Applications for the new training program created by the News Product Alliance, in partnership with the Newmark J-School and News Catalyst, will open in the Fall

We at The News Product Alliance are proud to introduce today the upcoming News Product Management Certification (NPMC), a rigorous part-time, cohort-based program developed in partnership with the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and News Catalyst, with the support of the Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund.  

Designed for mid to senior-level news professionals, the NPMC aims to enhance technical and product knowledge to better drive strategic decision-making, innovation, and operational change within the news industry.

The big reveal happened during the opening session of the NPA's Summit! Applications for the inaugural cohort will open in September, with an early 2024 program start date. Can't wait to learn more? Sign up here to receive program updates and don't forget to check out the program's page.

Our new program is unique and fills a current gap by providing advanced technical training and hard skill development for news product professionals at the intermediate to senior level. NPA Executive Director Feli Carrique explained its important role in the field.

“Product thinking is crucial for the long-term sustainability of news organizations and their ability to support a healthier democracy, but knowledge gaps remain around product and strategy,” Carrique said. “That’s why we need to help media professionals through the more advanced stages of the product journey, from initial awareness and ad-hoc processes, and towards professional product operations.”

Program participants will come from a variety of mid-level or senior roles from any part of a news organization, possess some product experience from working on editorial products, and share a desire to enhance their technical and product knowledge to better drive strategic decision-making, innovation and operational change. 

We at NPA represent a community of support and practice with members all around the globe seeking to elevate the discipline of news product management and expand the diversity of news product thinkers in decision-making roles. In addition to an annual summit, we moderate an active Slack community, have developed a resource library of best practices, and run the Mentor Network program, where emerging product thinkers are matched with experienced news product professionals, with support from the Google News Initiative.

The NPA and J+, the professional training arm of the Newmark J-School, have partnered in the past to offer the Product Immersion for Small Newsrooms, a program for about 200 global journalists, and the Product Expansion Program for the program’s alumni.

“Our programs have been transformational in spreading awareness of all aspects of product thinking for news, from collaborative work methods, audience research, prototyping, designing for equity, and metrics, to revenue models. Now is time for the next step: A rigorous training program to mint tomorrow’s product managers,” Marie Gilot, J+ executive director, said.

The News Product Management Certification will focus on developing technical and strategic decision-making skills in a cohort model, with experiential learning. The program will be part-time, and online, and participants will produce and present a final project that showcases their ability to lead strategic decision-making for a news product. Sign up here to receive program updates! What are you waiting for?