All Posts By

Devon Lancia

Apr 30

Military Veterans in Journalism and Resolve Philly Reopen Applications for Paid Fellowship in Philadelphia Newsroom

By Career Opportunities, News

April 30, 2026 – Military Veterans in Journalism is set to re-open applications for its 2026 fellowship collaboration with Resolve Philly, designed to employ a veteran as a journalist in Resolve Philly’s Germantown Info Hub newsroom team, after a delay in the fellowship start date.

Thanks to support from the Wyncote Foundation, veterans who are members of Military Veterans in Journalism are now eligible to apply for this paid, in-person, six-month reporting fellowship at Resolve Philly that will start in early May. The chosen fellow will create community-centered reporting and solutions journalism on the key issues impacting Philadelphia’s Germantown and Overbrook neighborhoods. “The Resolve Philly team is delighted to partner with MJV to bring an emerging journalist into our community-driven work with Philadelphia neighborhoods,” said Sara Shahriari, Executive Director at Resolve Philly.

This fellowship program provides an opportunity for a military veteran journalist to further develop their news skills, make an impact within a local newsroom, and build both a network of world-class journalists and a portfolio of work. During the program, the selected fellow can expect to work with the Resolve Philly team on developing stories and ideas for Germantown Info Hub, including solutions-oriented stories, accountability stories, and community profiles; mapping community assets and assessing information needs; tabling and supporting community engagement work; and preparing photos and social media copy to accompany stories.

“Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to provide this fellowship as we continue to strive toward the hiring of more military veterans in journalism,” said Devon Lancia, MVJ Partnerships Director. “This fellowship presents a wonderful opportunity for vets to produce highly-community-oriented news and make a lasting impact in Philadelphia where it’s needed most. We’re pleased to provide this fellowship in collaboration with Resolve Philly and thankful for the Wyncote Foundation’s support.”

The chosen fellow will report to Resolve Philly’s Director of Community News and Engagement. Veterans who are transitioning or early in their civilian journalism careers and who also have a vested interest in working with communities are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. Ideal fellowship candidates will have some experience reporting and writing on deadline for a general audience. The fellow will work 40 hours per week and earn $23 per hour for the duration of their fellowship, which will start June 15 and end December 15, 2026. To view the Resolve Philly job description for this role, please see here.

Applicants for this internship may apply online with Military Veterans in Journalism. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Apr 17

MVJ Announces Membership Voice Board Member for 2026-2028 Term

By Resources

Welcoming Jordan Sartor-Francis to the MVJ Board of Directors

April 17, 2026 — Military Veterans in Journalism welcomes military veteran journalist Jordan Sartor-Francis to its Board of Directors as MVJ’s second Membership Voice Board Member. With his varied experiences across broadcast journalism, meteorology, and military service, Sartor-Francis brings a diverse, membership-experienced perspective to the MVJ Board.

Jordan Sartor-Francis is a former U.S. Navy Supply officer and 2016 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. With experience as a general assignment reporter, political correspondent, contributor, and meteorologist, Jordan attributes his success to the aid of Military Veterans in Journalism. Passionate about broadcast journalism, Jordan believes military veterans should have the opportunity to showcase their skills and experience across all forms of journalism.

As a long-time member of the Military Veterans in Journalism community, Sartor-Francis steps into this new role ready to advocate for MVJ members and guide the organization in service of its membership. He will carry out a two-year term as the Membership Voice Board Member and hopes to be of service to the MVJ community during his time in this role. 

“In a dog eat dog world, I still believe in ship, shipmate, and then oneself,” said Sartor-Francis. “I’m proud to be able to support fellow members of MVJ who are in this ship called journalism alongside me, and I look forward to serving in this capacity.”

Military Veterans in Journalism extends a warm welcome to Jordan Sartor-Francis as he joins the MVJ Board of Directors as our second Membership Voice Board Member. We look forward to the collaboration, community insight, guidance and member focus that his presence will bring.

Jan 14

MVJ Membership Voice Board Member Applications Open for 2026-2027 Term

By News

Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 Membership Voice Board Member term! First opened in 2023, the Membership Voice Board Member seat is a role exclusively for a member of our community, where said member can have a direct impact on the future of Military Veterans in Journalism. Our team values the unique perspectives, experiences and commitments to journalism our members display, and we believe they are the best candidates to help us guide and shape the future of the organization that serves them.

Apply Today
Application deadline: February 15, 2026

Note: Only MVJ members are eligible to apply for this position.

MVJ Membership Voice Board Member Seat Expectations

MVJ’s Board members play a vital role in providing first-hand insights to improve the organization while serving as representatives of our community. By setting aside a Board seat for one of our members, we aim to enhance our team’s understanding of areas for improvement and determine the best path forward for MVJ with regard to supporting our membership. Each member in this Board role will have a term of two years, providing an opportunity for long-term commitment and impact within our community.

Each individual Board member is expected to:

  • Possess a comprehensive knowledge of MVJ’s mission, policies, programs, and organizational areas of need.
  • Diligently read and comprehend the organization’s financial statements.
  • Act as an active advocate and ambassador for MVJ, fully engaging in identifying and securing the necessary financial resources and partnerships to advance its mission.
  • Utilize personal connections, networks, and resources to foster collective action that enables the organization to fully achieve its mission.
  • Assist in identifying personal connections that can contribute to MVJ’s fundraising efforts and enhance its reputation.
  • Prepare for, attend, and actively participate in Board meetings.
  • Fully participate in one or more Board committees.
  • Adhere to the organization’s bylaws, policies, and Board resolutions.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all of MVJ’s internal matters.

Board members will be expected to contribute in at least one of the following ways: a) providing financial support, b) securing donations, or c) offering their time and expertise in various operational aspects of the organization.

As MVJ’s highest leadership body, the Board has the following responsibilities to fulfill its fiduciary duties:

  • Help shape the mission and purposes of the organization.
  • Select and evaluate the performance of the chief executive.
  • Engage in strategic and organizational planning.
  • Ensure strong fiduciary oversight and financial management.
  • Facilitate fundraising and resource development.
  • Enhance the organization’s public image.
  • Assess its own performance as the governing body of the organization.

Any communication with outside organizations regarding MVJ will be coordinated with MVJ leadership to ensure consistency and alignment with our goals and objectives.

We invite you to seize this incredible opportunity to be part of our passionate team driving positive change in the media industry for military veterans. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to MVJ.

Dec 31

2025 Impact Report & 2026 Goal Setting

By Features

Dear MVJ Members,

As we bring another year at Military Veterans in Journalism to a close, I want to reflect on the many ways we’ve connected, grown, and supported one another throughout 2025. This has been a year defined by accomplishments and by the strength and resilience of our community.

Throughout the year, we continued to build on the consistency of our internship and fellowship partnerships, ensuring veterans and military spouses across the country had stable, high-quality opportunities to advance their careers. The successes of our members in these programs reaffirm what we already know: that MVJ and its community are powerful catalysts for launching meaningful journalism careers. Alongside these efforts, our mentorship program remained a steady source of guidance, helping both new and seasoned journalists navigate an industry that is constantly evolving.

In 2025, we also completed a major research initiative examining the representation and experiences of veterans in newsrooms. Through conversations with MVJ members, newsroom hiring teams, and senior leaders, we gained valuable insight into current hiring practices and the realities military veteran journalists face. While representation has improved since MVJ began, our findings make clear that we still have a great deal of work ahead to close the gap. We are proud to share these insights on our new digital portal, Bridge The Divide, which will serve as a resource for the industry and our community moving forward.

This year brought us together in new ways as well. In partnership with NAHJ, we hosted MVJ25’s in-person programming in Chicago, gathering members and supporters from across the country. We also convened a virtual Career Fair, giving members the chance to connect directly with newsroom partners from wherever they call home. These events fostered meaningful discussions, strengthened understanding within our community, and helped elevate the role of military and veteran perspectives in the journalism landscape. Looking ahead, we plan to build on what we’ve learned to create a more accessible hybrid convention experience that reaches even more members and strengthens local news ecosystems.

The report that follows highlights the impact we made together in 2025 and celebrates the vibrant, supportive community that powers all of MVJ’s work. I am deeply grateful to each of you – our members, sponsors, and partners – for your commitment this year. Your support makes everything we do possible.

As we step into a new year, I’m excited for what we will build together. We remain dedicated to creating opportunities for veterans to thrive in journalism and to ensuring their voices continue to shape the future of the industry.

With gratitude,

Devon Lancia, Senior Director of Programs & Partnerships
and the Team at Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism In Numbers

Chart showing the growth of the MVJ membership by year, starting at 2019 and ending in 2025.MVJ’s total number of members as of year-end is 1,269, a growth of 178 (16.3%) new members this year.

We will work to increase MVJ’s membership by another 20% in 2026, adding about 253 new members within the calendar year.

 

Pie chart breaking down MVJ members by their branch of the US armed forces.A breakdown of MVJ members who have served by military branch: 

  • Army: 47.3%
  • Navy: 17.6%
  • Air Force: 16.7%
  • Marine Corps: 16%
  • Coast Guard: 1.6%
  • National Guard: 0.8%

MVJ members average 10.1 years of service. 96.4% of our members have served and 16.5% have served in multiple armed forces or in multiple capacities within the armed forces. Of the remainder, 1.6% are military spouses and 1.9% are civilian journalists or government civilians who support veterans in journalism.

Pie chart breaking down MVJ members by racial self-identification.MVJ members identify as follows:

  • White: 61.1%
  • Black or African American: 15.9% 
  • Asian: 4.4% 
  • Native American or Alaska Native: 2.5%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.1% 
  • Other: 7.3%
  • 8.7% of members prefer not to disclose their identity.

In addition, 19.8% of our membership identifies as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin.

Our Team

We could not be successful without the dedication of our team – who are predominantly military veterans, military spouses, and military family members.

MVJ has six Core Team members (listed alphabetically):

  • Caron LeNoir-Kelly, Sword & Pen Podcast Host / Army and Navy Veteran
  • Casandra Burr, Community Engagement Manager
  • Devon Lancia, Partnerships Director / Military Family Member
  • Karolina Wyroba, Finance Manager
  • Noelle Wiehe, Member Programs Manager / Army Veteran
  • Zack Baddorf, Co-Founder / Navy Veteran

MVJ has six Board of Directors members, three of whom are female and four of whom are people of color (listed alphabetically):

  • Kyra Davenport, Membership Voice Board Member / Army Veteran
  • Lucy Bustamante, Board Member / Military Spouse
  • Priya Sridhar, Board Member / Navy Reservist
  • Ron Nixon, Board Member / Marine Corps Veteran
  • Russell Midori, President / Marine Corps Veteran
  • Zack Baddorf, Executive Director / Navy Veteran

2025 Impact

Thanks to generous support from our funders and partners, MVJ offered four fellowship and internship opportunities in newsrooms across the nation this year and into early 2026. Participants were selected by an independent committee made up of journalists across the media spectrum. Please see below for an alphabetical-order listing of this year’s MVJ fellows and interns.

  • Brian Perlman, The Washington Post, Summer 2025
  • Thomas Coltrain, NPR, Fall/Winter 2025
  • Tyler Andrews, The Washington Post, Summer 2026
  • Wyncote Foundation/Resolve Philly, early 2026 – still being determined

While this year’s fellowship opportunities were not as numerous as prior years, MVJ plans to create more opportunities for the community to seek experiential learning and employment in 2026, including longer fellowship terms and more localized experiences.

We continued our series of monthly mentorship spotlight webinars this year, where members connected with each other and got to learn from an MVJ mentor. We also started a new series on skills journalists need to know in the modern landscape, thanks to support from News Corp Giving. Finally, we partnered with the Ford Foundation for a third series on crafting respectful disability narratives and approaches to disability community stories. All in all, MVJ hosted 40 career-enhancing events in 2025 in collaboration with our partners and mentors.

Throughout the year, the Journalist Development Series offered an expansive professional development journey for MVJ’s members. Each session brought together military veteran leaders, newsroom experts, and topic specialists to equip journalists in our community with practical skills and deeper insight into the craft behind modern news stories. Below is a list of the sessions hosted as part of this series, including brief summaries of each:

  • Entrepreneurship in Journalism
    • The series opened with a discussion moderated by Ethan Rocke with presenters Joan Ramirez and Christian Fahrenbach, where speakers shared strategies for sustainable, inclusive journalism and resilient careers.
  • Embracing Artificial Intelligence and Automation
    • Sam Kille guided participants through the use of AI in journalism with Daniel Scain Farenza, who highlighted how AI tools can strengthen research while underscoring the need for critical awareness of bias and misinformation.
  • Getting the Most Out of Your Google Searches
    • Katharina Breide moderated a session with Aaron Hayman on investigative journalism research, where advanced search techniques and investigative methodologies were unpacked for reporters.
  • Storytelling Through Podcasting for Journalists
    • Drew F. Lawrence moderated this session with Theresa Carpenter, which explored how audio storytelling can deepen connection, amplify underrepresented voices, and expand the reach of journalistic work.
  • Drone Aerial Photography & 3D Printing to Enhance Storytelling, a two-part webinar
    • Jeff Rowe facilitated a deep dive into visual reporting with Jay Seidel and Jeff Gritchen, emphasizing ethical, legal, and practical aspects of drone photojournalism. Additionally, journalist Russell Midori shared valuable tips about obtaining a license to operate a drone in a separate session.
  • Storytelling and Narrative Strategy
    • Joel Searls introduced Chris Marvin and his insights on shaping the veteran narrative, challenging practitioners to rethink familiar tropes and tell more authentic veteran stories.
  • Respectfully Covering MST and Related Topics
    • Terace Garnier moderated Jean Ibáñez Payne’s powerful session on covering sexual assault and trauma, advocating for survivor-centered, empathetic reporting.
  • Mastering the Art of Headlines
    • Joseph Pete steered David Bowman’s session on headline writing skills, where decades of newsroom expertise illustrated how headlines can inform, engage, and uphold trust without sacrificing accuracy.
  • Taking it to the Streets: Covering Protests and Police in Public Spaces
    • Hannah Ray Lambert moderated a session led by Dr. Jeffrey Blevins, where journalists learned crucial legal context and safety considerations for public-safety reporting.
  • Telling Trauma Stories with Trust and Sensitivity
    • The penultimate session featured moderator Davis Winkie with Bart Womack, who shared transferable leadership insights from his military experience on communicating under pressure and covering trauma with trust and sensitivity.
  • Mastering Style Guides and Self-Taught Skills with Joe Diorio
    • The series culminated with Joe Diorio, moderated by Keith Maust, guiding attendees through building journalism toolkits, reinforcing that curiosity, style mastery, and a playful approach to language are essential tools for every journalist.

Beginning in March 2025, the Disability Narrative Webinar Series offered an expansive journey into a variety of topics within the disability coverage landscape and equipped participants with a deeper understanding of inclusive, ethical storytelling and reporting. These sessions will continue into 2026 to share even more insight. Below is a list of the sessions hosted as part of this series, including brief summaries of each:

  • Session 1: Disabled American Veterans
    • The series opened with coverage of disabled veterans, led in partnership with Disabled American Veterans, where participants explored best practices for sourcing and framing stories that reflect lived experience rather than stereotypes.
  • Session 2: Disabled Journalists Association
    • Cara Reedy of the Disabled Journalists Association guided attendees through centering disabled voices, emphasizing narrative ownership and the critical importance of amplifying firsthand perspectives.
  • Session 3: New Disabled South
    • Regional context was addressed in New Disabled South’s session on disability narratives in the southern United States, highlighting how cultural, racial, and rural dynamics shape local reporting and influence audience perception.
  • Session 4: Beth Haller and Leah Smith
    • This session on combatting stereotypes and sensationalism provided journalists with strategies to move beyond “inspiration” or “tragedy” frames in coverage.
  • Session 5: J.P. Lawrence and Joel Searls
    • This session on changing how journalism portrays disability engaged a panel of disabled veteran journalists in reframing stories of service and ability with nuance and agency.
  • Session 6: Minority Veterans of America
    • Crafting compassionate narratives was the topic of our session with Minority Veterans of America, which emphasized empathy, intersectionality, and structural context in storytelling.
  • Session 7: Scott Bourque
    • This session on the intersectionality between disability and the justice system explored legal and systemic disparities to inform accurate, contextualized coverage.
  • Session 8: Wounded Warrior Project
    • We teamed up with the Wounded Warrior Project to discuss coverage of invisible wounds and give journalists advice to report sensitively on conditions such as PTSD and TBI.
  • Session 9: John Loeppky
    • This session on parasport with John Loeppky highlighted approaches for respectful and equitable reporting on adaptive athletics.
  • Session 10: Disability Debrief
    • The final session of this year was with Disability Debrief on rethinking news, demonstrating how newsrooms can integrate a disability lens across beats to transform editorial planning and decision-making.

