Applications for the News Product Alliance’s News Product Management Certification (NPMC) program are officially open until November 3, 2023. The NPA is proud to partner with the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, and News Catalyst to produce the NPMC, with the support of the Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund.

The NPMC is a 3.5-month, rigorous, virtual course for mid to senior-level news professionals seeking to enhance their product strategy, technical expertise, and change management skills. It aims to bridge the skill gap in the news industry by helping participants master the product methodologies used by the world's leading newsrooms and technology companies.

"News product management is a rapidly evolving field. With this certificate program, we aim to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to lead news product development and innovation," Feli Carrique, executive director of the News Product Alliance, said. "We're excited to foster a diverse cohort of participants and shape the future leaders in news product management."

This course is for candidates who have some product experience, such as working on editorial products, and may work in mid-level or senior roles from any part of the organization, including editorial, technology, audience and revenue positions. Applicants may want to transition from an editorial or other role into a formal product role, or improve their product strategy by deepening their technical understanding of digital products in the context of the news industry.

Our inaugural cohort of about 25 participants will start in January 2024 with weekly live virtual sessions, pre-recorded lectures, and coaching sessions and will culminate in a final capstone project showcasing participants' strategic decision-making abilities for a news product.

The NPMC will be taught by leading and executive-level product professionals from the tech and news industry. Our curriculum is built in response to 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, as well as community feedback we’ve received on the areas news product thinkers need more support. Our instruction materials include exclusive and recent case studies about news organizations developed by the NPA. Instructors are selected by the News Product Alliance and CUNY, and will include news product professionals from across the news industry. 

“The tremendous interest we received when we first announced the program earlier this summer with hundreds of folks signing up for our mailing list really demonstrates the demand for rigorous and advanced product competencies in newsrooms," Marie Gilot, J+ Executive Director, said. “We are very excited to be able to meet this demand and continue building an international network of news product thinkers.”

Applicants can indicate in their application their interest in being considered for a full or partial needs-based scholarship. Scholarships are limited. News organizations can also secure up to two spots for their employees in the program. For more information, please reach out to npmc@newsproduct.org.

For more information or to apply for the NPMC program, visit our website.

Media Contact:

Peter Bittner

Communications & Community Manager, NPA

npmc@newsproduct.org