What is NGL?

Next Generation Leadership (NGL) is a new professional development program that is designed to help public media expand its pipeline of programming executives by identifying, training and helping retain a diverse group of senior and executive producers and other content leaders in television, film, radio, and digital platforms. 

Eight Senior Editorial Fellows will be selected for training in 2016.  As they complete the training and move into new leadership positions, they will bring new voices and perspectives to the top levels of public media programming.

At the heart of the NGL initiative are four week-long periods, spread over a year, during which the Fellow is “embedded” at a major public media production – for example, at television programs like American Experience orThe NewsHour; at radio programs like KPCC’s Off-Ramp or PRI’s The World; or at the digital units for any of these programs or other digital-original public media projects. The embed weeks will provide mentorship and real-world experience at established public media programs, giving Fellows the opportunity to observe leadership in action and make contributions to major series.

Additional training opportunities in the program include an initial “immersion” week, networking opportunities at national and local public media gatherings, and meetings with PBS, CPB, NPR, PRI, and other public media organizations.

Stations and other public media organizations that agree to send a candidate, either as a staff member or as an independent maker, will gain programming candidates who are leadership-ready and nationally networked.  Sending organizations will also receive management workshops, presented by The Partnership and NGL executives, to assist station management teams create climates where diverse professionals can thrive and all staff can excel.