Complementing the webinar curriculum, we also held our informal MVJ Cocktail Hours on the fourth Thursday of each month, providing participants with opportunities to network, exchange ideas, and reflect on key takeaways in a relaxed, collegial environment. These gatherings fostered peer-to-peer learning and strengthened connections between journalists in the MVJ community, encouraging ongoing collaboration beyond the virtual sessions. Below is a list of the mentors and community members featured during this year’s Cocktail Hours, including brief summaries of what each had to share:

  • January: Lourdes Camarillo
    • Opening up this year’s Cocktail Hours, Lourdes spoke to attendees about early journalism career struggles.
  • February: Larry Dandridge
    • Larry spearheaded his hour and spoke about veteran service organizations as well as a column he writes and a book he published to help veterans.
  • March: Zack Baddorf
    • We welcomed MVJ’s own co-founder Zack as he spoke about his early journalism career ventures.
  • April: Alex Gendzier and Rob Sarver
    • Alex and Rob led a fun-filled hour where they dove into their book, Warrior to Civilian.
  • May: Cassandra Vinograd
    • Cassandra found a quiet spot in the airport during her layover to speak to attendees about the liberties she took to apply for internships and fellowships and discussed how pursuit of her career took her overseas.
  • June: Jordan Sartor Francis
    • Although he’s currently studying meteorology, Jordan told attendees how when he lacked the reels he needed to apply for jobs, he went to the streets and made some on the spot.
  • July: Alan Sigmon
    • Alan offered advice for veterans who want to stick with military and policy reporting.
  • August: David North
    • When David graced our viewers with his presence, he shared several tips from a professor’s perspective about getting into the journalism field.
  • September: Sharryse Piggot
    • Sharryse discussed the challenges rising up in the industry while her mentee, Marla Bautista, picked her brain on behalf of attendees.
  • October: Clyde Gunter
    • Clyde discussed his exciting career and how journalism led to his current path.
  • November: Phil Briggs
    • Phil projected during his session that he landed a few lucky gigs during his career.
  • December: Annette Whittenberger
    • Closing out this year’s Hours, Annette got vulnerable with about a dozen attendees as she discussed the negative comments she’s received as well as the victories from her latest ventures in media. 

We also hosted a few sessions disconnected from our various series this year. Below is a list of our general webinars from 2025:

  • Navigating Report for America’s 2025 Opportunities
  • Explore Allbritton Journalism Institute in 2025
  • Explore Opportunity with Merit Street Media
  • Introduction to the International Committee of the Red Cross
  • The War Horse: Operation Timeline
  • Beacon Media Call for North Carolina Freelancers

We continued our Press Pass program and issued 22 new passes. The MVJ Press Pass program, started in 2023, is our commitment to recognizing our members as working journalists and facilitating their access to sources in their journalistic endeavors.

In early 2026, MVJ will be continuing to add to our disability inclusion efforts, which began with our previous Ford Disability Inclusion Program and continued with this year’s Disability Narratives series. Thanks to support from the Ford Foundation, we will be completing our Disability Narratives series, as well as compiling a comprehensive disability narratives guide in collaboration with the Disabled Journalists Association. With this guide, we aim to improve the types of stories being told about disabled communities, including disabled veterans. Keep an eye on the MVJ Blog for more information as the release date nears!

In 2021, MVJ received a generous five-year grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for improvements to our mentorship program. This year, our team has continued to open up new opportunities for mentors and mentees to connect directly through our mentorship program portal. These improvements have allowed new mentorships to begin and grow beyond the manual pairing process used previously. Throughout the year, MVJ’s mentorship program recruited two to three new mentees per month on average for a year-end total of 134 mentors and 225 mentees. There are currently 129 active mentorship pairs in the program.

In late 2023, MVJ received a grant from News Corp Giving to support research on the number of veterans actively working in the news media and any barriers vets may face to industry employment. This research process culminated in this year’s release of Bridge The Divide, a digital portal that explores the challenges military veterans face when transitioning into journalism careers. The Bridge The Divide portal combines qualitative approaches – mainly in-depth interviews with veterans and industry hiring managers across diverse demographics – and quantitative data from Census analysis to capture a holistic view of the veteran-civilian divide in the news industry. The research revealed critical insights into the barriers that veterans face when trying to break into journalism and the view of veterans within newsroom hiring teams. Additionally, Census data analysis performed as part of the project showed about 4% representation of veterans among newsroom staff members at release – an increase from MVJ’s 2020 analysis, which showed only 2% representation in newsroom staff teams. MVJ remains hopeful this data represents that the news industry is heading in the right direction, but we also acknowledge that veterans remain vastly underrepresented, given that American veterans represent about 7% of the population. MVJ will continue our work to get more vets into journalism with this research to guide us in the future.

 

In Chicago, Illinois on July 8, 2025, the Military Veterans in Journalism 2025 Convention gathered around 80 attendees for an exploration of opportunity and the role of the veteran and military spouse voice in the newsroom. With support from eight sponsors, including major contributors DAV, the MacArthur Foundation, NBCUniversal, and others, and held in tandem with the NAHJ 2025 Convention, the in-person event featured 8 diverse workshops and panels on topics from writing your ideal journalism resume to covering veteran gun suicide, veteran caregiver stories, and a special behind the scenes of the filming of the movie Sheepdog. A virtual career fair on August 12 provided veterans with valuable opportunities to connect with potential employers and educational institutions, as well as enjoy the discussions from the in-person programming. As MVJ reflects on these dynamic discussions and the impact they had on the community, we remain committed to helping create a journalism industry environment where veterans can feel connected and have their voices heard.

2026 Goals

MVJ’s strategic vision for 2026 encompasses four key pillars: general sustainability, the growth of our fellowship offerings, the revision of our convention and sponsorships, and the continued development of our skill-building opportunities for members.

General Sustainability. In 2026, MVJ is committed to enhancing general sustainability through:

  • Developing and implementing programs and projects that reduce dependency on one revenue channel and diversify our nonprofit revenue streams.
  • Exploring new avenues for public fundraising and support, including SMS marketing, tailored email campaigns, and more.
  • Continuing to strengthen MVJ’s position as a thought leader on military, veteran, military family and disabled veteran reporting.

Growing the MVJ Fellowship Program. Building on the current successes of the fellowship program, we will expand the program in the coming year by:

  • Working with more local newsroom partners to offer opportunities that meet members where they live.
  • Building a network of year-over-year funding partners to ensure ongoing program sustainability regardless of industry conditions and offer affordable wages and longer program periods.
  • Implementing new ways of measuring program success and fellow growth throughout each fellowship.

Revising Annual Convention and Sponsorships. In 2026, MVJ aims to adjust our annual convention to better meet members’ needs and increase sponsorships through:

  • Working with a new hybrid model to enable members to meet with national and nearby opportunities while lowering travel costs.
  • Attracting a higher number of participants to MVJ26.
  • Expanding the network of sponsors and partners who attend the convention virtually or in-person.
  • Expanding the network of participating newsrooms in the MVJ26 career fairs.

General Organizational Growth. MVJ’s commitment to organizational growth in 2026 includes:

  • Refining and expanding existing programs to better serve members.
  • Hosting at least two skill-building events – webinars or workshops – per month in collaboration with partners.
  • Introducing innovative initiatives to provide members with even more opportunities.
  • Fostering a dynamic environment that nurtures the professional development of MVJ members.
  • Actively monitoring and assessing the impact of programs on member growth and satisfaction.
  • Exploring and implementing strategies to broaden the scope and reach of existing initiatives.
Nov 21

Military Veterans in Journalism Partners with the Wyncote Foundation and Resolve Philly on Paid Fellowship in Philadelphia Newsroom

By Resources

November 21, 2025 – Military Veterans in Journalism announced today a new partnership with Resolve Philly and the Wyncote Foundation to launch a new fellowship designed to employ a veteran as a journalist in Resolve Philly’s Germantown Info Hub newsroom team.

Thanks to support from the Wyncote Foundation, veterans who are members of Military Veterans in Journalism are now eligible to apply for this paid, in-person, six-month reporting fellowship at Resolve Philly that will start in early 2026. The chosen fellow will create community-centered reporting and solutions journalism on the key issues impacting Philadelphia’s Germantown and Overbrook neighborhoods. “The Resolve Philly team is delighted to partner with MJV to bring an emerging journalist into our community-driven work with Philadelphia neighborhoods,” said Sara Shahriari, Executive Director at Resolve Philly.

This fellowship program provides an opportunity for a military veteran journalist to further develop their news skills, make an impact within a local newsroom, and build both a network of world-class journalists and a portfolio of work. During the program, the selected fellow can expect to work with the Resolve Philly team on developing stories and ideas for Germantown Info Hub, including solutions-oriented stories, accountability stories, and community profiles; mapping community assets and assessing information needs; tabling and supporting community engagement work; and preparing photos and social media copy to accompany stories.

“Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to provide this fellowship as we continue to strive toward the hiring of more military veterans in journalism,” said Devon Lancia, MVJ Partnerships Director. “This fellowship presents a wonderful opportunity for vets to produce highly-community-oriented news and make a lasting impact in Philadelphia where it’s needed most. We’re pleased to provide this fellowship in collaboration with Resolve Philly and thankful for the Wyncote Foundation’s support.”

The chosen fellow will report to Resolve Philly’s Director of Community News and Engagement. Veterans who are transitioning or early in their civilian journalism careers and who also have a vested interest in working with communities are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. Ideal fellowship candidates will have some experience reporting and writing on deadline for a general audience. The fellow will work 40 hours per week and earn $23 per hour for the duration of their fellowship. To view the Resolve Philly job description for this role, please see here.

Applicants for this fellowship may apply online with Military Veterans in Journalism. The deadline to apply is December 14, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Oct 01

MVJ-Washington Post Internship Applications Open for Summer 2026

By Career Opportunities, Features, News, Resources

Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce applications are now open for another year of the MVJ-Washington Post internship collaboration. As part of the Washington Post’s 2026 Summer Internship program, MVJ and The Post will select one military veteran to participate as an intern.

Washington Post interns have gone on to win Pulitzer Prizes and become top leaders in the newsroom. Working alongside top professionals in the field, interns do meaningful work across a variety of departments at The Washington Post. The Washington Post selects interns to fill various roles for reporters, visual journalists, multiplatform editors, multiplatform producers, news and digital designers, graphics reporters and developers, audience strategy editors, and audio producers. This will be an important early career step for veterans working to advance within the media field.

While participating in this program, interns will work 37.5 hours per week for 10 weeks onsite in Washington, D.C. Applicants who have had at least one professional news media job or internship are preferred. Veterans who apply will also be asked to submit three samples of their work and a personal essay with their supplemental materials.

Applicants for this program may apply online with Military Veterans in Journalism. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Jul 10

MVJ Teams Up With NPR for 2025 Internship Program

By Career Opportunities, News

Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce the return of the MVJ-NPR internship collaboration. MVJ and NPR will select one military veteran to serve as NPR’s Throughline and The Sunday Story intern during the 2025 Fall/Winter Internship program.

This internship is an opportunity to work with two different teams on all aspects of podcast production — assessing pitches, booking interviews, prepping interviews, researching, writing and assembling drafts, editing audio, and scoring. The selected intern will be exposed to the podcast production process from start to finish – seeing episodes go from pitch to publish. This is a fun and demanding six-month role as an active collaborator on two ambitious teams — three months will be spent with The Sunday Story and three months will be spent with Throughline.

Interns at NPR are given real-world, hands-on responsibilities from their first day and work alongside top professionals. The internship will be a 40 hour per week paid program. This will be a great early career step for veterans working to advance within the journalism world – you’ll get valuable experience providing coverage across platforms and learn from established storytellers at one of the industry’s top newsrooms.

Application deadline: July 27, 2025, 11:59 PM ET

During the six-month program, interns will have the opportunity to experience and support the work of the team in the following areas:

  • Conduct research for stories we’re working on
  • Contribute to interview and script preparation
  • Log taped interviews and/or correct computer-aided transcriptions
  • Book guests and arrange interviews via phone, Zoom, tape syncs, ISDN, etc.
  • Provide feedback at pitch and editorial meetings
  • Write digital copy for NPR.org and social media
  • Mix and score audio for episodes and promos
  • Assist in fact-checking
  • Give feedback on unfinished episodes in group edits
  • Find archival tape for episodes

Interested candidates should note what NPR is looking for:

  • Audio production experience
  • Knowledge and comfort with a Digital Audio Workstation (ProTools preferred but not required)
  • Strong interest in (and love for) longform journalism/storytelling and podcasts
  • Curious about current events, social issues, and history, and surprising ways to shed light on them
  • Proficient on social media platforms, including Threads, Facebook, and Instagram

Interns are expected to work 40 hours per week for 6 months and will be paid throughout the internship. NPR provides interns with multiple benefits and amenities, including immediate eligibility to contribute electively to a Principal 403(b) retirement plan and access to the Transit Flexible Spending Account for commuter benefits, among others. Interns have access to professional development opportunities and can benefit from flexible work hours and telecommuting options.

Please see the full job description here for more information.

Jun 06

We Can’t Keep Ignoring Veterans in America’s Newsrooms

By Resources

When I left the Navy nearly two decades ago, I thought I was ready for a journalism career. I had a journalism degree and years of experience producing stories about the military in video, radio, photo and print. I had even built a strong portfolio during my military service. But when I returned to civilian life, I applied to dozens of newsrooms — and didn’t get a single interview.

It was a rough awakening.

Eventually, through freelancing, a lot of hustle, and a little luck, I built a journalism career I’m proud of. I’ve reported for The New York Times, The Associated Press, and others, covering conflict and national security in places like Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. But I never forgot how hard it was to break into the field and how invisible veterans seem to be in our country’s newsrooms.

That’s why I co-founded Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ): to make sure the next generation of veterans doesn’t face the same closed doors I did. And it’s why today, I’m proud to share the results of a year-long research project, Bridge the Divide — our first-ever deep dive into what’s actually happening to veterans who try to enter the journalism industry.

Our findings are both unsurprising and concerning.

While veterans bring valuable skills — discipline, adaptability, leadership, resilience — they remain dramatically underrepresented in journalism. While vets make up about 7% of the nation’s population, they only represent about 3-4% of journalists in newsrooms across the nation.

But it’s not just a numbers problem. It’s a cultural one.

In collaboration with the University of Alabama Veterans and Media Lab, we conducted multiple surveys and focus groups with veterans and newsroom hiring managers. We found that veterans face widespread stereotyping and misunderstanding.

Our lead researcher Rich Dolan, an Army vet and former journalist, heard from one vet about how a newsroom editor assumed they had a plethora of contacts of suicidal veterans to help source a story.

Forty percent of the veterans we interviewed are no longer working in journalism. Many said they loved the craft but couldn’t endure the cultural mismatch or the lack of opportunities.

Hiring managers acknowledged to our researchers that they don’t always know how to recognize the skills veterans bring. They noted that veterans often struggle to advocate for themselves in job interviews, because self-promotion feels foreign after years of military service focused on team success. Others admitted that newsroom leaders aren’t trained to see the potential in veteran candidates, and sometimes overlook them entirely.

This is a huge loss — not just for veterans, but for journalism itself.

Veterans bring vital skills that every newsroom needs: the ability to work under pressure, to navigate chaos, to stay calm in crisis. They know how to lead and how to take feedback. Many, like me, also have firsthand knowledge of conflict, national security, and the human costs of war — topics the media covers, but too often without the depth of real experience.

Veterans are also citizens from every walk of American life: every race, religion, political belief, and background. Including veterans in journalism isn’t just good for coverage of military affairs. It’s good for every beat, from politics to public health to local news. Veterans offer unique perspectives shaped by service, sacrifice, and leadership — qualities we need in our nation’s storytellers.

At MVJ, we’re already working to bridge this divide. With support from organizations like the Knight Foundation and the Ford Foundation, we’ve created mentorship programs, fellowships, workshops, and direct hiring pipelines into major newsrooms. We are also working to improve the quality of military and disability reporting. We believe in empowering veterans — not just to land jobs, but to thrive in journalism careers.

But we can’t do it alone. Newsrooms need to step up.

If you work in a newsroom, here’s where you can start:

  • Teach your hiring managers about military experience — and how it translates directly to journalism skills.
  • Create outreach programs and fellowships for veterans, the same way many outlets have programs for other underrepresented groups.
  • Offer flexible entry points like part-time or freelance gigs that can help veterans balance transition challenges.
  • Train your staff to understand military culture, not just through stereotypes, but with real nuance and respect.
  • Highlight the veterans already in your newsroom — show that there’s a place for those voices to be heard and valued.

I’m proud of the work we’ve done with Bridge the Divide — but it’s just the beginning.

We owe it to our fellow news consumers and our industry to make journalism truly representative of the country it serves. That means recruiting, hiring, and supporting more veterans in America’s newsrooms. Journalism needs us.

Zack Baddorf is the co-founder of Military Veterans in Journalism.

May 23

Military Veterans in Journalism Launches “Bridge the Divide” to Research the Number of Veterans in Journalism and Foster Change

By Resources

Washington, D.C. – May 23, 2025 – Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) proudly announces the launch of Bridge the Divide, a groundbreaking research initiative aimed at exploring the challenges military veterans face when transitioning into journalism careers.

Despite their unique skill sets — such as self-discipline, adaptability, and resourcefulness — veterans often encounter roadblocks when seeking newsroom roles and adapting to newsroom culture. This project seeks to illuminate these challenges and propose actionable solutions to create a more inclusive journalism industry. The findings have been published on a website here.

This project, funded by News Corp and developed in collaboration with the University of Alabama, offers a comprehensive resource to understand the gap through shared narratives and actionable insights. In addition, the research team gathered feedback from the American Press Institute, which also helped share the survey with news leaders.

