10. Apply here.
Aug 11: D.C. Preview of ‘Dreams in Nightmares’
Advance screening of DREAMS IN NIGHTMARES on Aug. 11. You can watch the trailer here.
Join us for a special evening celebrating Shatara Michelle Ford’s bold new take on the American road movie. Be among the first audiences in Washington, DC to experience this Berlinale Official Selection and enjoy an unforgettable night at the movies with fellow film lovers, creators, and guests. Immediately following the film, stick around for an exclusive 30-minute Q&A with a special guest and Shatara Michelle Ford.
Please reserve tickets by using the link. Please note that for this screening, seating is first-come, first-served, and seating is not guaranteed, so we recommend all guests arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime.
- Lovia Gyarkye, Hollywood Reporter: ‘Dreams in Nightmares’ Review: Shatara Michelle Ford’s Queer Road Movie Is Equal Parts Soothing and Opaque (Aug. 1, 2024)
- Seth Marumoto, Variety: Shatara Michelle Ford Probes Queer Black Experiences Through the Road Trip Trope in Berlin Panorama Feature ‘Dreams in Nightmares’ (Feb. 15, 2025)
Aug. 12-16: NABJ Convention in Atlanta
Fresh off the celebration of our 50th anniversary, Atlanta stands as the ideal host city for NABJ’s 2026 Convention & Career Fair. . . .
- Aug. 28 | Virtual | Investigative Managers and Editors of Color Task Force webinar with Fernanda Santos of the 19th (Investigative Reporters and Editors)
Also, IRE’s Investigative Editors and Managers of Color Community is providing limited financial assistance to cover the cost of a one-year IRE professional membership for anyone who is a current or aspiring investigative manager or editor of color.
Colombia has one of the largest Afro-descendant populations in Latin America. According to a post-census survey, the government estimates that Afro-Colombians constitute 10 per cent of the population, which translates to approximately 4.67 million Afro descendants.
Aug. 29: Zoom on Disappearing Black Colombia
Disappearing Black Colombia: The Erasure of the Western Hemisphere’s 3rd Largest Black Community
August 29, 2026 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
This presentation will demonstrate how multiple state actors – via the use of Blackface (i.e. “acceptable Black” persons) – have co-opted and continue to stymie the development of Colombia’s Black community for over a century and a half, since the abolition of slavery there in 1852. It will make a pointed attempt to narrate corrosive conduct such as the territorial subversion of Black communities by international interests via extra-judicial groups, highlight ‘quackademics’ (coons, pseudo-scholars, and influencers), and showcase political usurpers (lost and ambitious negroes used as pawns for mestizo advancement and anti-Black agendas).
Sept. 2: Zoom on ‘Bringing Readers Back’
From the Online News Association:
ONA26 presenters Angela Pacienza and Jennifer Kho return to redux and update their popular conference presentation, “Bringing Readers Back! Real-World Tactics for Combating News Fatigue.”
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (EDT)
These timely case studies will address news avoidance in an era of unending content, offering attendees tactics and strategies to make their offerings more friendly and relatable, including creating entire new beats, broadening the scope of alerts, and re-thinking what makes an audience-first story mix.
Sept. 6: Benjamin, Prince to Headline 44th Annual Parker Lecture
Dr. Ruha Benjamin, a leading scholar on race, technology, and justice, will deliver the 2026 Everett C. Parker Ethics in Telecommunications Lecture and veteran journalist Richard Prince will be recognized with this year’s Everett C. Parker Award, the United Church of Christ’s Media Justice Ministry announced . . ,
The UCC Media Justice Ministry is the media justice arm of the United Church of Christ denomination, which includes about 4,600 congregations and more than 700,000 members. Rev. Dr. Parker was inspired by the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to reform television coverage of the civil rights movement in the South. The advocacy of OC Inc., UCCMJM’s predecessor, resulted in the establishment of the right of all American citizens to participate before the FCC and the FCC being compelled to take away the broadcast license of the pro-segregationist television station WLBT-TV in Jackson, Miss., in 1969 for failing to serve the public interest.
The Parker Lecture was created in 1982 to recognize the Rev. Dr. Parker’s pioneering work as an advocate for the public’s rights in broadcasting. The Parker Lecture is the only program of its kind in the United States that examines telecommunications in the digital age from an ethical perspective.
Ticket information, sponsorship opportunities, livestream links, and additional details about the 44th Annual Parker Lecture can be found at https://uccmediajustice.org/Parker-lecture-2026.
Sept. 8: Deadline to Appy for N.Y. Times Editing Residency
The New York Times has opened applications for its Editing Residency, a one-of-a-kind program aimed at cultivating the next generation of editors.
