Poynter Institute for Media Studies, Inc.

Poynter is a school for journalists, future journalists, and teachers of journalists. Professional journalists come here in a search for excellence. Our resident and visiting faculty provide concentrated instruction and personal support in that quest. We focus our programs to serve specific audiences, but all share the same approach. Poynter prides itself on a style of teaching and learning that helps shape every course, every conference, into a "Poynter Experience." This experience helps journalists to gain improved skills, new confidence in their craft, the courage to take risks and do their best, a higher sense of self-esteem and the power to shape their own career, a recognition of the value of diversity in the newsroom and in life, the vocabulary to describe what they do and what they stand for, a desire to continue their growth as a journalist and to share what they've learned, a new network of people who support them in their work so the learning continues, a clear picture of the special role of journalism in a democracy, and an understanding that their life's work is valuable and that they can make a difference. Poynter's programs teach and encourage effective leadership that guides sound news businesses. We emphasize the values and ethics that undergird good journalism and teach their practicial application. Poynter offers programs in six areas: Leadership and Management; Reporting, Writing, and Editing; Visual Journalism; Producing for Broadcast and Online; Ethics; and Journalism Business and Values. We teach across media - for print, broadcast, and online reports. Our focus is always a credible report of news and information that helps readers, viewers, and listeners in their role as citizens. To help educate the next generation of journalists, Poynter offers programs and scholarships for college students in reporting, writing, visual journalism, and ethics and provides programs to college educators. Each summer in St. Petersburg, Poynter holds writing camps for over 100 elementary and middle school children, which incorporates a fellowship program for the teachers of these students.

Poynter served 1,044 students in courses and programs offered in 2004. A total of 284 students and professors attended various programs free of charge. Tuition waivers granted to professionals and students were over $358,000. In addition, over 4,430 journalists and writers attended the National Writers Workshops co-sponsored by Poynter in seven locations around the US. Another 950 came to regional conferences for news leaders and broadcast producers. In all, more than 6,400 journalists, students, and teachers directly benefited from Poynter programs. In addition to its regular courses, Poynter hosted several instructional conferences on current issues of concern to hte journalism profession. Poynter faculty members provided over 130 days of pro bono instructional service or organizations of journalists, particularly those serving minority groups.