The Punch Sulzberger Executive News Media Leadership Program

Applications are now being accepted for 2010.
Application deadline: Nov. 1, 2009

The Media and Research panel discussion with Tom Rosenstiel, left, moderator, Jennifer Carroll from Gannett and David Poltrack from CBS.





2007 Sulzberger Fellows Tom Heslin of the Providence Journal, and Sergio Salinas of the San Antonio Express News in session.






The Media and Research panel discussion with Michael Caputo, left, of Minnesota Public Radio, and Michael Zimbalist of The New York Times Photos/Laura Reizman

Editorial and news executives face unprecedented challenges in blending journalistic values with business success. Changing demographics, technological advances, fluctuating financial markets and industry structures have fractured the class economic models of the news industry.

New ways of thinking – and leading – are required to find the best solutions to a wide range of issues facing journalism today.

These leadership challenges motivated the sisters of Punch Sulzberger – Ruth Holmberg, Marian Sulzberger Heiskell and Judith Sulzberger -- to establish the Punch Sulzberger Executive News Media Leadership Program at the Journalism School to acknowledge the leadership innovations their brother brought to The New York Times during his tenure as chief executive.

The Journalism School has worked with noted management expert and author Douglas K. Smith to design a program around the method of performance-driven change, which focuses on workplace performance as the key to achieving success within an organization.

The program is offered to high-ranking executives who will use strategy, innovation and other critical approaches to overcome challenges confronting their companies. The 12-15 month training period includes three 5-day sessions and one three-day workshop on the Columbia campus. The rest of the candidate’s time is spent planning and implementing the project at his or her workplace in consult with a project adviser. To date, 50 news managers from both the for-profit and non-profit sectors have enrolled in the program since it was established in 2006.

The curriculum is led by leading industry and academic figures, including innovative thinkers concerned with the social responsibility of the news business and its future.

Four major components guarantee the success of this program:

• Peer participants: Real-world experiences of a select group of senior news organization executives enhance leadership knowledge and growth.
• Advisers and assignments: Participants complete leadership assignments that link theory to practice. In addition, business advisers or mentors from among the world’s best management consultants help participants implement the initiatives needed to achieve success within their organizations.
• Tailored content: Fellows hear from leading academic and industry figures about the best practices needed to achieve success. Topics include leadership, strategy, innovation, technology, performance and organizational change. Advisers and peer groups also help adapt the course material to the performance challenges of each fellow. The most critical case study in this program is each participant’s selected personal performance or workplace challenge.
• Accountability: Fellows are held accountable for achieving success with each specific assignment. Prior to admission into the program, each candidate must demonstrate commitment and receive support from appropriate supervisors, peer groups and staff.

By mandating that the company support its candidate, the program ensures that the organization has a stake in its outcome and welcomes the leadership growth of its employees.

Please contact Associate Dean Arlene Morgan at am494@columbia.edufor more information.