Editing remains a vital newsroom skill that requires practice and guidance, as well as a mastering of judgment, clarity and context. Moreover, the art of editing continues to evolve as newsrooms tell stories in increasingly creative and visual ways. Residents work full time for two years across a range of desks in the newsroom. They are paid, receive benefits and attend dedicated training and speaker programs at The Times. We plan to welcome three new residents early next year. . .
The deadline to submit an application is 5 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Sept. 10: Early Bird Registration Deadline for NYABJ Gala
Celebrate 50 years of outstanding journalism at the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ) Awards Show and Sneaker Ball!
Join us in person for an unforgettable night celebrating talent and style. This isn’t your usual awards show—it’s a fundraiser and sneaker ball, so bring your freshest kicks or comfy footwear and enjoy a night with Gala Co-host Lenny Green of the WBLS radio show, “The Quiet Storm,” along with Author Tiffany D. Cross (book signing and Q/A) and more personalities to be announced. Guests will enjoy an open bar, dinner, dessert, dancing, author’s book, and more. We will honor some of NYC’s most influential media personalities, journalists, and surprise guests. Contact president@nyabj.org for details and follow us on IG @nyabj.
Sept. 10-13: NLGJA 2026 National Convention, San Francisco
Specific session titles and descriptions will be available later in the summer.
Sept. 14: Deadline for Investigative Journalism Applications
Sept. 18: Deadline for Writing Workshop for Journalists of Color
This free workshop Nov. 10 – Nov. 13, celebrates its 10th anniversary at Poynter by helping journalists of color harness the power of their voice through four intensive days of immersive learning. Develop confidence and skills to share your unique perspective, build professional networks and address the underrepresentation of diverse voices in opinion journalism. Apply by Sept. 18.
JOBS
From these journalist organizations
Rebecca Aguilar’s Journalism Job Openings: ‘The July List’
Rebecca Aguilar’s Journalism Job Openings: The August List
From the Uproot Project (updated Aug. 5)
- Job Opportunities
- Solutions Journalism Network, Southeast Asia, Consultant (deadline August 12)
- NEWSWELL, Climate, Environment & Water Reporter
- CalMatters and Grist, Climate Reporter
- Bay Journal, Environmental Reporter
- The Times-Picayune, Environmental Reporter
- NYT, Climate Policy Correspondent
- CalMatters, Indigenous Affairs Reporter
Fellowships & Grants
- Waging Nonviolence, Fellowship (deadline August 10)
- Earth Journalism Network, Media Grants (deadline August 10)
- NYT, Local Investigations Fellow
- The Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship (deadline September 1)
- ProPublica, Emerging Reporters (deadline August 17th)
- Pulitzer Center, Climate Storytelling Accelerator (deadline August 14)
- Pulitzer Center, Our Work/Environment Reporting Grants
Other opportunities & resources
- National Tropical Botanical Garden’s Environmental Journalism Program (deadline August 18)
- Fuller, pitch form (Water scarcity pitches due by August 18)
- Thomson Foundation, Young Journalist Award 2026
- The Covering Climate Now Academy (deadline August 11)
- UNESCO, Reporting the environment: a practical manual for journalists
- Field Sources, An Environmental Source Desk
- Earth Journalism Network Opportunities
- NPR, Next Gen Radio
- Calendar for paid internships & fellowships (courtesy of Mandy Hofmockel’s substack for journalism jobs)
- National Press Photographers Foundation, Grants & Scholarships
- Pitching Science Friday
- ProPublica, Freelance Pitch Form
From the Maynard Institute (July 23)
Jobs and Fellowships
The Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship: Established in 2019, the Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship supports journalists of color interested in investigative journalism. Over the course of the year, fellows receive IRE training, mentorship, data services and support — with the goal of producing an investigative reporting project to help their community. Applications are due September 1st!
Solitary Watch Solitary Reporting Project Grant: Solitary Watch is offering grants to journalists and nonprofit newsrooms working in all media with the goal of expanding public awareness and understanding of solitary confinement in U.S. federal and state prisons, local and tribal jails, immigration detention centers, and juvenile justice facilities. Grants are meant to cover both payments to journalists and reporting expenses, and will range from $1,000 to $3,000. Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis, on January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31. The first deadline is July 31, 2026.
Senior Health Reporter, El Tímpano – San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Election reporter, Flatwater Free Press – Remote/Hybrid, NE
California Reporter, ProPublica – Remote/Hybrid, CA
Food Reporter, the Baltimore Banner – Baltimore, MD
CityCast Pittsburgh, Creative Producer – Pittsburgh, PA
Newsperson (Global News Intern, Race and Ethnicity Reporter), The Associated Press – New York, NY/Washington D.C.
