Empowering the Next Generation: Society of Professional Journalists Announces 2026 Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Fellows

INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has officially named its six elite fellows for the prestigious 2026 Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program. This year’s cohort represents a dynamic blend of investigative prowess, academic rigor, international reporting, and community-centered storytelling.

Designed to bridge the persistent leadership gap for journalists from historically underrepresented backgrounds, the fellowship offers rising stars direct mentorship, executive networking opportunities, and a pathway to influential roles within the SPJ and the broader media landscape.

The announcement comes at a critical juncture for the American media ecosystem, as newsrooms nationwide grapple with challenges regarding equity, representation, and the rebuilding of public trust. By investing in these six journalists, the SPJ continues its decades-long mission to ensure that newsroom leadership mirrors the diverse communities it serves.

Main Facts: The 2026 Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program

The 2026 fellowship class comprises six exceptional media professionals: Jolene Almendarez, Ebony JJ Curry, Idris Mohammed, Damilola Oduolowu, Morgan Shay, and Tiffany Tan.

As part of the fellowship, these individuals will receive comprehensive support to attend SPJ26, the organization’s flagship national convention scheduled for October 1–4, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. The package includes:

• Complimentary convention registration
• Three nights of lodging at the official convention hotel
• Up to $600 in travel reimbursement

While in Columbus, the fellows will immerse themselves in high-level educational programming, participate in targeted leadership workshops, and engage in cross-country networking with industry pioneers, editors, and media executives.

The fellowship explicitly honors the legacy of the late Dori Maynard, a trailblazing journalist, fierce advocate for newsroom diversity, and historic leader within the SPJ. Maynard, who joined the SPJ Foundation Board in 1999 and was named a Fellow of the Society in 2001, dedicated her life to challenging media institutions to dismantle what she termed "distorted coverage of communities of color." Her life’s work continues to serve as the ideological north star for this fellowship program.

Chronology: The Evolution of a Legacy and Selection

The journey toward the 2026 fellowship class represents months of rigorous outreach, application review, and deliberation by the SPJ Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

• 1999: Dori Maynard joins the SPJ Foundation Board, beginning a transformative chapter of advocacy focused on bringing racial and cultural equity into American newsrooms.
• 2001: Recognizing her monumental impact on journalism ethics and inclusivity, SPJ names Maynard a Fellow of the Society.
• Present Era: The Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program operates as a premier incubator for diverse media talent, identifying mid-career and emerging professionals poised to reshape the industry.
• Late Spring 2026: A highly competitive applicant pool is evaluated by the SPJ Diversity and Inclusion Committee, led by Committee Chair Michael Puente.
• August 2026: SPJ formally announces the six selected fellows.
• October 1–4, 2026: The fellows will gather in Columbus, Ohio, for SPJ26 to officially embark on their leadership training and network integration.

Supporting Data: Meet the 2026 Fellows

The 2026 cohort brings decades of collective experience spanning local accountability reporting, international conflict zones, multimedia production, and academic research.

Jolene Almendarez

Based in Northern Kentucky, Almendarez is an enterprise reporter with more than a decade of newsroom experience. Having worked extensively as both a reporter and an editor—including a stint as managing editor of a nonprofit newsroom—she is well-versed in the structural mechanics of modern journalism. In 2018, she co-founded The San Antonio Heron, a pioneering nonprofit news organization dedicated to covering equity, urban development, and gentrification in downtown San Antonio. She has also freelanced for NPR.

Ebony JJ Curry

Curry is a Detroit-based journalist whose work sits at the critical intersection of public policy and marginalized communities. Currently a 2025–26 reporting fellow with The 19th, Curry covers gender, politics, and policy. Her background includes serving as a senior reporter at the Michigan Chronicle, where she covered politics, education, housing, health disparities, and social justice. Her career spans nonprofit media, the historic Black press, broadcast, and digital platforms.