Bridge the Divide project’s rigorous methodology combined qualitative and quantitative approaches to capture a holistic view of the veteran-civilian divide. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with veterans and journalism hiring managers across diverse demographics, including age, gender, race, ethnicity, and geographic location. These interviews provided nuanced insights into personal experiences and societal perceptions. Additionally, U.S. Census data was analyzed to determine the actual number of veterans working in journalism. This dual approach allowed MVJ to identify key themes, such as the impact of stereotypes and the role of community engagement in fostering understanding.

“Bridge the Divide is about creating a space where veterans and civilians can connect through shared stories and mutual respect,” said Zack Baddorf, Navy vet turned journalist and co-founder of MVJ. “With the support of News Corp, the American Press Institute, and the University of Alabama, we’ve built a platform that not only highlights the challenges but also offers practical solutions for getting more veterans into the journalism industry.”

The research revealed critical insights, including the barriers that veterans face when trying to break into journalism. The view of hiring managers in the industry was also examined to better understand how veterans are viewed from within newsrooms when applying for positions.

Consulting with API brought expertise in journalism best practices, ensuring the project’s resources are tailored for media professionals. The University of Alabama contributed academic rigor, guiding the research design and data analysis to ensure robust and reliable findings. News Corp’s funding enabled MVJ to scale the project, making it accessible to a wide audience through an interactive website and nationwide outreach.

MVJ invites journalists, community leaders, and the public to explore Bridge the Divide at bridgethedivide.mvj.network and join the movement to build stronger, more connected communities. For more information or to schedule an interview, contact MVJ at [email protected].

ABOUT MILITARY VETERANS IN JOURNALISM

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets working in media, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring more vets. We work with news outlets, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and other partners to create opportunities for vets to get a jump start in the media industry. We also serve as a career pipeline to help news outlets diversify their staff.

Launched as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in May 2019, MVJ has more than 700 veteran members across the country who are either working journalists or who are aspiring journalists. Learn more about MVJ at www.mvj.network.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

Founded in 1831 as the state’s flagship university, The University of Alabama has always focused on being the best. The University of Alabama, the state of Alabama’s oldest public university, is a senior comprehensive doctoral-level institution. The University was established by constitutional provision under statutory mandates and authorizations. Its mission is to advance the intellectual and social condition of the people of the state through quality programs of teaching, research and service.

May 02

A Letter to the Community on MVJ’s Sixth Anniversary

By Resources

Dear MVJ Community,

Six years ago, Russell and Zack came together to create Military Veterans in Journalism, aiming to support vets who struggled to build journalism careers just as they had. While I wasn’t there at the beginning, I’ve had the immense honor to help foster this community’s growth and create new opportunities for veterans and spouses to bring diversity to the industry. Today, MVJ members number 1,100+ strong making a difference in newsrooms across the nation.

Just like the team behind this organization and each and every one of you, I believe journalism is a service to the nation. But I also know that veterans and military spouses often face barriers that prevent them from continuing their service to the American people and chasing their civilian dreams in this industry. When I first met Zack a few years ago, and when he first introduced me to MVJ, I knew the potential that this community had to change the news world for the better, especially given my own experiences as a journalist and military spouse.

I was already a journalist before meeting my husband, who previously served as part of Naval Special Warfare (now separated), but had to quickly adapt my career to a military family lifestyle. Luckily, I was able to carry my career with me as we moved from New Orleans to Virginia Beach to Philadelphia with our children. However, for many military spouses and veterans, taking breaks or starting their careers later can bring a constant uphill battle to find their place in the industry.

That’s where MVJ comes in. This organization works tirelessly to advocate for the inclusion of veteran and military family voices in the media, regardless of separation time, taking breaks, or any of the other myriad of struggles that can come from a military lifestyle. MVJ provides all manner of opportunities for veterans and spouses to learn new skills, enhance prior skills, and enhance their civilian journalism careers. Perhaps most importantly, MVJ provides a space for the military-connected members of the journalism field to discuss, cover, and help create impact on the issues that matter most to us, together.

If you’re looking for resources to jumpstart your career, I and the entire MVJ team urge you to take full advantage of the opportunities for connection and growth your membership helps provide. Make sure you apply to MVJ internship and fellowship opportunities when they’re available, become a mentee – or even a mentor! – and tune in to the variety of skill development and networking events happening each month.

Thank you all for being part of this community with me, and for your support of this organization and our work over these past six years. Thank you for continuing your service via journalism. I am honored to be on the Board of Directors of an organization that continues to provide opportunities and advocate for its community at a time when having our voices in news coverage is perhaps more critical than ever.

All my best,
Lucy Bustamante
MVJ Board Member

Mar 07

Nominations Now Open for Top 10 Veterans in Journalism 2025

By #MVJ25, News

Military Veterans in Journalism is thrilled to announce the return of the Top 10 Veterans in Journalism Competition for 2025.

This competition celebrates the outstanding achievements of military veteran journalists through the preceding year. Recipients of the awards will be honored during the MVJ25 Convention, our annual celebration of the MVJ community that gathers journalists, industry leaders, and media professionals from across the globe.

The deadline for submission is April 6, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Neither the submitter nor the nominee needs to be a member of MVJ to submit a piece for consideration.

Eligibility and Requirements

MVJ welcomes submissions from all armed forces veterans of any branch. To be considered, they can either submit their own work or that of a fellow veteran. Self-nominations are permitted.

  • Only pieces created by veterans of the armed forces are eligible. While collaborative efforts are accepted, the only eligible journalists involved will be those who are veterans themselves.
  • All submissions must be work published and made publicly available within the period from June 15, 2024 to April 6, 2025 (the submission deadline).
  • Submissions must include the original publishing or release date, all contributors, and the organization under which the work was published.
  • Submissions are not limited to any one form of media; they can include traditional print and broadcast, as well as emerging forms such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Interactive Data Visualization, and others.
  • Submissions should also include a brief description of the nominee and why they should be recognized as one of the year’s Top 10 Military Veterans in Journalism.

The submissions will be scored on originality, newsworthiness, journalistic quality, and diversity. MVJ’s panel of judges will apply their experience, editing standards, and personal background to decide how well a piece ranks in each category. Judges will be looking for accurate and insightful storytelling that engages them as the audience. All pieces, regardless of media type, will be reviewed by the same panel of judges and scored in the same manner.

While every submission will be scored and selections for the list will be made, scores will not be released publicly. Outside of scoring, judges will be able to supply commentary if they wish, but not every piece will receive feedback.

Recognize fellow veterans in journalism and the value of their work!

Jan 08

2024 Impact Report & 2025 Goal Setting

By Features

Dear MVJ Members,

As we come to the end of another year of accomplishments and growth at Military Veterans in Journalism, I’d like to reflect proudly on the ways we’ve reconnected and expanded as a community.

In 2024, our fellowship and internship programs brought new partners into the fold alongside long-time partners to provide more opportunities for our members nationwide. These new partners and the success of MVJ members in their fellowships reinforces MVJ and our community as a catalyst for impact in jump-starting career journeys for veterans and military spouses. At the same time, our mentorship program continues to foster relationships that help new and long-time journalists alike navigate the complex and volatile news career landscape.

Our commitment to improving media literacy and encouraging reconnection with positive purpose in the military community remains unwavering. Throughout 2024, our Information Integrity Project team built the foundations to reach even further corners of the military-connected community online. With new support partners and a firm starting point, we anticipate 2025 will see even more impact for this effort.

This year, MVJ set out to conduct comprehensive research around both the number of veterans currently working on newsroom teams and their experiences with getting hired. We spoke to many members of the MVJ community and to newsroom hiring teams and senior news leadership about the hiring process, experiences with veteran talent, and other topics. We found that while the representation of veterans in the media has improved since MVJ began, we still have a long way to go to bridge the representation gap of veterans in America’s newsrooms.

Toward year-end, MVJ24 at the Brooklyn Brewery in New York City brought together MVJ community members and supporters from newsrooms both local and nationwide. This year’s convention discussions fostered new connections and created avenues for understanding among the MVJ community and supporters in attendance, helping MVJ’s members shape the future of military and veteran stories and talent in the journalism industry. In the coming year, we hope to create a new kind of convention experience that’s even more accessible to members and supporters across the country.

This report summarizes the impact MVJ has made in 2024 and highlights our vibrant, supportive community. I give my heartfelt thanks to our members, sponsors and partners for their support in this year’s journey and the possibilities for next year’s. Together, we will continue to provide opportunities for veterans to thrive in and meaningfully contribute to the media industry in 2025.

With gratitude,

Zack Baddorf
Co-Founder / Board Member
Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism In Numbers

MVJ’s total number of members as of year-end is 1,104, a growth of 199 (21.9%) new members this year.

We plan to see another 22% of membership growth in 2025 – or 200 new members within the calendar year.

 

A breakdown of MVJ members who have served by military branch:

  • Army: 47.8%
  • Navy: 17.2%
  • Marine Corps: 17% 
  • Air Force: 15.6%
  • Coast Guard: 1.5%
  • National Guard: 1%

MVJ members average 9.94 years of service. 96.3% of our members have served and 18.2% have served in multiple armed forces or in multiple capacities within the armed forces. Of the remainder, 1.6% are military spouses and 2.1% are civilian journalists who support veterans in journalism.

MVJ members identify as follows:

  • White: 62.3%
  • Black or African American: 14.1% 
  • Asian: 4.5% 
  • Native American: 2.8%
  • Native Hawaiian: 0.1% 
  • Other: 6.4%
  • 9.7% of members prefer not to disclose
    their identity.

In addition, 21.4% of our membership identifies as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin.

Our Team

We could not be successful without the dedication of our team – who are predominantly military veterans, military spouses, and military family members.

MVJ has nine Core Team members (listed alphabetically):

  • Caron LeNoir-Kelly, Sword & Pen Podcast Host / Army and Navy Veteran
  • Casandra Burr, Community Engagement Manager
  • Devon Lancia, Partnerships Director / Military Family Member
  • Karolina Wyroba, Finance Manager
  • Marcela Loor, Memberships Coordinator
  • Noelle Wiehe, Member Programs Manager / Army Veteran
  • Rich Dolan, Programs Manager / Army Veteran
  • Sara Feges, Operations Manager / Military Spouse
  • Zack Baddorf, Co-Founder / Navy Veteran

MVJ has six Board of Directors members, three of whom are female and four of whom are people of color (listed alphabetically):

  • Kyra Davenport, Membership Voice Board Member / Army Veteran
  • Lucy Bustamante, Board Member / Military Spouse
  • Priya Sridhar, Board Member / Navy Reservist
  • Ron Nixon, Board Member / Marine Corps Veteran
  • Russell Midori, Board President / Marine Corps Veteran
  • Zack Baddorf, Executive Director / Navy Veteran

2024 Impact

Thanks to generous support from our funders and partners, MVJ offered six fellowship and internship opportunities in newsrooms across the nation this year. Participants were selected by an independent committee made up of journalists across the media spectrum. Please see below for an alphabetical-order listing of this year’s MVJ fellows and interns.

  • Caron LeNoir-Kelly, NBC10 & Telemundo62
  • Christopher Janaro, City Limits
  • Kelsey Baker, The Washington Post
  • Jennifer Lindahl, The Tennessean
  • Marla Bautista, USA Today
  • Max Hauptman, USA Today
  • Tashandra Poullard, the Lexington Herald-Leader

We have also secured another internship spot for a veteran at the Washington Post for Summer 2025 and teamed up with the Wyncote Foundation to offer another six-month fellowship in a Philadelphia newsroom in early 2025.

In March of 2023, MVJ launched a new initiative to improve media literacy and increase trust in media and information within military-connected online spaces. This year, thanks to additional support from Democracy Fund, the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, and the Minnesota-based McKnight Foundation, the MVJ Information Integrity Project team expanded its nonpartisan work dedicated to combating the spread of deceptive narratives and violent extremism in veteran and military communities while reconnecting veterans with positive purpose after service. MVJ also hosted a webinar in April 2024 with expert reporters who’ve covered extremism in the military, which led to the creation of a guide of best practices for reporters working in this beat.

This year, we launched a new series of monthly mentorship spotlight webinars to help members connect. All in all, MVJ hosted 20 career-enhancing events in 2024 in collaboration with our partners and mentors.

  • Webinars:
    • Empowerment Through Storytelling: Writing Trauma-Based Narratives Respectfully with Terace Garnier
    • Introduction to Divided We Fall
    • Narrating Valor: Exploring the Writing of “Send Me” with Marty Skovlund Jr.
    • Introduction to the Institute for Independent Journalists
    • MVJ Counter-Disinformation Panel
    • God, Guns, and Sedition: Terrorism Prevention & Applications for Journalists
    • Google News Initiative Training – Cover the 2024 Elections
    • Veterans Looking Ahead: Discussing the Future of the VA
  • Talent Scout Sessions:
    • Allbritton Journalism Institute
    • Hubbard Broadcasting
    • Sinclair Broadcast Group
    • Spectrum News
    • CUNY Newmark J-School
  • Featured Mentorship Program Cocktail Hour Mentors:
    • David Kishiyama
    • Joshua Skovlund
    • Michael Phelps
    • Russell Midori
    • Lucy Bustamante
    • Blake Miles
    • Lori King 

We continued our Press Pass program all year and issued 16 new passes. The MVJ Press Pass program is our commitment to recognizing our members as working journalists and facilitating their access to sources in their journalistic endeavors.

In early 2025, MVJ will be adding a new facet to our disability inclusion efforts, which began with our previous Ford Disability Inclusion Program. Thanks to a new grant from the Ford Foundation, we will be creating a comprehensive disability narratives guide in collaboration with the Disabled Journalists Association. With this guide, we aim to improve the types of stories being told about disabled communities, including disabled veterans. The guide will be accompanied by an in-depth webinar series once it launches. Keep an eye on the MVJ Blog and Events pages for more information!

In 2021, MVJ received a generous five-year grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for improvements to our mentorship program. This year, our team has made improvements to the processes we use to pair military veterans with seasoned journalists who will serve as their mentors, as well as opened up new opportunities for mentors and mentees to connect. Throughout the year, MVJ’s mentorship program recruited one new mentee and four new mentors per month on average for a year-end total of 130 mentors and 225 mentees. There are currently 153 active mentorship pairs in the program.

In late 2023, MVJ received a grant from News Corp Giving to support research on the number of veterans actively working in the news media and any barriers vets may face to industry employment. Although the publication process is ongoing, MVJ has completed the bulk of the research itself. The survey portion of the project gathered 100 responses from veterans working in newsrooms across the country, while the focus group portion brought together hiring professionals, senior newsroom leaders and veterans currently or formerly working in journalism in three groups that shared their perspectives and data that will be useful in teaching newsrooms how to better work with veterans. Additionally, Census data analysis performed as part of the project shows about 3% representation of veterans among newsroom staff members today. Our 2020 analysis of Census data showed only 2% representation in newsroom staff teams. Census data for this subset of Americans (military veterans in journalism) is imperfect given the small sample size. However, we are hopeful this new data represents that the news industry is heading in the right direction, while acknowledging that veterans remain vastly underrepresented, given that American veterans represent about 8% of the population. MVJ will continue our work to get more vets into journalism with this research to guide us in the future.

In the heart of New York City from October 3rd to October 5th, the Military Veterans in Journalism 2024 Convention gathered around 100 attendees for a two-and-a-half day exploration of the importance of the veteran and military spouse voice in the newsroom. With support from 10 sponsors, including major contributors DAV, CNN, the Knight Foundation, NBCUniversal, Spectrum, and others, the event featured 10 diverse workshops and panels, from a discussion of political journalism and the role of vets in politics to panels on military families as news team members, covering veterans of color, and navigating layoffs in a volatile media environment. A two-day, in-person career fair provided veterans with valuable opportunities to connect with potential employers and educational institutions. As MVJ reflects on these dynamic and important discussions, we remain committed to helping create a journalism industry environment where veterans can feel connected and have their voices heard.

2025 Goals

MVJ’s strategic vision for 2025 encompasses four key pillars: general sustainability, the growth of our fellowship offerings, the revision of our convention and sponsorships, the improvement of our skill-building webinars and workshops, and overall organizational development.

General Sustainability. In 2025, MVJ is committed to enhancing general sustainability through:

  • Developing and implementing programs and projects that reduce dependency on one revenue channel and diversify our nonprofit revenue streams.
  • Exploring new avenues for public fundraising and support, including SMS marketing.
  • Strengthening MVJ’s position as a thought leader on military, veteran, military family and disabled veteran reporting.

Growing the MVJ Fellowship Program. Building on the current successes of the fellowship program, we will expand the program in the coming year by:

  • Working with more local newsroom partners to offer opportunities that meet members where they live with affordable wages, especially as the journalism world focuses on bolstering local journalism.
  • Building a network of year-over-year funding partners to ensure ongoing program sustainability.
  • Implementing new ways of measuring program success and fellow growth throughout each fellowship.

Revising Annual Convention and Sponsorships. In 2025, MVJ aims to adjust our annual convention to better meet members’ needs and increase sponsorships through:

  • Working with a fellow affinity group to offer members greater networking opportunities and more affordability in-person
  • Attracting a higher number of participants to MVJ25.
  • Expanding the network of sponsors and partners who attend the in-person convention.
  • Expanding the network of participating newsrooms in the MVJ25 virtual career fair.

