Learn more about our upcoming News Product Management Certification program
Applications for the NPMC Program Open September 5th!
June 23, 2023 - Our team at News Product Alliance alongside our partners at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY held an informational session about the News Product Management Certification Program (NPMC), the rigorous part-time, cohort-based program. Below, we’ve summarized the conversation from the event.
Application Process
Applications for the NPMC will be open from September 5th until November 3rd, 2023, with the first cohort starting in January 2024. The application process contains questions regarding your interest the program, your professional background and experience, and requires you to provide your resume. We also ask for two references who can vouch for your work experience and skills, among other requirements. We will share additional details when the application period opens. The process is designed to learn about the unique expertise, perspective and interests you’ll bring to the program cohort, as well as ensure your suitability for the program.
Our team also unveiled an exciting opportunity for companies interested in advancing their team's skills: the chance to secure spots for team members in our program.
“We have heard from news organizations looking for ways to train their staff in advanced product skills and to create a pipeline of skilled product thinkers in their organization. We wanted to help so we came up with the idea to offer news organizations the opportunity to sponsor and secure up to two spots in the program per cohort,” Marie Gilot said. Candidates referred by their companies as part of this offer will still have to qualify for the program though a standard application. We have packages that reserve seats in multiple cohorts, thus ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled professionals in your organization. If you're interested in learning more, please get in touch with our team members, Feli, NPA Executive Director (feli@newsproduct.org), and Marie, J+ Executive Director (marie.gilot@journalism.cuny.edu), who are happy to help.
Program
During the event, Becca Aaronson, NPA co-founder and Program Lead presented the key points of the NPMC program, which is designed for mid to senior-level news professionals who aim to enhance their technical and product knowledge in the news industry.
“If you want to deepen your technical understanding of digital products, gain personalized mentorship from expert news product professionals, and network with worldwide peers, the NPMC program is for you,” said Aaronson.
During the information session, our NPMC team shared the rigorous methodology underlying the course. We designed the high-level curriculum through conversations with hiring managers from the NPA Community and successful news product teams, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, New York Public Radio, CalMatters, and more. NPMC program participants will improve their product management skills by developing a deep understanding of the business landscape for news, how to optimize news revenue, manage analytics and tech stacks. They will also learn how to navigate organizational power in a news organization, collaborate with and hire a cross-functional product team, among other in-demand news product skills.
Logistics
The format of the NPMC program will be entirely virtual to ensure accessibility. Through live discussions, pre-recorded lectures, mentorship, peer circles, reading materials, and interactive exercises, participants will learn while producing a final capstone project that showcases their ability to lead strategic decision-making for a news product-changing industry. After the course, participants will receive a certificate of completion.
The course times and dates will be announced after the applicants are selected, in order to accommodate as many participants as possible across as many time zones as possible – to form a global cohort.
Q&A
The information session was interactive and provided a platform for lively discussions and insightful questions from participants. In the following section, we’ve compiled a selection of these questions and our corresponding responses to further clarify the details of the NPMC program.
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Yes, the program is suitable for individuals from diverse backgrounds, including freelancers, those working in newsrooms, or those working on products impact affecting the news industry. Individuals unaffiliated with a newsroom can apply independently. If you do not currently work in a news organization, we will be looking for a demonstrated interest in news product management in the application, as the program aims to develop leadership in product management within the news industry.
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Yes, all selected participants will develop and present a product strategy as part of the course. The goal of this project is to practice and hone the key skills you need for each stage of the product management cycle and how to communicate ideas effectively. Participants will start by identifying a problem or opportunity to focus on, then work to gain the insights necessary to make informed decisions. Next, they’ll synthesize those insights into possible solutions and a cohesive product strategy, so that they can communicate the ideas in a persuasive presentation.
The focus of the final project is up to every participant's discretion. Examples include pitching a new product strategy to fill an audience gap, pivoting the strategy or adjusting features of an existing product, and sunsetting a product or feature that no longer meets the needs of the organization.
Participants will receive coaching and instructor support throughout the journey.
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As this is a certification program, participants are expected to be actively engaged, which includes attendance at virtual sessions. Some course materials like pre-recorded lectures and readings will be provided for participants to prepare in advance. However, live attendance and participation during the sessions are required to ensure a full and engaging cohort experience.
The NPMC program is 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.
Curious to learn more about NPMC? Following the community call, we updated our website with all the relevant course and application information as well as FAQs specifically addressing questions from the community.
Please sign up here to receive future updates regarding the program and application process!
