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Today is National Mentorship Day, and here at Report for America, we are grateful for the hundreds of mentors that work with corps members and provide industry guidance. Mentors are veteran, award-winning journalists from a range of industries — print, broadcast, digital, non-profit news and academia. We are proud and grateful to have a diverse group of mentors supporting journalism and the next generation of journalists. Interested in supporting the upcoming cohort of journalists? Ideally, our mentors have 7+ years of experience in journalism and can meet virtually at least once a quarter until the end of the corps member’s program term. Sign up today. Pam Fessler, former NPR correspondent and editor “One of the big surprises to me is how mentoring Report for America corps members has made me more optimistic about the future of journalism,” Pam says. “My two mentees are bright, curious and talented, and fun to talk with. They have great questions about the best way to do their jobs in what can be very challenging circumstances, and how to improve their work. I’m in awe of these young local reporters who are on the front lines of telling the story of our nation.” About Pam Fessler: Fessler is an author and retired journalist, who served as an editor and correspondent at NPR News for more than 28 years. Fessler reported on issues ranging from accessible voting, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and government responses to 9/11. She became NPR’s first homeland security correspondent and was also one of NPR’s White House reporters during the Clinton and Bush administrations. Fessler has a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from Douglass College at Rutgers University. Peter Madden, award-winning investigative producer, reporter, and editor “Whatever success I have had in my journalism career, I owe in no small part to the many editors, colleagues and classmates who have been (and continue to be!) generous enough to share their time, talents and networks with me,” Madden says. “I could never hope to repay them all, so I have a responsibility to pay it forward. Mentoring the next generation of journalists through Report For America has been rewarding both personally and professionally — helping me chip away at that debt while keeping me connected to the future of the craft I love!” About Peter Madden: Pete Madden is an award-winning investigative producer, reporter and editor. As a member of the ABC News Investigative Unit, he developed groundbreaking investigations for print and broadcast and contributed coverage of national security, political corruption and human rights to Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir, Nightline and 20/20, as well as ESPN and FiveThirtyEight. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the Columbia Journalism School. Gheni Platenburg, Ph.D., assistant professor of journalism at the University of Houston “From college to now, I have been fortunate to have mentors who give their time freely, offer a listening ear when it matters most and share honest advice from their own journeys,” Platenburg says. “During my time with Report for America, I have tried to reflect that same spirit of mentorship with my own mentees. Watching them grow, find their voice and step into their full potential has been incredibly rewarding. I hope my support — big or small — has made a difference along the way.” “Also, mentorship truly goes both ways. I have learned just as much from my mentees as they have learned from me. I am thankful we can grow together.” About Gheni Platenburg: Gheni Platenburg, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Houston and a former assistant professor at Auburn University and University of Montevallo. Platenburg earned a doctorate in media and public affairs from Louisiana State University. Before her career in academia, she worked full time as a multimedia journalist at both newspapers and television stations across the South. In addition to teaching, she currently works as a freelance journalist for both The Washington Post and Solutions Journalism Talent Network, covering stories intersecting at politics, crime and race.