General Organizational Growth. MVJ’s commitment to organizational growth in 2025 includes:

  • Refining and expanding existing programs to better serve members.
  • Hosting a minimum of 20 online events throughout the year in collaboration with partners.
  • Introducing innovative initiatives to provide members with even more opportunities.
  • Fostering a dynamic environment that nurtures the professional development of MVJ members.
  • Actively monitoring and assessing the impact of programs on member growth and satisfaction.
  • Exploring and implementing strategies to broaden the scope and reach of existing initiatives.
Jan 07

Military Veterans in Journalism and NAHJ to join forces for Chicago convention

By #MVJ25, Resources

Jan. 7, 2025 – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) are excited to announce a collaboration to uplift the voices of underrepresented journalists nationwide and create even greater opportunity for journalists, media professionals and supporters of newsroom diversity to connect and thrive.

MVJ will host its 2025 convention on July 8 at the Hilton Chicago in downtown Chicago, alongside NAHJ’s own annual conference from July 9-12.

“This collaboration emphasizes a fundamental belief: journalism benefits profoundly from diverse experiences,” said Yaneth Guillen-Diaz, executive director of NAHJ. “By joining forces to support military veterans and Latinos in journalism, we’re building the pool of experienced, culturally competent professionals that today’s newsrooms need to serve their communities.”

“We are excited to create an incredible experience for attendees, both military-connected and not, who want to engage with the most pressing issues in the news industry today while connecting with fellow diverse community members,” said MVJ co-founder Zack Baddorf, a Navy veteran turned journalist. “By hosting our event the day before NAHJ’s own conference kicks off, we intend to give both the MVJ and NAHJ communities an exceptional opportunity to deepen their understanding and make meaningful connections with colleagues across the media landscape.”

Both conferences will bring together top-tier speakers, innovators, and industry experts, and co-locating them at the Hilton Chicago offers attendees the chance to participate in both conferences and maximize their professional development and networking opportunities. More than a third of U.S. active duty service members are Hispanic.

Both organizations are committed to providing cutting-edge content and fostering collaboration among journalists of all backgrounds, skill levels, and specialties. Attendees will have the chance to engage in critical conversations about the future of journalism, new media trends, advocating for themselves in newsrooms, and much more.

For more information on registration, speakers, and event schedules, please visit the NAHJ25 website or the MVJ25 website.

###

About the National Association of Hispanic Journalists

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is an educational and charitable association dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanic students, professionals, and educators in the field of journalism. NAHJ focuses heavily on advocacy, addressing injustices and political issues that affect Latino journalists throughout the country, while also supporting a growing network of members and chapters. Learn more at NAHJ.org or follow us on X @nahj.

About Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets. Led and run by a dedicated corps of military veterans and military family members, we are working with newsrooms and other non-profit organizations to create opportunities for vets to get a jump start in the media industry. Whether through internships, fellowships or mentorships, our work has created a pipeline to get vets into newsrooms.

Dec 11
mvj

MVJ and DJA to Launch Disability Narrative Guide and Webinar Series on Reporting on Disabilities for Journalists

By News

Military Veterans in Journalism and the Disabled Journalist Association have launched a new effort to create a Disability Narrative Guide and lead a webinar series on disability and disabled coverage in the media. 

The guide will be released in 2026. The webinar series will begin in 2025 and span 12 months.

The initiative will enhance media coverage of disability by equipping journalists and media professionals with the tools and resources necessary for accurate, respectful and inclusive storytelling. 

“This guide and webinar series are about shifting that perspective and making sure disabled voices are not only heard, but respected and accurately represented in the media,”” said Zack Baddof, executive director of MVJ who is himself a disabled veteran. 

This initiative has been made possible by generous support from the Ford Foundation and aligns with the Ford Foundation’s mission to advance equity and justice by fostering media practices that authentically represent the stories and experiences of the entire disabled community.

“We’re excited to partner with MVJ on this project because we know it’s going to shift how disability reporting is done—moving beyond stereotypes and giving journalists the resources they need to tell fuller, more authentic stories,” said DJA founder Cara Reedy. “This is about making sure the media tells the story of disability with us, not for us.”

###

About Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism educates newsrooms, journalism schools, and non-profit organizations focusing on journalism about the need to increase diversity through higher veteran representation. Composed of more than 1,000 members since its inception in 2019, MVJ’s team of military veterans and military family members are working to create opportunities for vets through internships, fellowships or mentorships, all intended as a pipeline to get vets into the media industry.

 

About the Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For more than 85 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.



Dec 04
mvj

Best Practices Guide: Reporting on Disinformation & Extremism in the Military / Veteran Community

By Features, Resources

Military Veterans in Journalism hosted a webinar on April 23, 2024, as part of its Information Integrity Project, bringing together seasoned journalists within the military-connected media world to address the critical issue of countering disinformation and extremism within the military veteran community.

Zachary Fryer-Biggs moderated the event with panelists Dana Coester, Konstantin Toropin, Nikki Wentling, and Sonner Kehrt – who all conduct reporting on disinformation and extremism. They discussed their experiences and outlined best practices for others looking to work within the space.

Summary of Best Practices:

  • Reframe coverage to avoid political polarization and focus on broader issues of preventing violence.
  • Develop a plan to keep safe when navigating online spaces to uncover extremism-related content.
  • Avoid dehumanizing people while accurately depicting ideologies.
  • Keep track of current and future trends in disinformation distribution and the formation of violent extremist groups within the military space.
  • Look at support and safety resources available from your newsroom when covering extremism and disinformation.
  • Tailor reporting to engage civilian audiences as well as military readers.

The following are details on the lessons learned as shared above.

  1. Reframe coverage to avoid political polarization and focus on broader issues of preventing violence.

    For creating effective and engaging coverage in this space, reporters should reframe coverage in order to steer clear of potential political polarization. Instead, the focus of articles should be on providing factual information and preventing violence.

    Additionally, avoid damaging stereotypes toward veterans in storytelling, which will only contribute to widening the military-civilian divide rather than bridging it. Journalists should aim for a balanced approach that humanizes people while accurately depicting ideologies to foster a more nuanced understanding of extremism among readers.

    Journalists should also adopt a solutions-oriented approach to reporting on extremism via showcasing community members who are actively working against extremist ideologies and promoting positive change. By shifting the narrative away from sensationalism and towards constructive dialogue, journalists can play a crucial role in fostering understanding of extremism as a whole.

    Resources    :
    – Solutions Journalism Network’s Basic Toolkit for Solutions-based Journalism
    – MVJ’s     “Cultural Competence for Reporting on Veterans”
  2. Develop a plan to keep safe when navigating online spaces to uncover extremism-related content.

    Reporters may have a difficult time distinguishing between genuine rhetoric and trolling or edginess in online spaces. Collaborate with extremist monitoring organizations, who can provide perspective and information effectively in place of journalists using resource-intensive monitoring methods themselves. Use secure communication channels and digital tools to protect sources and data, and stay informed about the latest digital security best practices. Lean on organizations like Investigative Reporters and Editors and the Poynter Institute to learn more about how to stay safe online. The consequences, e.g. doxxing, can be truly disruptive to reporters’ lives.
  3. Avoid dehumanizing people while accurately depicting ideologies.

    Avoid dehumanizing or giving undue sympathy towards individuals holding extremist beliefs in their work. Instead, coverage should hold institutions and societal factors accountable while recognizing the complexities behind these behaviors.

    Avoid the “damaged veteran” stereotype, too – reporting should showcase the diverse experiences and actions of veterans beyond the stereotype of trauma and vulnerability. Focus on veterans who are actively working towards solutions, such as recruiting veterans for volunteer work or advocating against extremism and disinformation, rather than giving most of the story’s attention to those who aren’t.
  4. Keep track of current and future trends in disinformation distribution and the formation of violent extremist groups within the military space.

    Reporters must become more agile and adaptable in their journalistic practice when covering disinformation and extremist activity. Stay informed about emerging trends and technologies, as well as how extremist groups are using them, to better anticipate and respond to evolving threats. Build connections with other organizations, such as Task Force Butler, START at the University of Maryland and the Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton, to find and access vetted, credible information when researching.

    Journalists should seek opportunities to collaborate and share information with fellow journalists. Working together will better enhance the public’s collective resilience against disinformation and extremism.
  5. Look at support and safety resources available from your newsroom when covering extremism and disinformation.

    Take advantage of ongoing training and professional development opportunities that will help with more effective coverage in this space. Journalists can enhance their capacity to produce high-quality, impactful stories by being equipped with the most current knowledge, skills, and resources.

    Seek to foster an ethical work culture within the newsroom that prioritizes accuracy, fairness, and accountability in reporting on these often sensitive and complex issues.

    Look for newsroom support offerings to protect your mental health, and take full advantage of them. Reporters covering sensitive and potentially distressing topics within the extremist landscape should always be mindful of their own safety.

    Likewise, newsroom leadership teams should help prepare journalists before delving into reporting on this topic. Equip reporters with resources that will keep them safe, such as subscriptions to Delete Me to protect their personal information, and prepare an action plan on appropriate responses to safety issues beforehand.

    Training Resources:
    – START training series
    – ICFJ: Disarming Disinformation
    – RTDNA Disinformation Coverage Guidelines
    – Poynter Institute’s Beat Academy, which usually includes a session or two on extremism coverage
    – Poynter Institute: Covering Political Extremism in the Public Square
  6. Tailor reporting to engage civilian audiences as well as military readers.

    It’s important to consider the audience when writing any article, and extremism and disinformation coverage is no different. Use accessible language and explain military-specific terms as necessary for military-curious civilian readers seeking deeper insights.

    Reporters should engage with local communities directly to address the issues affecting them the most. Strive to provide coverage beyond those issues so readers may better understand how to discern misleading information about them. Informing readers about the origins of the narratives they see will foster healthy skepticism and raise news literacy in the affected community.

     Resources:
    –     MVJ’s Military & Veteran Affairs Reporting Guide

Examples of Excellent Reporting on …

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Nov 11

Veterans Day 2024: Thank You from MVJ

By Resources

Dear MVJ Members,

On this Veterans Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on the work we’ve done together and share some incredible news that underscores the importance of our mission of getting more vets in news. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough highlighted Military Veterans in Journalism during his annual State of the VA Address on Oct. 29 at the National Press Club. Being mentioned in such a significant forum is a testament to the impact our community is making every day.

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Broadcast live on CSPAN, Secretary McDonough spoke about the power of veterans continuing to serve our nation after their military service and he recognized MVJ as a vital organization in supporting that commitment. He emphasized how crucial it is for veterans to be working as journalists in America’s newsrooms, contributing to critical coverage of veteran issues and rebuilding trust in the media. His acknowledgment validates the efforts of every one of you who has committed to this vital field of journalism with integrity and dedication.

This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of the MVJ team and community. I want to give special thanks to Devon Lancia for her exceptional leadership. Devon’s tireless work and unwavering commitment have been instrumental in growing MVJ to more than 1,100 members since the founding of MVJ in 2019. Devon’s steadfastness and vision have helped us build a thriving, supportive network that continues to gain momentum.

I also want to recognize my co-founder, Marine-turned-journalist Russell Midori, for his ongoing support and vision. From the very start, Russell has been integral in shaping MVJ and nurturing a community that upholds the highest standards of journalism while fostering deep relationships with those across the media landscape. His dedication as chair of our board embodies what it means to continue serving.

As we reflect on the strides we’ve made as an organization, I ask you to remember why we do this work. Whether creating mentorship opportunities or employing veterans as fellows at national and local outlets across the nation, we look at journalism as more than a career. Each story we tell is an opportunity to foster change and achieve lasting impact. 

This Veterans Day, I encourage you to recommit to this spirit of service. Whether you’re covering stories on local issues, national policy, or global affairs, remember that your journalism matters.  

I also ask that you continue to support MVJ as we strive to build on our successes. Consider making a donation to help us provide even more services to our growing community. Your contributions enable us to keep championing veterans in journalism.

Also, please let us know how we can better serve you. Challenge us to do more, to think bigger, and to support you better as veterans working to thrive in your journalism careers. Your feedback, involvement, and passion are what drive this organization to accomplish its mission.

Finally, thank you for being part of our growing community. Let’s continue to uplift each other, serve with purpose, and make a difference through our work in journalism. This Veterans Day, let’s honor our shared commitment and take pride in what we’ve built together.

With gratitude,

An image of MVJ Executive Director Zack Baddorf. Here, he is pictured smiling and wearing a gray shirt, with the U.S. flag in the background.
Zack Baddorf
Co-Founder, Military Veterans in Journalism
Oct 24

MVJ Welcomes Nonprofit Communications Leader & Marine Corps Veteran Sam Kille To Advisory Board

By News

Sam Kille, nonprofit communications leader, joins the Military Veterans in Journalism Advisory Board.

October 21, 2024 — Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce the addition of journalist, nonprofit communications leader and newsroom diversity advocate Sam Kille to its Advisory Board. Most recently Vice President of Communications for The GroundTruth Project, parent organization of Report for America, Kille brings a wealth of expertise in empowering diverse voices and supporting local newsrooms and communities to advise the MVJ team.

In his professional career, Kille is an accomplished communications professional with extensive experience in amplifying organizational visibility and driving strategic initiatives within the nonprofit sector. With a strong background in crisis communications and media relations, he has successfully shaped narratives and supported growth across multiple organizations.

As Vice President of Communications at The GroundTruth Project, Kille guided the organization through a pivotal leadership transition, working to implement strategies that protected its reputation, expanded its digital footprint and secured high-profile earned media placements  with outlets such as 60 Minutes, CNN and The Washington Post. In his previous role as Director of Communications for Report for America, he drove a significant increase in web traffic and social media engagement, underscoring his ability to communicate the program’s mission effectively and to attract top talent. Earlier in his career, at the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Team Rubicon, and the American Red Cross, Kille worked to secure prominent media coverage, forging partnerships that amplified mission-driven initiatives. Kille also served as an award-winning military journalist and public affairs specialist in the U.S. Marine Corps in his early career.

Sam Kille underscores the critical role that robust local reporting plays and highlights the importance of bringing more veteran voices to newsrooms during the War Horse Symposium, held at the University of Chicago, April 6, 2023. Photo by Babee Garcia, The War Horse.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sam Kille to the Military Veterans in Journalism advisory board,” said Zack Baddorf, MVJ Co-Founder. “Sam has been a supporter of MVJ and our work for several years, both as a member of our community and in his professional capacity. His extensive experience and unwavering commitment to supporting veterans and diverse voices in media will be invaluable as we continue to advocate for inclusion of the voices of those who have served.”

Military Veterans in Journalism extends a warm welcome to Sam Kille as he joins the MVJ Advisory Board. We look forward to learning from him in the near future and to seeing the collaboration his addition will bring.

Aug 13

Democracy Fund Joins Military Veterans in Journalism in Support of Effort to Combat Spread of Violent Extremist Narratives Targeting Military-connected Communities

By News

Foundation that confronts deep-rooted challenges in American democracy while defending against new threats pledges support for MVJ’s Information Integrity Project and its work within military and veteran online spaces.

Aug. 13, 2024 – Military Veterans in Journalism announced today new support from Democracy Fund for its Information Integrity Project, an effort to build media literacy within military-connected online spaces. This support will enable the program team to continue their work beyond the 2024 inauguration, finding new ways to engage community members and create greater impact.

MVJ’s Information Integrity Project launched two years after a research project from the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that veterans and active-duty military members may make up at least 25% of militia rosters. Recent research coming out of the program’s collaboration with the University of Alabama Veterans and Media Lab further shows that an alarming 57% of veterans said they have been targeted with disinformation coming from malicious groups seeking to recruit them.

To combat these efforts, Information Integrity Project team members research, produce and promote media literacy explainers to help inoculate community members against targeted propaganda. Project team members, the majority of whom are themselves military veterans, engage with fellow veterans across social media channels to provide constructive discourse and resources to reconnect with purpose. The project also supports a reporting team at Military Times to independently produce high-quality reporting on violent extremist groups that are targeting veterans and service members.

“Violent extremist groups aim to exploit our military and tarnish the legacies of those who’ve served by attempting to co-opt the military and veteran community,” said Carla O, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and the program’s marketing manager. “They seek out veteran voices to normalize their groups and bolster their perceived credibility, patriotism and professionalism, which ultimately undermines the service of those veterans. Our program works to expose the propaganda and recruitment tactics they use and inoculate members of the military and veteran community against future efforts.”

The Information Integrity Project has previously received generous support from the Knight Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies,the MacArthur Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation and the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation. With this grant, Democracy Fund joins these national foundations and other supporting organizations in contributing to MVJ’s efforts to prevent extremist recruitment within military-connected communities online.

MVJ thanks Democracy Fund for its support of our Information Integrity Project. While the program currently has funding through Summer 2025, MVJ is seeking support to extend it for the following two years. If you are interested in supporting our efforts, please email [email protected].

Jul 16

Military Veterans in Journalism Joins Alliance for Peacebuilding In Support of Information Integrity Project

By News

MVJ joins the Alliance’s nonpartisan network of diverse international organizations aiming to combat violence in communities worldwide by building peace and understanding.

