Albert E. Fitzpatrick Leadership Development Institute

Leadership Development Institute October 2007 Class. Photo by Ellen Herb, The New York Times Co.

What Participants Say About LDI

“After LDI, I felt better equipped to deal with the issues and challenges I am facing as a manager. I now have a better understanding of what I need to do to become a leader in the media industry.”

--Jacqueline Sergeant, Promotions Manager, North Jersey Media Group

“LDI gave me the opportunity to interact with other managers from around the country and discuss concerns that are common among minorities in management. It also allowed an opportunity to learn real solutions in order to be a more effective leader.”

--Lon Rudolph, National Sales Manager, WTMJ

What is LDI?

As the media industry grapples with intense competitive pressures and the challenge of serving a multicultural nation, there’s never been a more critical need for leaders who can motivate others while helping to craft innovative and creative solutions to the issues facing the industry. Further, as more and more people of color move into managerial positions, they must muster and balance the myriad responsibilities that accompany such jobs. At the same time, perception and resentment may affect their advancement, as does inadequate mentoring, poor training and lack of developmental opportunities.

The Leadership Development Institute (LDI) helps managers of color succeed by helping them develop effective management skills while candidly addressing why managers sometimes fail or become stalled in their careers.

LDI is a program of the National Association of Minority Media Executives Foundation, the educational arm of NAMME. NAMME is the only organization of managers and executives of color working in both the news and business operations of all media-related fields. NAMME exists to encourage more diversity in the profession at the highest levels and to serve as a resource to the industry on issues of diversity.

Program Description

The Leadership Development Institute is a three and a half-day, hands-on program for new and middle managers of color. It is offered twice a year, in the spring and fall, in partnership with different media organizations and associations. Hosts and sponsors have included: Knight Ridder; The McClatchy Company; Freedom Forum; Gannett Company; Times Mirror Foundation; Newspaper Association of America; Chicago Tribune;The New York Times Company, and North Jersey Media Group.

Senior executives in the media industry help LDI participants sharpen their leadership skills and learn how to develop their careers while successfully contributing to the goals of the organization. Through group interaction and discussion, the participants also share their experiences of trying to achieve personal and professional goals in a race-sensitive society. LDI provides an environment in which media managers of color can focus on personal and professional values plus the strengths of character and cultural traits that will enhance their positions as leaders in their organizations and communities.

Solutions in Action

The LDI curriculum includes a discussion of the following:

The challenges facing the media industry and how managers of color can contribute
Analysis of one’s communication style and how that affects how one is viewed by staff, peers and senior managers
The attributes and characteristics of effective leaders
How to inspire creativity and innovation in others
How to use marketplace concepts to “brand” oneself
Ways to establishing effective network and better leverage mentoring relationships
How to leverage technology to become more effective, efficient and productive
How to link one’s ideas to company initiatives and strategic business goals.

Who Should Attend

Newly appointed managers and middle managers of color working in such areas as news, advertising, circulation, finance, marketing, information systems, human resources, production and operations are prime candidates for this program. For optimal learning and effective group interaction, attendance is limited to 20 participants per session.

Tuition

Tuition is $1500 and includes a one-year membership to NAMME and a complimentary registration to the NAMME Annual Conference. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for the duration of LDI. Participants’ companies are responsible for airfare and hotel costs.

LDI Founder Albert E. Fitzpatrick

Albert E. Fitzpatrick is the founding chair of NAMME. He retired from Knight Ridder in 1994, where he had been assistant vice president of minority affairs since 1985. Before joining Knight Ridder, Fitzpatrick worked for 29 years at the Akron Beacon Journal in Ohio. He held several newsroom positions at the Beacon Journal, the last being executive editor. Fitzpatrick is the dean of the Leadership Development Institute.