Idris Mohammed

Bringing an international and high-stakes lens to the cohort, Mohammed is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience covering armed conflict, humanitarian crises, governance, climate change, and media freedom in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin. His reporting has been featured in The New Humanitarian, HumAngle, and The Guardian Nigeria. Currently, Mohammed is pursuing a Ph.D. in journalism and communication at the University of Alabama, where his academic research investigates the psychological well-being of journalists covering conflict and terrorism, alongside the ethical integration of artificial intelligence in newsrooms.

Damilola Oduolowu

Oduolowu is a seasoned journalism educator, researcher, and veteran broadcaster. Over a decade of staff reporting, he worked with leading global media organizations, including the BBC World Service as a senior journalist, reporting and producing stories from West Africa across television, radio, and digital platforms. He earned his Ph.D. in Journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and currently serves as a faculty member at the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Morgan Shay

Representing the newest generation of storytellers, Shay is a recent graduate of Loyola Marymount University and a native of Enfield, Connecticut. A multimedia journalist, she is deeply committed to giving voice to underrepresented populations. Currently writing for Seasons Magazine and CT Voice, Shay is managing THE VOICE 30, an impactful project highlighting 30 LGBTQ+ leaders, organizations, and allies across Connecticut who drive positive community change.

Tiffany Tan

Tan brings more than 20 years of robust reporting experience covering government, criminal justice, and public health. Formerly a senior reporter at The Post and Courier, she led high-profile coverage of South Carolina’s resumption of prisoner executions after a 13-year hiatus. Her impressive career also includes reporting roles at VTDigger and the Rapid City Journal, as well as international journalism assignments in Singapore and Beijing prior to her immigration to the United States in 2015.

Official Responses and Leadership Perspectives

The announcement drew praise from leadership within the Society of Professional Journalists, who emphasized the extraordinary caliber of this year’s applicants and the vital importance of the program.

"Selecting this year’s fellows was no easy task," stated Michael Puente, chair of the SPJ Diversity and Inclusion Committee. "We had an outstanding group of applicants, each bringing unique experiences and a strong commitment to journalism. These six journalists are deeply committed to serving their communities, and we’re excited to help them build connections and grow as leaders in the profession."

SPJ leadership reiterated that initiatives like the Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program are not merely extracurricular perks, but essential investments in the survival and credibility of independent journalism. By removing financial barriers to attend national conventions, the SPJ ensures that talented professionals from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds can access the same rooms, mentorships, and career-advancing opportunities as their peers in traditionally well-resourced newsrooms.

Implications: Shaping the Future of American Newsrooms

The inclusion of these six fellows arrives at a transformative time for the media industry. As newsrooms face unprecedented economic headwinds, layoffs, and a growing crisis of trust among the public, the need for empathetic, culturally competent, and courageous leadership has never been more urgent.

1. Elevating Accountability and Community-Centered Reporting

Many of the fellows—such as Curry, Almendarez, and Tan—focus heavily on systemic inequities, government accountability, and localized social justice. Equipping these reporters with national platforms and leadership networks amplifies stories that are routinely ignored by mainstream or legacy media outlets.

2. Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Practice

With fellows like Oduolowu and Mohammed holding advanced doctoral degrees and teaching the next wave of communicators at the university level, the program creates a vital feedback loop between media scholarship and real-world newsroom practices. Their insights on artificial intelligence, mental health in conflict reporting, and global news production will enrich broader industry discussions at SPJ26.

3. Fostering Institutional Longevity

By connecting mid-career and emerging professionals directly with veteran journalists, the Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program helps dismantle the pipeline barriers that have historically caused journalists of color and non-traditional reporters to exit the industry prematurely. Through mentorship and community support, these six fellows are better positioned to step into newsroom management, editorial boards, and ownership roles in the years to come.

Supporting the Mission

The Society of Professional Journalists encourages members, media allies, and the public to support the Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program through donations and active participation.

SPJ continues to champion the rights of journalists worldwide by fighting for press freedom, establishing rigorous ethical benchmarks, and educating upcoming generations of media professionals. Supporters are invited to become SPJ members and contribute to foundational pillars such as the Legal Defense Fund, the First Amendment Forever Fund, and the SPJ Foundation to ensure the preservation of a free, fair, and diverse press.

For more information on the Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program, or to contribute to its ongoing success, visit the official SPJ website.