July 16, 2024 – Military Veterans in Journalism announces today it has joined the Alliance for Peacebuilding, a nonpartisan network of peacebuilding organizations that aims to prevent and reduce violent conflict and build sustainable peace in communities worldwide. As part of the Alliance, MVJ will work with a variety of international organizations to better counter violent extremist efforts and strengthen peacebuilding within military-connected communities.

The Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP), named the “number one influencer and change agent” among peacebuilding institutions worldwide, is a nonprofit and nonpartisan network of organizations working in 181 countries to prevent and reduce violent conflict and build sustainable peace. AfP cultivates a network to strengthen and advance the peacebuilding field, enabling peacebuilding organizations to achieve greater impact—tackling issues too large for any one organization to address alone.

MVJ joins the Alliance as part of MVJ’s Information Integrity Project, which aims to counter the spread of manipulative propaganda and violent extremist recruitment efforts in veteran and military communities. MVJ will participate in the network’s various endeavors in the counter-extremist space to learn about and implement prevention tactics across military communities. MVJ and AfP will also work together with the network to build more peaceful military-connected spaces, disrupting the normalization of targeted violence within these spaces.

The AfP network includes over 200 international organizations, each with a diverse focus and community, which come together to learn from each other and build peace worldwide. MVJ has previously worked with some of the Alliance’s member organizations, such as Project Over Zero, to train journalists on understanding and effectively countering violent extremist recruitment messaging in their reporting.

MVJ hopes this new membership will enable future successes in preventing veterans from becoming the targets of violent extremist recruitment efforts, both online and off.

Jul 03

MVJ hosts webinar with reporters covering extremism and disinformation in military and veteran communities

By Resources

By Devon Lancia, MVJ Partnerships Director

During a time when news media is facing unprecedented challenges in combating disinformation and Americans are being increasingly exposed to extremist propaganda online, Military Veterans in Journalism’s recent Counter-Disinformation Panel shed light on the multifaceted strategies and considerations involved in addressing these critical issues within newsrooms serving the military-connected community.

With a panel of experts including Military.com managing editor Zach Fryer-Biggs, 100 Days in Appalachia creative director and executive editor Dana Coester, Military.com reporter Konstantin Torapin, Military Times reporter Nikki Wentling, and The War Horse investigative reporter Sonner Kehrt, the event was just one piece of an ongoing dialogue around MVJ’s Information Integrity Project.

Key points from the discussion:

  • The panel discussed the importance of reporting on extremism within the military due to the outsized influence of veterans in organized groups.
  • Panelists emphasized reframing coverage to avoid political polarization and focus on broader issues of preventing violence.
  • Nuanced considerations in crafting coverage for this community were discussed, including tailoring reporting to engage diverse audiences.
  • Challenges of safely navigating online spaces to uncover extremism-related content were highlighted.
  • Panelists flagged a need to craft stories about extremism in a way that avoids dehumanization while accurately depicting ideologies. They also flagged the need to avoid damaged veteran stereotypes in media coverage and gave some ideas to get around it.
  • Current and future trends in disinformation distribution and the formation of radical groups within the military space were discussed.
  • The role of a journalist’s personal identity – race, gender, ethnicity and veteran status included – in covering extremist groups was explored.
  • The discussion closed with some tips on how newsrooms can support reporters covering extremism and disinformation, including suggestions for increased collaboration and providing adequate resources.

Panelists first shared their journey into covering extremism and disinformation to provide context for their perspectives. Coester traced her involvement in extremist coverage back to 2012, when her work on projects involving veterans of both World Wars exposed her to manipulated populist rhetoric that reminded her of historical extremist ideologies. Kehrt, a Coast Guard veteran, found her interest piqued during clashes such as Milo Yiannopoulos’ free speech week and delved into journalistic coverage of extremist activities like that. Toropin, a Navy veteran, used his experiences covering mass shootings and events like the January 6 Capitol insurrection to recognize and cover the presence of extremism within the military, starting at CNN and moving to Military.com. Wentling’s journey began in previous reporting roles, where her increased awareness of Russian propaganda targeting veterans and its intensification following events like the Capitol insurrection led her to contribute her expertise to MVJ’s Information Integrity Project as a Military Times reporting fellow.

The discussion portion of the session, moderated by Fryer-Biggs, clarified why reporting on radicalization and extremism within the military is so important, especially given recent data on the influence veterans wield within extremist groups. Despite challenges like senior Pentagon leadership’s reluctance to address the issue, panelists emphasized that investigative journalism should play a critical role in shedding light on these complex and challenging topics. 

The group also discussed the challenge of depoliticizing reporting on and conversations around extremism and violence and advocated for reframing coverage to avoid perpetuating polarizing takes on these issues. Wentling suggested breaking down “extremism” into specific categories to facilitate better understanding with audiences. Fryer-Biggs also suggested creating more nuanced reporting that focuses on the broader issue of preventing violence and extremist recruitment without shifting blame to specific political factions.

The panel also explored the various things journalists must consider in crafting their coverage on these issues, particularly tailoring reporting to effectively engage and inform diverse audiences. Kehrt, speaking from her experience with The War Horse, mentioned that one of the missions of this work is bridging the military-civilian divide and catering reporting to military-curious civilians who may be reading to seek deeper insights. Coester advocated for local journalism taking the lead in this space, highlighting the importance of reporters engaging with their communities directly to address issues affecting them. Wentling suggested providing coverage beyond the issues to better equip readers with tools to discern misleading information. Toropin stated journalists must try to inform readers about the origins of information to foster healthy skepticism and news literacy, especially among skeptics and disbelievers within the military-connected community.

Strategies for navigating online spaces to uncover extremism-related content were discussed, including ways for journalists to stay safe within an increasingly hostile segment of the information environment. Fryer-Biggs started the conversation by underscoring the resource-intensive nature of monitoring online channels effectively. Toropin and Wentling added to that by highlighting the difficulty of distinguishing between genuine rhetoric and trolling or edginess in online spaces and suggesting journalists collaborate with extremist monitoring organizations to gain wider perspectives.

Panelists then shifted into discussing the challenges inherent in writing stories about extremism. They emphasized that reporters must avoid both dehumanizing or giving undue sympathy towards individuals holding extremist beliefs in their work. They addressed the need to avoid the damaged veteran stereotype in coverage on these issues, with Kehrt pushing the need for reporting that showcases the diverse experiences and actions of veterans beyond the stereotype of trauma and vulnerability. The panel suggested holding institutions and societal factors accountable while recognizing the complexities behind certain behaviors, and Wentling mentioned one potential storytelling solution: focus on veterans who are actively working towards solutions, such as recruiting veterans for volunteer work or advocating against extremism and disinformation, rather than giving most of the story’s attention to those who aren’t.

Looking towards the future, Fryer-Biggs led the conversation into shifting trends in disinformation distribution and the formation of radical groups within the military space. Wentling brought up concerns about the proliferation of disinformation, particularly driven by foreign adversaries, and the challenges posed by generative AI and inadequate content moderation on social media platforms. Toropin noted a shift towards smaller, decentralized cells and lone actors as prominent culprits in extremist activities, while Kehrt and Coester raised the issue of extremism ideas becoming mainstream and extremist rhetoric permeating everyday discourse. This discussion underscored the ever-evolving nature of the disinformation and extremist threat landscape and the need for vigilant monitoring and response strategies for journalists.

Panelists also discussed the role of identity in covering extremist groups, particularly in relation to gender, ethnicity, and veteran status. Wentling highlighted the credibility that comes from having a heavily veteran staff at her current publication, but both she and Kehrt acknowledged the complexities of being a woman in a predominantly male space.

In discussing ways in which newsrooms can better support reporters covering extremism and disinformation, the panelists emphasized the need for increased collaboration, long-term commitment, and providing adequate time and resources for thorough research and development of stories. They also added that newsrooms should be mindful of the mental health impact on reporters covering sensitive and potentially distressing topics within the extremist landscape. Finally, they underscored the value of collaboration across newsrooms and advocated for a collective effort in covering these complex and evolving issues.

Later this year, MVJ will be releasing a guide with best practices on reporting on disinformation and extremism in the military and veteran community.

Jun 25

Military Veterans in Journalism Information Integrity Project Expands in Combating Spread of Violent Extremist Narratives Targeting Military-connected Communities

By News

Social justice-focused foundation pledges support for MVJ’s project to curb the rise of targeted deceptive narratives and violent extremist recruitment in military and veteran communities.

Jun. 25, 2024 – Military Veterans in Journalism announced today the addition of two new team members to its Information Integrity Project, thanks to new support from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation. The project team now totals six members working across the digital information landscape to help inoculate the military-connected community against targeted deception narratives and violent extremist recruitment efforts online.

MVJ’s Information Integrity Project launched two years after a research project from the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that veterans and active-duty military members may make up at least 25% of militia rosters. Recent research coming out of the program’s collaboration with the University of Alabama Veterans and Media Lab further shows that an alarming 57% of veterans said they have been targeted with disinformation coming from malicious groups seeking to recruit them.

To combat these efforts, Information Integrity Project team members research, produce and promote media literacy explainers to help inoculate community members against targeted propaganda. Project team members, the majority of whom are themselves military veterans, engage with fellow veterans across social media channels to provide constructive discourse and resources to reconnect with purpose. The project also supports a reporting team at Military Times to independently produce high-quality reporting on violent extremist groups that are targeting veterans and service members.

“Violent extremist groups aim to exploit our military and tarnish the legacies of those who’ve served by attempting to co-opt the military and veteran community,” said Carla O, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and the program’s marketing manager. “They seek out veteran voices to normalize their groups and bolster their perceived credibility, patriotism and professionalism, which ultimately undermines the service of those veterans. Our program works to expose the propaganda and recruitment tactics they use and inoculate members of the military and veteran community against future efforts.”

The Information Integrity Project has previously received generous support from the Knight Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and the MacArthur Foundation. With this grant, the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation joins these national foundations and others in contributing to MVJ’s efforts to prevent extremist recruitment within military-connected communities online. Funding from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation enabled the addition of two new team members: a researcher and a partnerships manager.

“We are seeing more and more bad actors taking advantage of military veterans, service members, and their families to hinder social justice and promote extremism,” said Jonathan Logan, President and CEO of the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation. “We support MVJ in their efforts to protect military-connected communities who are being used by extremists to undermine our democracy.”

MVJ thanks the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation for its support of our Information Integrity Project. While the program currently has funding through Summer 2025, MVJ is seeking support to extend it for the following two years. If you are interested in supporting our efforts, please email [email protected].

Jun 11

MVJ Information Integrity Project Seeks Minnesota Content Manager

By Resources

Location: Remote (within Minnesota)

About Us: Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) is a professional association that supports veterans in the media by fostering community, promoting career growth, and advocating for newsroom diversity through veteran hiring. Led by veterans and military family members, MVJ collaborates with news outlets, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other partners to create opportunities for veterans in the media industry. MVJ also helps news organizations diversify their staff by serving as a talent pipeline. Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in May 2019, MVJ has over 1,000 members nationwide, including both working and aspiring journalists.

Position Overview: Military Veterans in Journalism is seeking a Minnesota-based social media and digital engagement team member for our Information Integrity Project, which works to counter disinformation by violent extremist groups and foreign actors that are targeting the military/veteran community. The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in understanding the information environment and dynamics in the state, the ability to critically analyze various sources of information, and a commitment to promoting factual information, passively teaching media literacy and connecting veterans with support resources in local communities across the state.

Responsibilities:

  • Conduct in-depth research on emerging conspiracy theories and propaganda campaigns targeting Minnesota veterans and service members across various online platforms and communities
  • Identify key sources propagating conspiracy theories and disinformation within the Minnesota information environment and monitor narratives and trends being shared
  • Work with the national program researcher to identify what knowledge is missing and analyze what other circumstances may make Minnesota veterans vulnerable to these emerging trends
  • Develop organic and advertising content on social media, specifically targeting community members in the state, that shares insights on the various bad actors who are looking to target vets in local communities across Minnesota, provides alternatives to extremism and extremist narratives at a local level, and helps inoculate Minnesota vets against disinformation through increasing media literacy skills

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Must be recently separated from the military or currently serving. Must also have a passion for serving the military and veteran community.
  • Knowledge of Minnesota’s information environment, extremist activity and of organizations serving veterans within the state.
  • Strong investigative skills with the ability to critically evaluate and fact-check information from multiple sources.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex ideas in a clear and concise manner via language that resonates with the target community.
  • Familiarity with social media platforms and data environments, specifically Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X and TikTok. MVJ can provide training on platforms the candidate may not be entirely familiar with.
  • Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines.
  • Commitment to non-partisanship, accuracy, objectivity, and ethical research practices.

The above qualifications are preferred but not required.

Additional Information: This is a part-time contract position with flexible hours. The candidate will work remotely and should be available to attend occasional meetings or check-ins with the broader program team.
Compensation is $25-30 per hour, based on experience, with an expected workload of 20 hours per week. This is a 1099 contract position on an at-will basis for up to 12 months. Further details regarding project timelines, deliverables, and communication protocols will be provided upon hire.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume/CV and a short paragraph (or more) outlining why you want this role to MVJ Executive Director Zack Baddorf at [email protected]. 

Military Veterans in Journalism is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those with diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities.

Jun 03

MVJ Information Integrity Project Seeks On-Camera Influencer

By Resources

Location: Remote

About Us: Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) is a professional association that supports veterans in the media by fostering community, promoting career growth, and advocating for newsroom diversity through veteran hiring. Led by veterans and military family members, MVJ collaborates with news outlets, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other partners to create opportunities for veterans in the media industry. MVJ also helps news organizations diversify their staff by serving as a talent pipeline. Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in May 2019, MVJ has over 1,000 members nationwide, including both working and aspiring journalists.

Position Overview: We are seeking an On-Camera Influencer for our Information Integrity Project (IIP). The IIP is dedicated to combating the spread of disinformation and extremism in veteran and military communities. The Influencer will create and present engaging non-partisan content focused on improving media literacy, countering emerging disinformation and conspiracy theories, and promoting alternatives to extremism. The ideal candidate will have a strong on-camera presence, excellent communication skills, and a passion for promoting accurate information to veterans.

Veterans (enlisted and officers) and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply!

Responsibilities:

  • Working with our small team, develop short on-camera content that educates veterans about media literacy, debunks conspiracy theories, and counters disinformation. Film and edit this content in a simple, no frills style that is conversational, educational and hopefully entertaining. 
  • Collaborate asynchronously with the IIP team, primarily through Slack, to ensure that content aligns with non-partisan project goals and messaging.
  • Stay informed about current trends in disinformation and media literacy to create timely and relevant content in collaboration with our team’s researcher.
  • Participate in editorial review processes to maintain high standards of accuracy and integrity. 
  • Attend weekly meeting and contribute to team discussions and planning.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience as an on-camera presenter or influencer, preferably in the areas of media literacy or countering disinformation.
  • Familiarity with the needs and interests of military and veteran communities 
  • A passion for information integrity.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and connect with audiences.
  • Familiarity with social media platforms and digital content creation.
  • Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines.
  • Commitment to non-partisanship, accuracy, objectivity, and ethical practices.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Media Studies, Journalism, or a related field OR relevant experience.

Additional Information:

  • This is a part-time contract position with flexible hours. The candidate will work remotely and should be available to attend the weekly team meeting (Friday mornings at 8am Eastern), and occasional other meetings.
  • Compensation is fee-based, depending on the number of videos produced and used by the client (MVJ). Further details regarding project timelines, deliverables, and communication protocols will be provided upon selection.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume/CV, a short paragraph (or more) outlining why you want this role, and a link to a short video that demonstrates your on-camera presence/style to MVJ Executive Director Zack Baddorf at [email protected].  

Military Veterans in Journalism is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those with diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities.

May 29

Sword and Pen – Jason Burrows: KUOW Producer/Announcer

By Podcast

By Lori King, host of Sword and Pen

It was three years ago when I took a chance and responded to a tweet by MVJ seeking a podcaster to take over the Sword and Pen. 

I was a huge NPR nerd (still am). Instead of listening to music between my photojournalism assignments at the Toledo Blade newspaper, I listened to audio interviews by Terry Gross and Robin Young (just to name a few). Knowing where the future was heading with the popularity of podcasts, I was also teaching podcasting in my multimedia classes as an adjunct university instructor. 

So, I responded.

Hosting and producing the Sword and Pen has been one of the most satisfying ways to tell a story. There is nothing like chatting with like-minded military veterans who love journalism as much as I do.

But now it’s time to bid you all farewell because I am now gainfully employed … once again! I am the new editor-in-chief at the Toledo Free Press, a nonprofit, hyperlocal online newsroom that will challenge me like never before. Of course, we will have at least one podcast … probably two!

Navy veteran, KUOW producer/announcer & MVJ member Jason Burrows, pictured here at the mic.

This month’s podcast goes out to all of you radio folks out there. I hope you enjoy listening to my final Sword and Pen as much as I loved sharing the mic with my guest, navy veteran and radio producer/announcer Jason Burrows, of KUOW, an NPR affiliate in Seattle. KUOW is an NPR affiliate.

As with all the Sword and Pen guests over the years, he has quite a story to tell.