Charlotte Documenters Program Manager – Charlotte, NC
Editor-in-Chief, Investigate Midwest – Remote, Midwest
Education Reporter, Santa Rosa Press Democrat – Sonoma County, CA
Politics, Policy and Power Correspondent, Lookout Santa Cruz – Santa Cruz, CA
Senior Digital Multimedia Journalist, NBC4 Washington – Washington, D.C.
Visuals Editor, MPR News – Saint Paul, MN
From South Asian Journalists Association (July 30)
Jobs, Fellowships & Internships NBC News is hiring an Associate Producer for Nightly News in New York to pitch and produce stories and support daily broadcast production. Newsweek is hiring a Senior News Editor to lead U.S. breaking and national news coverage, with remote or hybrid options. ProPublica is hiring California-based reporters to produce investigative and accountability journalism on issues with statewide and national impact. Chicago Public Media is hiring a News Editor in a hybrid role to lead and edit daily coverage across WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, including digital, audio and print. The Chicago Sun-Times is seeking an experienced sports reporter to lead coverage of the Chicago White Sox, breaking news and producing analysis, features and multimedia coverage across platforms. Columbia Journalism School is accepting applications for its fully funded, five-day Nathan S. Collier Business Reporting Program for early- to mid-career journalists covering business, finance and economics. Deadline: Sept. 14. The Financial Times is hiring recent college graduates for a one-year, full-time newsroom fellowship in New York, offering hands-on reporting experience and mentorship across its editorial teams. IRE is accepting applications for its yearlong Chauncey Bailey Journalist of Color Investigative Reporting Fellowship, offering journalists of color training, mentorship and support to pursue investigative projects. Deadline: Sept. 1. The National Press Foundation is accepting applications for multiple fellowships and training programs for journalists, with upcoming deadlines in August and September. Explore the latest journalism jobs on SAJA’s Job Board and in the newsletters below. |
From Washington and Lee University via Eric Deggans
The Donald W. Reynolds Chair in Business Journalism
Washington and Lee University: Journalism & Mass Communications Department
Washington and Lee University’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communications seeks an experienced journalist of national reputation to hold The Donald W. Reynolds Chair in Business Journalism, beginning in July 2027. The Reynolds Chair runs a signature program, the highly successful business journalism sequence, launched in 2002 to give students specialized education in reporting with an emphasis on covering business. W&L’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communications is the nation’s only accredited journalism program in a highly competitive liberal arts university.
We seek a colleague who can adapt and grow the business journalism program to meet the challenges of new technology and a changing business climate. . . .
From Society of Professional Journalists (July 29)
WVPE-FM in Elkhart, Indiana, is hiring a reporter and editor. At least two years of experience in radio news with a broad background and knowledge of public radio journalism, audio storytelling and audio production is required.
ABC7 KGO-TV in San Francisco is seeking a vice president of news. Proven newsroom leadership experience in a medium or large designated market area or a comparable news organization is required. Candidates must have experience working with unions and participating in contract negotiations.
Westword in Denver is hiring a full-time music editor. At least two years of newsroom management experience is required. The ideal candidate is a native of social media and digital journalism. To apply, email a resume, cover letter and links to your work with “Westword Music Editor” in the subject line.
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From the Guardian U.S. (July 29):
Channel Manager
Global Head of Technology Journalism
Political Enterprise Reporter
Head of Video
US Newsletter Producer
Essays Editor
Lead Digital Designer
Graphics Editor
US Head of Photography
Assistant Digital and Audience Editor
From the Lemon Media Network, via NYU (July 29)
Our flagship is The Don Lemon Show, a twice-daily live news and commentary program, and around it we’re building a growing network of correspondents, contributors, and offerings, with a community of more than 10 million followers across platforms, produced from our studio in New York.
Residents work across reporting, live show production, audience development, and digital production. The fall cohort starts September 8 and applications are open now.
Also, full-time early-career roles as they come up. Right now that includes an Associate Producer position ($55,000–$75,000, NYC) that could be a strong fit for a recent graduate with production experience.
Application available here.
Everything current is at https://donlemon.com/pages/
From LinkedIn (July 11)
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From Hacks/Hackers: Join us for the inaugural AI x Visual Journalism Forum, August 25-26 in Los Angeles in partnership with the Narrative and Emerging Media Program at Arizona State University.
AI is changing how visual journalism gets made and how newsrooms work with images and video. We’re bringing the people doing the work together to figure out what it means. Our friends at Poynter Institute will also be there to address the ethical issues.
Aug. 28: IRE Webinar for Investigative Editors of Color