Listen as Burrows talks about:

  • how he broke into radio on the USS Abraham Lincoln
  • following his heart when he quit a secure fulltime job with benefits with a barge company for a less secure part-time radio job with no benefits
  • his roller blading podcast that lasted five years
  • valuable tips, tricks and advice for anyone wanting to break into podcasting and radio

As I begin my new journey as a newsroom leader, I end this blog post as I ended my Sword and Pen episodes.

You’re dismissed.

May 24

MVJ Welcomes AP Vice President Ron Nixon to Board of Directors

By Resources

May 23, 2024 — Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to welcome Marine Corps veteran and AP leader Ron Nixon to its Board of Directors. With his deep experience as a journalist, news leader, military veteran and uplifter of media diversity, Nixon takes on this new role ready to guide MVJ in service of its membership.

Ron Nixon is Vice President, News and Head of Investigations, Enterprise, Partnerships and Grants at the Associated Press. In his role, he helps guide the AP’s enterprise and investigations teams and creates more external opportunities to expand the AP’s reach and gain new sources of funding. Nixon joined the AP in 2019 after 14 years covering homeland security for the New York Times and served as the Global Investigations Editor before taking on his current role in late 2022.

“It’s an honor to be joining the Board of Directors of Military Veterans in Journalism,” said Nixon of the announcement. “I’ve supported MVJ’s work and been a member of its community for some time, and I’m looking forward to guiding the organization in support of veterans working in the news and seeking opportunities to do so.”

Nixon is a co-founder of the Ida B. Wells Society, a professional association that works to increase the ranks, retention and profile of investigative reporters and editors of color. In 2021, he was selected as the News Leaders Association’s News Leader of the Year. Then, in 2022, Nixon was selected as one of Military Veterans in Journalism’s Top Ten Veterans in Journalism.

“MVJ is honored to welcome Ron to our Board of Directors,” said Zack Baddorf, MVJ’s Executive Director. “For the past three years, his advice on strategy and fundraising has helped me grow as a nonprofit leader, and I’m grateful for his guidance. His unparalleled dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices and driving tangible change aligns perfectly with our mission at MVJ, and we believe Ron’s wealth of experience and advice will be incredibly helpful in steering our organization’s future.”

Military Veterans in Journalism extends a warm welcome to Ron Nixon as he joins the MVJ Board of Directors. We look forward to working alongside him to serve military veterans and spouses in the news media.

May 23

MVJ Information Integrity Project Seeks Partnership Manager

By Resources

Location: Remote

About Us: Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) is a professional association that supports veterans in the media by fostering community, promoting career growth, and advocating for newsroom diversity through veteran hiring. Led by veterans and military family members, MVJ collaborates with news outlets, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other partners to create opportunities for veterans in the media industry. MVJ also helps news organizations diversify their staff by serving as a talent pipeline. Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in May 2019, MVJ has over 1,000 members nationwide, including both working and aspiring journalists.

Position Overview: We are seeking a Partnership Manager specifically for our Information Integrity Project (IIP). The IIP is dedicated to combating the spread of disinformation and extremism in veteran and military communities. The Partnership Manager will spearhead efforts to build and maintain relationships with influencers and strategic partners to amplify the reach and impact of our initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in partnership development, excellent communication skills, and a passion for promoting accurate information and countering disinformation.

Responsibilities:

  • Identify and engage key influencers within the veteran and military communities to support the IIP’s objectives.
  • Build and maintain relationships with strategic partners and stakeholders relevant to the IIP.
  • Collaborate with influencers to create and share content that aligns with the goals of the Information Integrity Project.
  • Coordinate influencer activities, ensuring they align with the IIP’s strategies and messaging.
  • Monitor and assess the impact of influencer partnerships and report on outcomes to the project manager.
  • Develop and execute strategies for expanding the reach and impact of the IIP through partnerships.
  • Work closely with the IIP to ensure cohesive and effective campaigns that support the IIP’s mission.
  • Provide weekly updates and reports to the project manager on partnership activities and their outcomes. 
  • Coordinate with our partners at various social media platforms on collaboration

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field OR relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated experience in partnership development, influencer engagement, or related fields.
  • A passion for serving the military and veteran community.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships.
  • Excellent organizational and project management skills.
  • Familiarity with social media platforms and digital marketing strategies.
  • Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines.
  • Commitment to non-partisanship, accuracy, objectivity, and ethical practices.

Additional Information:

  • This is a part-time contract position with flexible hours. The candidate will work remotely and should be available to attend occasional meetings or check-ins with the team.
  • Compensation is $25-30 per hour, based on experience, with an expected workload of 10 hours per week. This is a 1099 contract position on an at-will basis for up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension to three years, dependent on funding. Further details regarding project timelines, deliverables, and communication protocols will be provided upon hire.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume/CV and a short paragraph (or more) outlining why you want this role to MVJ Executive Director Zack Baddorf at [email protected].

Military Veterans in Journalism is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those with diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities.



May 22

MVJ Seeks Host & Producer/Editor for Sword & Pen Podcast

By Resources

MVJ is seeking a volunteer podcast producer/editor to oversee the production process of our Sword and Pen podcast. The ideal candidate will have interest and some degree of experience in news research, production management, audio editing, and script-writing for a podcast format. This role will be supervised by the Partnerships Director to support partnership and program promotions, receive prior approval for episode content, and set appropriate schedules for publication and promotion. They will work closely with the Podcast Host to provide audio content for each episode.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Prepare and plan podcast interviews with input from the Podcast Host.
  • Manage scheduling interviewees, recording, editing, and episode publication.
  • Update and maintain the podcast’s creative vision.
  • Offer a helping hand to the host during creation and production.
  • Examine content pitches from the podcast host and MVJ team members.
  • Research MVJ members and/or influential military veterans in the journalism field to find interviewees.
  • Analyze statistics and report on episode performance at monthly team meetings.
  • Monitor, assess, and provide recommendations to improve the podcast channel’s performance.
  • Meet podcast deadlines as set with Podcast Host and Partnerships Director.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Proficiency with audio editing software, such as Premiere or Audacity
  • Highly organized self-starter with excellent copywriting and communication skills
  • Experience in podcast production and ability to develop engaging podcast content
  • Experience in scriptwriting and research
  • Knowledge of Spotify podcasting platform and environment
  • Strategic knowledge in marketing and engagement & creativity in digital storytelling
  • Good decision-making, outreach and relationship-building skills

Honorarium: $100/episode

Apply below!

[forminator_form id=”13624″]

MVJ is seeking a new host to be the voice of our Sword and Pen podcast. The ideal candidate will have interest in spotlighting a military veteran journalist audience and some degree of experience in news research and interview procedure and etiquette. This role will work alongside the Podcast Producer/Editor to support partnership and program promotions, receive editorial oversight and feedback, and set appropriate schedules for recording.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Assist in the planning of each episode, record content and conduct podcast interviews, using prepared questions and other material from the producer/editor.
  • Assist with maintaining the podcast’s creative vision.
  • Offer a helping hand to the producer/editor during production, as needed.
  • Present content pitches to the podcast producer/editor and MVJ team members, as needed.
  • Assess audience engagement and provide recommendations to improve the podcast channel’s performance.
  • Meet podcast recording deadlines.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Team player with good attitude and commitment and excellent communication skills
  • Experience in hosting podcasts or other auditory media and with conducting interviews
  • Basic to advanced knowledge of recording equipment and software
  • Experience in research and engagement analysis
  • Good decision-making and relationship-building skills

Honorarium: $100/episode

Apply below!

[forminator_form id=”13625″]

May 20

MVJ Welcomes NBC10 & Telemundo62 Anchor Lucy Bustamante to Board of Directors

By News

May 20, 2024 – Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce the addition of journalist and diversity advocate Lucy Bustamante to its Board of Directors. Currently a morning news anchor with NBC10 and a breaking news anchor with Telemundo62 in Philadelphia, Bustamante brings diverse experiences and insights from her career to this new role.

Lucy Bustamante is passionate about serving the Hispanic, Latinx and military-connected communities. She was the co-founding President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, along with fellow military spouse/Telemundo News Anchor, Iris Delgado. Bustamante has also worked with the Naval Officers Spouses Association and the NBC Universal Veterans network to support military families in Philadelphia and beyond.

“I’m honored to be joining the Board of Directors of Military Veterans in Journalism in support of the organization’s work,” said Bustamante of her new role. “As a long-time supporter of MVJ and its initiatives to bring more veterans into the news environment, I look forward to guiding MVJ in the near future as it grows with the community of vets in journalism.”

Bustamante has a storied journalism career, with four Emmy awards and one Telly award for her work in her current role. She has also received several Associated Press awards for her work as an anchor, three Edward R. Murrow awards for her 2011 documentary work on the Affordable Care Act in Virginia, and one Edward R. Murrow award and one Peabody Award for New Orleans breaking news and coverage of Hurricane Katrina, respectively.

“We at MVJ are thrilled to welcome Lucy to our Board of Directors,” said Zack Baddorf, MVJ’s Executive Director. “She has been a vocal supporter of veterans in newsrooms and a wonderful guide and advocate for MVJ. We look forward to having her insight and guidance on board as we move into the future of our organization and community.”

Military Veterans in Journalism extends a warm welcome to Lucy Bustamante as she joins the MVJ Board of Directors. We look forward to learning from her and working alongside her to build new efforts to support veterans in journalism.

May 10

MVJ Information Integrity Project Seeks Research Consultant

By Resources

Thank you for your interest in this position! We are no longer accepting applications for this role. To be informed of future MVJ job and fellowship postings, please subscribe to our newsletter.

Position Title: Research Consultant – Emerging Trends in Conspiracy Theories and Disinformation

Location: Remote

About Us: Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) is a professional association that supports veterans in the media by fostering community, promoting career growth, and advocating for newsroom diversity through veteran hiring. Led by veterans and military family members, MVJ collaborates with news outlets, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other partners to create opportunities for veterans in the media industry. MVJ also helps news organizations diversify their staff by serving as a talent pipeline. Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in May 2019, MVJ has over 1,000 members nationwide, including both working and aspiring journalists.

Position Overview: We are seeking a research consultant to delve into emerging trends in conspiracy theories and propaganda affecting military and veteran communities. The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in understanding the dynamics of online propaganda, the ability to critically analyze various sources of information, and a commitment to uncovering truth and promoting factual information.

Responsibilities:

  • Conduct in-depth research on emerging conspiracy theories and propaganda campaigns across various online platforms and communities, especially military and veteran online communities
  • Provide weekly report of findings using our template
  • Monitor and analyze trends, patterns, and narratives within conspiracy theory and disinformation ecosystems.
  • Identify key actors, influencers, and sources propagating conspiracy theories and disinformation.
  • Identify what knowledge is missing and other circumstances that may make people vulnerable to emerging trends
  • Collaborate with internal teams to develop insights, reports, and recommendations based on research findings.
  • Stay updated on the latest developments and methodologies in the field of counter-misinformation and disinformation research.
  • Present findings and insights to internal stakeholders as needed. 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Communication, Journalism, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, or related field OR relevant experience
  • Demonstrated experience or strong interest in researching conspiracy theories, disinformation, online communities, or related topics.
  • A passion for serving the military and veteran community.
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to critically evaluate and synthesize information from multiple sources.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas in a clear and concise manner.
  • Familiarity with online research tools, data analysis techniques, and social media platforms.
  • Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines.
  • Commitment to non-partisanship, accuracy, objectivity, and ethical research practices.

The above qualifications are preferred but not required.

Additional Information:

This is a part-time contract position with flexible hours. The candidate will work remotely and should be available to attend occasional meetings or check-ins with the team.

Compensation is $25-30 per hour, based on experience, with an expected workload of 20 hours per week. This is a 1099 contract position on an at-will basis for up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension to three years, dependent on funding. Further details regarding project timelines, deliverables, and communication protocols will be provided upon hire.

Military Veterans in Journalism is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those with diverse backgrounds and those with disabilities.

May 09

Nominations Open for Top 10 Veterans in Journalism 2024

By News

Military Veterans in Journalism is thrilled to announce the return of the Top 10 Veterans in Journalism Competition for 2024.

The competition celebrates the outstanding achievements of military veteran journalists throughout the preceding year. Recipients of the awards will be honored during the highly anticipated MVJ24 Convention, a premier event that gathers journalists, industry leaders, and media professionals from across the globe.

The deadline for submission is June 15, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Neither the submitter nor the nominee needs to be a member of MVJ to submit a piece for consideration.

Eligibility and Requirements

MVJ welcomes submissions from all armed forces veterans of any branch. To be considered, they can either submit their own work or that of a fellow veteran. Self-nominations are permitted.

  • Only pieces created by veterans of the armed forces are eligible. While collaborative efforts are accepted, journalists involved will only be eligible if they are veterans themselves. All submissions must be published work completed and made publicly available within the past 12 months.
  • Submissions must include the original publishing or release date, all contributors, and the organization under which the work was published.
  • Submissions are not limited to any one form of media; they can include traditional print and broadcast, as well as emerging forms such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Interactive Data Visualization, and others.
  • Submissions should also include a brief description of the nominee and why they should be recognized as a Top 10 Military Veteran in Journalism.

The submissions will be scored on originality, newsworthiness, journalistic quality, and diversity. MVJ’s panel of judges will apply their experience, editing standards, and personal background to decide how well a piece ranks in each category. Judges will be looking for accurate and insightful storytelling that engages them as the audience.
All pieces, regardless of media type, will be reviewed by the same panel of judges and scored in the same manner.

While every submission will be scored and selections for the list will be made, scores will not be released publicly. Outside of scoring, judges will be able to supply commentary if they wish, but not every piece will receive feedback.

Recognize fellow veterans in journalism and the value of their work!

Apr 23

Terry Anderson’s Legacy: A Veteran’s Valor in Journalism

By Features

By Zack Baddorf, Executive Director, Military Veterans in Journalism

Terry Anderson, a former Marine turned journalist whose harrowing experience as a hostage captured the world’s attention, passed away Saturday at 76 due to complications from heart surgery. As the Beirut bureau chief for The Associated Press, Anderson was abducted in 1985 by Hezbollah and spent over six years in captivity.

On June 21, 1992, Terry Anderson was welcomed home to Lorain, Ohio after his release from captivity in late 1991. Photo courtesy of Paul M. Walsh.

While I did not personally know Anderson, I’m confident that his military background, including his role as a combat journalist in Vietnam, profoundly shaped his approach to news and the world that he reported on.

Anderson’s story is a poignant reminder of the adaptability instilled through military service. His experience highlights how veterans are trained to operate under extreme conditions and adept at navigating complex situations. These skills can be put to use in journalism, particularly in conflict zones or when reporting under pressure.

Moreover, Anderson’s career trajectory illustrates how veterans continue to serve their community. After his release by Hezbollah in 1991, he engaged in diverse activities — from teaching at prestigious institutions like Columbia and Syracuse Universities to running for political office. This adaptability showcases the broad potential of veterans beyond typical war reporting.

Anderson’s ability to handle the psychological and physical demands of both his military service and later, his time as a hostage, also underscores the mental toughness and resilience that veterans can bring to journalism. This perspective is crucial, not only in reporting on military affairs but in covering a wide array of topics that require empathy and depth.

Terry Anderson’s full and eventful life serves as a powerful example of how military veterans can transition into journalism and use their skills to enrich media coverage. While not all veterans may choose to report directly from war zones, their broad skill sets enable them to contribute significantly to the journalistic landscape. Anderson’s legacy should serve as a reminder to newsrooms everywhere to recognize and harness the potential of veterans in their ranks.

Mar 27

Military Veterans in Journalism and the USA TODAY Network Launch Paid Fellowships for Military Veteran Journalists

By Career Opportunities, News, Resources

March 27, 2024 – Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) announced today a new partnership with Gannett to launch the 2024 USA TODAY Network Military Veterans Fellowship Program. This program offers four paid fellowships designed to employ more veterans as journalists within the national USA TODAY Network.

Gannett, the largest media company in the United States, has a rich history spanning several decades. Renowned for its commitment to delivering trusted, fact-based news, Gannett operates a diverse portfolio of media outlets across the country including its flagship national publication, USA TODAY, and over 200 local publications across the country. Gannett continuously emphasizes the significance of unbiased reporting and journalistic integrity.
“Gannett is excited to announce the 2024 USA TODAY Network Military Veterans Fellowship Program launch in partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism,” said Samantha Howland, Chief People Officer at Gannett. “Gannett and the Military Forward Employee Resource Group understand the value of military veterans and recognize their unique perspectives, professional experiences, and diversity of thought enhance our business and the communities we serve.”

As part of this effort, MVJ and Gannett will select four military veteran journalists for paid fellowships within the USA TODAY Network. This opportunity is perfect for veterans who are up-and-coming journalists seeking to receive six months of paid journalistic employment and growing their skills and connections within a national network of publications.

Ideal fellowship candidates will have some experience reporting and writing on deadline prior to entering the program. Candidates should be interested in a professional career covering both local and national stories in an unbiased manner. Fellows will also participate in MVJ’s mentorship program during their fellowship.

“Military Veterans in Journalism is proud to partner with Gannett on this initiative to employ vets within the USA TODAY Network,” said Zack Baddorf, MVJ’s Executive Director. “This collaboration will provide a great opportunity for veterans to jumpstart their journalism careers and grow within a local news environment. Participation in these fellowships will ensure the selected military veteran journalists develop skills essential to their ongoing success in the journalism field.”

For more information on the program and positions available, visit: https://www.www.mvj.network/2024-usa-today-network-veterans-in-journalism-fellowships

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About Gannett
Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a scalable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. We endeavor to deliver essential content, marketing solutions, and experiences for curated audiences, advertisers, consumers, and stakeholders by leveraging our diverse teams and suite of products to enrich the local communities and businesses we serve. Our current portfolio of trusted media brands includes the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, uses innovation and software to enable small and medium-sized businesses to grow, and USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, our events division, creates impactful consumer engagements, promotions, and races.

About Military Veterans In Journalism
Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets. Led and run by a dedicated corps of military veterans and military family members, we are working with newsrooms and other non-profit organizations to create opportunities for vets to get a jump start in the media industry. Whether through internships, fellowships or mentorships, our work has created a pipeline to get vets into newsrooms.

Contacts
Gannett | USA TODAY Network
Lark-Marie Anton
Chief Communications Officer
[email protected]

Military Veterans in Journalism
Devon Lancia
Partnerships Director
[email protected]

Feb 28

Sword and Pen – James LaPorta | Investigative Reporter

By Podcast

By Lori King, host of Sword and Pen

On this episode of Sword and Pen, host Lori King speaks with investigative reporter and former marine infantryman James LaPorta, who, after exiting the military, broke into journalism by cold calling editors and agreeing to work for bylines.

You are about to hear an inspiring story of how LaPorta, with no journalism experience or degree, tenaciously built a journalism career working for multiple mainstream news outlets, the first being the Washington Post.

LaPorta, who was recently laid off from The Messenger, also shares his story about that sudden job loss. The Messenger was a startup nonpartisan news website that hired more than 300 journalists and, in less than a year, laid them all off with no warning. He was the national security and military affairs reporter.

Listen as LaPorta talks about:

  • how he became a contributing writer for Hollywood, including This is Us, FBI and Chicago P.D.
  • how he covered his two award winning stories
  • how he broke the story of contaminated water on the USS Boxer, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy
  • and what it’s like to have a military reporting beat

Find James LaPorta on his ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠X⁠⁠

Got an idea for a podcast guest or topic? Shoot Lori an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lorikingblog@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

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Feb 23

Sword and Pen – Mike Reilley: The Journalist’s Toolbox

By Podcast

By Lori King, host of Sword and Pen

On this episode of Sword and Pen, I talk about journalism tools with journalist, author and educator Mike Reilley, who just published his second textbook, The Journalist’s Toolbox: A Guide to Digital Reporting and AI, which just came out in January. This interactive textbook focuses on the “how” and “why” of digital reporting, and equips readers with all the skills they need to succeed in today’s multimedia reporting landscape.

Reilley, who teaches data and digital journalism at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has made it his mission since 1996 to continuously stock his trademarked online Journalism Toolbox with every kind of tool, resource and training you can imagine. It is truly astounding that he can keep track of it all, but considering his tool collection dates back to 1996, when he started with just a dozen tools, he’s figured it out.

Here is just a very tiny sampling of what you can find in the toolbox: AI-driven tools for fact checking, editing, headline writing, Geo tracking, prompt writing and building charts with ChatGPT Plug-in Diagr.am; YouTube training videos on everything from mobile journalism, creating MidJourney Vector Graphics, how to use Claude.ai in reporting and editing, how to use Canva and Google docs, and even finding diverse expert sources; links to the Broadcast Education Association, the Student Newspaper Survival Guide, FOIAonline.gov, and even AP Style Exercises Online.

If there’s a tool out there, he’s got it on his website.

Listen as Reilley talks about:

  • how military journalists can benefit
  • the origin of the Journalist’s Toolbox
  • how many new AI tools are available (about 2000) and old tools he deletes because they’re dead … each month!
  • a big of online journalism history
  • how news orgs were wrong to cannibalize their print product with a free version of a digital product

Social Media

⁠The Journalism Toolbox.ai⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Reilley on X ⁠@itsmikereilley⁠ | JournalistsToolbox.ai Substack

Got an idea for a podcast guest or topic? Shoot Lori an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production.

Feb 12

Military Veterans in Journalism Joins #ListenFirst Coalition

By News

MVJ joins a group of over 500 organizations working to bring Americans together across differences to build social cohesion.

Military Veterans in Journalism is proud to announce it is joining the #ListenFirst Coalition, a bridge-building collaborative effort of the ListenFirst Project. As a Coalition member, MVJ joins a group of organizations working across the country to give diverse communities opportunities to bridge divides.

The #ListenFirst Coalition was created in 2017 by four bridging organizations to aggregate, align, and amplify bridging efforts to reach farther and create greater impact. Bridging brings together people and perspectives that are disconnected or divided to cultivate understanding, trust, and productive disagreement that can lead to collaborative problem-solving and a way forward together. The nonprofit Listen First Project serves as the backbone of the Coalition and manages its campaigns that aim to turn down the heat, and save our country from tearing apart. Today, the #ListenFirst Coalition’s campaigns and events bring Americans together to reduce toxic polarization and build social cohesion, so we can find a way forward together.  

MVJ joins the #ListenFirst Coalition as an extension of the MVJ Counter-Disinformation Program and as a way to provide its community with opportunities to bridge divides via storytelling. The organization will collaborate with other coalition members on events and opportunities to bring members of the military-connected community together to listen and understand each other, find common ground, and help bridge the gap between military service and civilian viewpoints.

“We’re thrilled to be joining the #ListenFirst Coalition,” said Zack Baddorf, MVJ’s executive director. “Our participation and collaboration with this esteemed group of organizations will help us learn and develop our work, especially as we work to inoculate veterans from violent extremist propaganda.”

The list of coalition members spans over 500 national and local organizations, each with a diverse community and a focus on bridging divides to combat the toxic polarization in America. MVJ has previously worked with several of these member organizations, including Project Over Zero, to train journalists on ways to create positive dialogue and discourage politically-charged violence via journalism.

Jan 18

Navy & Army Veteran Caron LeNoir-Kelly To Join NBC10 & Telemundo62 in Philadelphia As MVJ-Wyncote Foundation Fellow

By News

January 18, 2023 – Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce that NBC10 (WCAU-TV) and Telemundo62 (WWSI-TV) have selected Navy and Army veteran Caron LeNoir-Kelly to join its local newsroom team as an MVJ Fellow. This fellowship, supported by the Philadelphia-based Wyncote Foundation, is part of a new partnership between the Philadelphia NBC- and Telemundo-owned station and MVJ to increase the number of military veterans in their newsroom.

Caron LeNoir-Kelly is a journalist, radio host, artist, activist, and advocate. The founder of CARONISMedia Group and a podcasting pioneer, Caron has had a passion for journalism since childhood. Caron honorably served in both the US Navy and Army, and her experiences from service and as a formerly homeless disabled veteran inform her coverage of women, women veterans, and mental health issues.

“I am thrilled to join NBC10 and Telemundo62. Philadelphia is an amazing place, and I am honored to help tell the stories of its people. Military Veterans in Journalism is one of my most cherished communities. I continue to be amazed by how we lift each other up, continue to climb, and support the mission of increasing the number of veterans in America’s newsrooms. I am excited to have the leadership and guidance of both organizations in a new chapter of my life as a journalist and proud veteran.”

During this fellowship, LeNoir-Kelly will learn the ins and outs of Philadelphia news coverage on-air and online, plus work on new streaming programming.

“Supporting Caron with this opportunity is a powerful way to amplify diverse voices in our newsroom,” said Elizabeth Flores, Vice President of News for NBC10 and Telemundo62. “We embrace the value that Caron’s experience as a veteran brings to our team, and we are excited to create an inclusive space that nurtures the talent and experiences of military veterans. Together, we can significantly impact and ensure that all perspectives are represented in our stories.”

LeNoir-Kelly will spend six months in this fellowship, during which time she will make connections with some top local journalists. She has said she looks forward to contributing to thoughtful and nuanced coverage of a variety of issues in the Philadelphia area as she learns from the NBC10 and Telemundo62 team.

“The MVJ team is grateful for NBC10 and Telemundo62’s dedication to the inclusion of diverse voices, including those of veterans, within their newsroom. We are also incredibly grateful for the support of the Wyncote Foundation team, which made this fellowship possible,” said Zack Baddorf, MVJ’s Executive Director. “We are excited to support Caron’s growth under the NBC10 team’s guidance, and we look forward to the future of this new partnership.”

ABOUT NBC10 PHILADELPHIA / WCAU

Owned by NBCUniversal, NBC10 Philadelphia has been delivering local news, information and weather for more than 60 years, serving nearly six million viewers throughout Greater Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, South Jersey and Delaware. Viewers turn to NBC10 for the most up-to-date breaking news and weather on a variety of platforms, including online at nbc10.com and via mobile and social platforms. NBC10 produces more than 41 hours of local news programming per week. For more information, visit NBC10.com.

ABOUT TELEMUNDO62 PHILADELPHIA / WWSI

Owned by NBCUniversal, Telemundo62 / WWSI is NBC’s Owned Television Stations local station serving Spanish-speaking viewers throughout the Greater Philadelphia area, including 18 counties across Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware. Telemundo62 viewers start their weekday mornings with hourly news cut-ins from 6 a.m.–11 a.m. and continue to receive the latest in local news and weather information during Al Mediodía, a 30 minute newscast airing weekdays at 12 p.m. Noticiero Telemundo62 is a locally produced, live Spanish-language newscast, airing weekdays at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Viewers turn to Noticiero Telemundo62 for local news, weather, sports and community coverage on-air and on the Telemundo62 app. Telemundo62 produces more than 13.5 hours of local, Spanish language news programming per week. For more information, visit Telemundo62.com.

About Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets. Learn more at www.www.mvj.network.

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Jan 16

MVJ Launches Information Integrity Freelance Fund of $20,000

By Career Opportunities, News, Resources

Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce the establishment of a new journalism fund as part of our commitment to combating the spread of misleading narratives within veteran and military communities. 

The MVJ Information Integrity Freelance Fund will offer freelance journalists and newsrooms a unique opportunity to contribute to countering the spread of propaganda, deceptive narratives, and extremism within the military and veteran community. 

The fund of $20,000 will be used to support the publication of stories that focus on propaganda and violent extremism in the military and veteran communities. The reporting fund is intended to focus on investigative and feature stories that examine these issues at an individual and group level as well as governmental and non-governmental responses to the challenge. 

“We know that bad actors actively seek out and prey on veterans and service members. We want to expose what they’re doing,” said MVJ Executive Director Zack Baddorf. “We are very excited to launch this new fund and support stories that make a difference within the military and veteran communities. We welcome freelance journalists and newsrooms to join us in creating this impactful storytelling.”

Journalists or newsrooms can submit their pitches directly to MVJ using this form. Freelancers will ideally have identified a potential partner publication that wants to work with them to publish their work. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Pitches will be reviewed by a committee formed by MVJ. The project ends in early 2025.

Dec 31

2023 Impact Report & 2024 Goal Setting

By News

Dear MVJ Members,

As we reflect on another dynamic and impactful year at Veterans in Journalism, I’m filled with pride for the strides we’ve made together as a community.

In 2023, our fellowship and internship programs reached greater heights as new partners joined prior partners to provide even more opportunities for our members nationwide. The success of these programs reinforces MVJ as a catalyst for impactful journalism careers for veterans and military spouses. At the same time, our flourishing mentorship program is fostering relationships that help new and long-time journalists alike navigate the complexities of the media landscape.

Our commitment to countering disinformation and improving media literacy in the military community remains unwavering. Throughout 2023, we equipped our counter-disinformation team with tools to combat propaganda effectively. From immersive in-person training sessions at the Poynter Institute and Medill’s Washington, D.C. campus to online sessions with a variety of training partners, program reporters and other MVJ members engaged in collaborative learning that strengthened their skills and will make a positive impact on the industry.

This year, our disability journalism program awarded $3,700 in journalism grants to amplify impactful reporting on disability and disabled veterans issues. Our new entrepreneurial journalism program created opportunities for MVJ members to start their own sustainable ventures and cover the topics most important to them. These two programs have supported impactful reporting this year and set our members up for a wealth of opportunities and continued growth.

At the end of the year, MVJ2023 in New York City brought together MVJ community members and supporters from newsrooms across the country. Supported by sponsors including CNN, Spectrum, DAV, and many others, this year’s convention featured workshops and panels on a variety of topics, among other networking opportunities. This year’s event provided a platform for veterans and military spouses in journalism to connect with each other, learn from other talented journalists in America’s biggest news organizations, and shape the future of media with their ideas. In the coming year, we hope to build on what this year’s convention started, creating an even greater opportunity for our community and supporters to join together.

This report encapsulates the essence of MVJ’s impact in 2023 and highlights our vibrant, supportive community. My heartfelt thanks to our members, sponsors and partners for making this year’s journey possible. Together, we will continue to provide opportunities for veterans to thrive in and meaningfully contribute to the media industry in 2024.

Zack Baddorf
Executive Director
Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism In Numbers

MVJ’s total number of members as of year-end is 905, a growth of 213 (30.7%) new members this year. That’s 13 more members than our 2023 goal.
We expect to see another 22% membership growth in 2024 – or 200 new members within the calendar year.

A breakdown of MVJ members by military branch:

  • Army: 42.9%
  • Marine Corps: 16.3% 
  • Navy: 16.0%
  • Air Force: 13.4%
  • Coast Guard 1.3%
  • National Guard: 0.9%

MVJ members average 10.5 years of service. 87.8% of our members have served and 13.3 % have served in multiple armed forces. Of the remainder, 1.3% are military spouses and 7.8% civilian journalists who support veterans in journalism.

 

MVJ members identify as follows:

  • White 62.2 %
  • Black or African American 13.5% 
  • Asian: 4.4% 
  • Native American 3.6%
  • Native Hawaiian 0.2% 
  • Other: 5.7%
  • Prefer not answer 10.1%

In addition, 24.1% of our membership identifies as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin.

Our Team

We could not be successful without the dedication of our team – who are predominantly military veterans, military spouses, and military family members.

MVJ has ten Core Team members (listed alphabetically):

  • Casandra Burr, Community Engagement Manager
  • Clyde Gunter, Team Member / Navy Veteran
  • Devon Lancia, Partnerships Director
  • Drew F. Lawrence, Sword & Pen Co-Host / Army Veteran
  • Lori King, Sword & Pen Co-Host / Army, National Guard & Air National Guard Veteran
  • Marcela Loor, Memberships Coordinator
  • Noelle Wiehe, Mentorship Manager / Army Veteran
  • Rich Dolan, Programs Manager / Army Veteran
  • Russell Midori, President / Marine Corps Veteran
  • Sara Feges, Operations Manager
  • Zack Baddorf, Executive Director / Navy Veteran

MVJ has five Board of Directors members, three of whom are female and three of whom are people of color (listed alphabetically):

  • Jen Paquette, Board Member / Military Spouse
  • Kyra Davenport, Membership Voice Board Member / Army Veteran
  • Priya Sridhar, Board Member / Navy Reservist
  • Russell Midori, President / Marine Corps Veteran
  • Zack Baddorf, Executive Director / Navy Veteran

2023 Impact

Thanks to generous support from our funders and partners, MVJ offered seven fellowship and internship opportunities in newsrooms across the nation this year, two of which are currently in the selection phase. Participants were selected by an independent committee made up of journalists across the media spectrum. Please see below for an alphabetical-order listing of this year’s MVJ fellows and interns.

  • Allen Frazier, the Sun Herald
  • Caron LeNoir-Kelly, NBC10 & Telemundo62
  • Eve Sampson, the Washington Post
  • Joshua Carter, the Belleville News-Democrat
  • Sonia Clark, the Island Packet & Beaufort Gazette

MVJ has placed an additional veteran into a nine-month long fellowship through our CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and INN collaborative program. Upon graduation in December 2023, Navy veteran Chris Janaro will begin his fellowship with New York nonprofit newsroom City Limits.

We have also secured another internship spot for a veteran at the Washington Post for Summer 2024 and teamed up with Gannett to offer two six-month fellowships in early 2024.

In March of this year, we launched a new initiative to counter propaganda and other narratives spread within the military and veteran communities by bad actors. The MVJ Counter-Disinformation Program, supported by the Knight Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation and Craig Newmark Philanthropies, is conducted in collaboration with a variety of partners in the disinformation and journalism spaces. We worked with Military Times to create a reporting team on a brand-new extremism and disinformation beat, with accomplished military and veterans reporters Nikki Wentling and Allison Erickson hired to the program. We also built an Advisory Board of 17 experts in this space and created a program marketing team to work alongside our reporters and engage the military and veteran communities online.

As part of the effort, we facilitated a variety of in-person and virtual training sessions on investigative best practices, solutions-based journalism and methods to engage communities away from extremist propaganda. While Nikki and Allison attended all sessions, a total of 34 other members of the MVJ community also participated. Below is a list of our training partners for the Counter-Disinformation Program. We thank each for working with us to provide these valuable learning opportunities.

  • PolitiFact
  • The Poynter Institute
  • Task Force Butler Institute, a counter-extremism nonprofit organization
  • Solutions Journalism Network
  • Project Over Zero

In May, MVJ partnered with NBCUniversal and the NBC News Group to host an in-person networking event in New York City. This event, hosted in the NBC News Group’s headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, brought together 40 military veterans who are members of MVJ with members of the NBCUniversal team. During the event, attendees had a premiere opportunity to connect with top journalists in the NBC network, hear from newsroom and company leadership, and engage with hiring managers.

This year, we hosted 27 career-enhancing events in collaboration with our partners.

  • Webinars:
    • Podcast 101 with PRX
    • Longform Journalism with Ben Kesling
    • Maynard 200 Journalism Fellowship
    • Disability Reporting with Scott Bourque and Shruti Rajkumar
    • Bridging the Military-Civilian Divide in Reporting
    • Telling Stories with Your Photography and Writing
    • Seeking Legal Support as a Journalist
    • Introduction to Allbritton Journalism Institute
    • Learn How to Leverage MVJCareers in Your Job Search
    • Veterans and Journalism at American University
    • Charting Your Journalism Career with McClatchy
    • Discover CityView Media
    • Connecting with & Reporting on the Next Generation of Service Members
  • Workshops:
    • Broadcast Journalism with Carey Harrison
    • Founders Fellowship Workshop
  • Talent Scout Sessions:
    • American University
    • Newmark J-School at CUNY
    • Report for America
    • Military.com
    • Sinclair Broadcast Group
    • POLITICO
    • Washington Post
    • Spectrum News
  • In-Person Events:
    • From Frontlines to Headlines with NBCUniversal
    • Bloomberg Newsroom Tour
    • Gannett Newsroom Tour
    • NBC News Group Newsroom Tour

We continued our Press Pass program all year and issued over 60 new passes. The MVJ Press Passes program is our commitment to recognizing our members as working journalists and facilitating their access to sources in their journalistic endeavors.

We also continued our Ford Disability Inclusion Program. Under the program’s journalism grants initiative, we awarded $3,700 in funding to members of our community to facilitate impactful reporting on disability issues. Below are some samples of the reporting that was produced:

In 2021, MVJ received a generous five-year grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for improvements to our mentorship program. This year, our team has continued to make improvements to the processes we use to pair military veterans with seasoned journalists who will serve as their mentors. We have welcomed a Mentorship Manager to the MVJ team who is responsible for managing our mentorship program in Mentornity, ensuring a positive experience for mentors and mentees, and taking care of participant requests and concerns. At the end of 2023, we have 120 mentors and 180 mentees in the program and 147 active mentorship pairings.

In late 2022, MVJ received a grant from News Corp Giving to support a new initiative: the MVJ Entrepreneurial Journalism Program. We have sent three MVJ members, Siobhan Cunningham, Ethan Rocke and Donna Cole, to the CUNY Newmark J-School’s 100-Day Entrepreneurial Journalism Creators Program, where they learned business, market analysis and engagement skills needed to make their news initiatives thrive early on. We have also held five webinars on news entrepreneurship and sustainability, attended by around 30 MVJ members each and taught by Jeremy Caplan, Paul Szoldra, and the aforementioned CUNY students. The final leg of this program, our Entrepreneurial Grants initiative, is ongoing. 

In the heart of New York City from October 5 to October 7, the Military Veterans in Journalism 2023 Convention gathered around 150 attendees for a three-day exploration of the future of media. With support from more than 15 sponsors, including major contributors CNN, Spectrum, DAV, and others, the event featured 12 diverse workshops and panels, from API training on mental health in journalism to discussions on disability, documentary and entrepreneurial journalism. A two-day career fair, combining in-person and virtual interactions, provided veterans with valuable opportunities to connect with potential employers. As MVJ reflects on these dynamic days, we remain committed to shaping a media industry where veterans not only find their place but thrive in shaping its narrative.

2024 Goals

MVJ’s strategic vision for 2024 encompasses four key pillars: general sustainability, the expansion of our convention and sponsorships, the growth of our counter-disinformation program, and overall organizational development.

General Sustainability. In 2024, MVJ is committed to enhancing general sustainability through:

  • Developing and implementing programs and projects that reduce dependency on one revenue channel and diversify our nonprofit revenue streams.
  • Strategizing and executing an in-depth public fundraising plan.
  • Strengthening MVJ’s position as a thought leader on military, veteran, and disabled veteran reporting.

Growing Annual Convention and Sponsorships. In 2024, MVJ aims to elevate our annual convention and increase sponsorships through:

  • Attracting a higher number of participants to MVJ2024.
  • Expanding the network of sponsors and partners for the convention, perhaps involving some local partners outside of journalism itself.
  • Facilitating enhanced networking and learning opportunities during the convention.
  • Implementing other strategies to make the convention a significant source of revenue for MVJ.

Growing the MVJ Counter-Disinformation Program. Building on the current successes of the counter-disinformation program, we will expand the program in the coming year by:

  • Extending the program’s impact to local communities of military families and veterans.
  • Collaborating with a broader range of partners to amplify the program’s influence.
  • Actively contributing to efforts combating disinformation and improving media literacy skills in partnership with other organizations, such as We the Veterans and Military Families.
  • Continuously measuring and assessing the program’s effectiveness in achieving its goals.

General Organizational Growth. MVJ’s commitment to organizational growth in 2024 includes:

  • Refining and expanding existing programs to better serve members.
  • Expanding the number of internships and fellowships, aiming to place 4 vets in national newsrooms and 7 in local newsrooms.
  • Hosting a minimum of 15 online events throughout the year in collaboration with partners.
  • Introducing innovative initiatives to provide members with even more opportunities.
  • Fostering a dynamic environment that nurtures the professional development of MVJ members.
  • Actively monitoring and assessing the impact of programs on member growth and satisfaction.
  • Exploring and implementing strategies to broaden the scope and reach of existing initiatives.
Dec 28

Veteran To Join City Limits as Part of MVJ-INN-Newmark J-School Collaboration

By News

Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce Navy veteran Chris Janaro’s selection for a nine-month fellowship with City Limits, a nonprofit newsroom identifying urban problems and exploring solutions through the lens of New York City. Thanks to support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies and help from the Institute for Nonprofit News, this fellowship will allow Janaro to expand his portfolio after graduating from the City University of New York’s Newmark J-School.

This fellowship is part of a collaborative effort between MVJ, CUNY and INN that began in 2021. Veterans who are members of MVJ apply to attend Newmark J-School’s 16-month M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Engagement Journalism or M.A. in Journalism with a bilingual concentration. Upon graduation, these MVJ members are hired by newsrooms that are members of INN — a national network of nonprofit, nonpartisan news organizations. The fellowships allow these individuals to build portfolios of journalistic work and form a network of peers, while the educational component gives them the foundation for career success.

MVJ member and Navy veteran Chris Janaro will join the City Limits team after his recent graduation from Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Photo courtesy of Chris Janaro.

“As a career changer, I am grateful for MVJ’s support and encouragement since day one of this incredible program for aspiring veteran journalists,” said Janaro of this opportunity. “I am excited to work for such an esteemed non-profit newsroom as City Limits, which will allow me to seamlessly transition into a full-time reporting role that serves the common good. Knowing this serves as a great motivator, and I can’t wait to get started!”

As a fellow with City Limits, Janaro will cover zoning, land use and development in the New York City area, with a special focus on how these issues affect the city’s veterans. He is the first MVJ member to receive a fellowship under this program.

“Veterans are vastly under-represented in the news media despite our nation having been at war for more than 20 years,” said Zack Baddorf, MVJ’s executive director. “This partnership creates a unique opportunity for military vets to get a jump-start into the news world, where their lived experience, expertise and public trust are desperately needed.”

Craig Newmark Philanthropies has previously supported MVJ in partnership with the Poynter Institute with a fellowship program and online educational training. Most recently, the philanthropic organization has supported MVJ’s Counter-Disinformation Program, which aims to counter the spread of disinformation and extremist propaganda within military and veteran circles.

One fellowship slot remains in this program for veterans interested in furthering their career and education. Interested applicants should first apply with Newmark J-School and plan to complete their 16-month master’s degree program. For more information, please see our earlier release on this program.

About the Institute for Nonprofit News

The Institute for Nonprofit News strengthens and supports 300 independent news organizations in a new kind of media network: nonprofit, nonpartisan and dedicated to public service. From local news to in-depth reporting on pressing global issues, INN’s members tell stories that otherwise would go untold – connecting communities, holding the powerful accountable and strengthening democracy. Learn more at inn.org.

About the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, founded in 2006, is a public graduate journalism school based in the heart of New York City’s media capital. With affordable tuition and extensive scholarship support, it prepares students from diverse economic, racial and cultural backgrounds to produce high-quality journalism. The school offers 16-month master’s degree programs: M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Engagement Journalism, and M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual Program (English/Spanish). Through the school’s J+ division, which offers online and hybrid executive training programs, seasoned journalists gain the skills to step into leadership roles and launch modern business models and news products. The Newmark J-School is also home to three unique centers and initiatives: the McGraw Center for Business Journalism; the Center for Community Media; and the Journalism Protection Initiative.

About Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets. Learn more at www.www.mvj.network.

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Dec 27

MVJ Announces First Membership Voice Board Member

By News

Welcoming Kyra Davenport to the MVJ Board of Directors.

December 27, 2023 — Military Veterans in Journalism welcomes Army veteran and freelance journalist Kyra Davenport to its Board of Directors. With a deep and varied range of experiences across military service, journalism, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, Davenport brings a vibrant perspective to the Board as MVJ’s first Membership Voice Board Member.

Davenport is an entrepreneur with three exciting small businesses: a trauma-informed yoga business named Reset Yoga Collective LLC, a communications company, KD Communications LLC, and a vegan food truck launching in 2025 named Happier Vegan LLC.

Davenport is an Army veteran with 12 years of service in the Army. She has more than a decade of experience as a freelance reporter and working as communications professional for the government and private sector, during which time she has written for DC-based local news outlets, LA-based magazines, and has worked on a broadcast news for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project. She has also covered the Obama Administration as an independent blogger. As a graduate of Tuskegee University and Howard University, Davenport enjoys community service and assisting veterans in the DC and New Orleans communities in her free time. She also loves teaching yoga and eating local vegan cuisine.

As a member of the Military Veterans in Journalism community, Davenport steps into this new role ready to advocate for MVJ members and guide the organization in service of its membership. She will carry out a two-year term as the Membership Voice Board Member and hopes to be of service to the MVJ community.

“To be a leader is to be a servant. As long as I am serving my community and doing something that makes someone’s life and overall quality of life better then I am operating in what I feel is my chosen purpose,” said Davenport of her new role.

Military Veterans in Journalism extends a warm welcome to Kyra Davenport as she joins the MVJ Board of Directors in this new role. We look forward to the collaboration, innovation and community insight that her presence will bring.

Dec 15

MVJ Welcomes New Member to Advisory Board

By News

Alberto B. Mendoza joins MVJ in an advisory role

December 19, 2023 — Military Veterans in Journalism is pleased to announce the addition of journalist, nonprofit leader and diversity advocate Alberto B. Mendoza to its Advisory Board. Currently the managing director of the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford, Mendoza brings a wealth of expertise in empowering diverse voices and transforming media landscapes to advise the MVJ team.

Alberto B. Mendoza, current managing director for the John S. Knight Fellowships at Stanford, joins the Military Veterans in Journalism Advisory Board.

In his current role, Mendoza works to recruit candidates that reflect the variety of voices within the news industry. He previously served as the Executive Director of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and helped the organization develop lasting membership and revenue streams. Mendoza also led the creation of the Hispanic Cultural Competency Handbook and founded palabra, an NAHJ platform amplifying stories within the Hispanic community.

Mendoza’s dedication to creating and bringing about change extends into community advocacy. He has served as president and CEO of the Coalition for Clean Air, an organization dedicated to policy advocacy in California, and created Honor41.org, a nonprofit platform providing a space for Latinx LGBTQ+ individuals to share their stories. He is also on the advisory boards of the Pivot Fund and the TransLatina Coalition.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome Alberto to the MVJ Advisory Board,” said Zack Baddorf, MVJ’s Executive Director. “For the past three years, his advice on strategy and fundraising has helped me grow as a nonprofit leader, and I’m grateful for his guidance. His unparalleled dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices and driving tangible change aligns perfectly with our mission at MVJ, and we believe Alberto’s wealth of experience and advice will be incredibly helpful in steering our organization’s future.”

Military Veterans in Journalism extends a warm welcome to Alberto B. Mendoza as he joins the MVJ Advisory Board. We look forward to learning from him in the near future and to seeing the collaboration his addition will bring.

Nov 27

Military Veterans in Journalism Joins in Launch of Bedrock As Founding Partner

By Resources

MVJ joins a group of diverse national organizations as part of this new bipartisan collaborative partnership aiming to fight hate-fueled violence across the United States.

Military Veterans in Journalism announces today it is joining Bedrock, a bipartisan organization with the goal of preventing hate-fueled violence and disrupting the normalization of extremist groups in the United States. As one of Bedrock’s founding partners, MVJ joins an impressive list of supporting organizations that will help guide the organization in its goals.

Bedrock is the operational culmination of a nationwide listening tour launched at the White House United We Stand Summit in September 2022 by founding organization Dignity.us. This tour consisted of interviews with hundreds of stakeholders across 50 states, U.S. territories, and tribal lands. Interviewed stakeholders included hate-fueled violence experts, practitioners, and targeted community members, each of whom provided insights about what could reverse the increasing trend in hate-fueled violence.

MVJ joins Bedrock as an addition to MVJ’s counter-disinformation program, which aims to counter the spread of disinformation and extremist propaganda in veteran and military communities. The organization will collaborate with other founding partners of Bedrock to implement prevention tactics across communities recruited for violent and extremist acts. They will also work together with the partners to disrupt the normalization of such violent acts within the military and veteran spaces.

The list of founding partners spans 51 national organizations, each with a diverse focus and community, coming together across political lines to combat targeted violence. MVJ has previously worked with several of these partners, including Task Force Butler Institute, to train journalists on researching bad actors and countering extremist recruitment efforts via journalism.

MVJ remains committed to the nonpartisan nature of its counter-disinformation program and hopes this partnership will enable future successes in preventing veterans from becoming the targets of extremist recruitment.

Nov 22

The Value of Internships

By Resources

One of the hardest parts of leaving the military is deciding what to do next with your life. I was a Blackhawk crew chief in the Army, so journalism wasn’t exactly a lateral move for me. After years of stumbling through community college and graduate programs, I’d finally found myself in the professional world without much guidance to help me figure out what to do next. Military Veterans in Journalism has been extremely helpful with that transition by connecting me with mentors and placing me at NPR for a six-month internship that helped bridge the gap between my schooling and professional life.

Photojournalist and veteran Jeffrey Dean at work. Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Dean.

When I was first approached about applying for the MVJ internship at NPR, I initially dismissed the notion. The position was for a writer, and being primarily a photojournalist, I didn’t see how six months of writing would help me advance my career goals. But, as we all know, opportunities in this world can be few and far between at times. My soon-to-be editors assured me that this internship would be curated to help me learn and grow as a well-rounded journalist while also providing an opportunity to work at one of the premier news outlets in the country. I was sold.

While at NPR, I spent the first three months on the business desk, where I learned how to work with a team to divide up coverage and tackle important news stories like tariffs and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses. I learned what the editing process for a written piece looked like. I received constant guidance and feedback on story-telling techniques and how to shape a narrative. I was able to photograph my stories and work with the visuals team, and I even got to produce an audio piece that aired on NPR’s radio broadcast (still a highlight of my fledgling career!).

After three months on the business desk, I switched to the digital news hub, where I first began learning how to curate NPR’s news stories on their different audio platforms. True to my editor’s word, when we realized that this didn’t exactly align with my professional goals, I was shifted to the breaking news team. There, I had the opportunity to work on news stories such as the invasion of Ukraine and cover the deadly tornadoes in western Kentucky. These experiences gave me valuable insight into how a large news organization decides what to report on and how to cover it. I worked with my colleagues as a team to ensure that people got important information in a timely fashion, lessons I carry with me to this day on every assignment.

Although I entered my internship unsure what I would get from the experience, I left with a body of published work that I am extremely proud of. I was able to work with some of the top professionals in the field and emerged feeling as though I was ready to be a professional. I found my colleagues treated me with respect due to my service and regularly asked me about my perspective on different news stories.

I can’t express enough how important I feel it is for veterans such as ourselves to be a part of the rapidly evolving media landscape and I am eternally grateful to MVJ for helping me and encouraging other veterans to participate in internships such as this one, even if it seems as though it doesn’t align with your goals. Every experience will help you grow as a journalist if you enter them with an open mind and a willingness to learn. These experiences also provide the tools you need to get fast and accurate information to the public about the world around them.

Check out some of Jeffrey’s sports photojournalism work below.

Jeffrey is a former MEDEVAC Crewchief for the US Army who is currently a freelance photojournalist. He has worked with the Associated Press, Getty Images, NPR, NBA, Reuters, Bloomberg, Drawbridge Digital, The Big Ten Conference, and AFP, as well as other national and international organizations. He also wrote for NPR’s Business Desk as well as their Digital News Hub. He produced a series of films for Hearst Television’s Very Local series.

Oct 19

Military Veterans in Journalism Partners with the Wyncote Foundation and NBCUniversal on Paid Fellowship in Philadelphia Newsroom

By Career Opportunities, News

October 19, 2023 – Military Veterans in Journalism announced today a new partnership with NBCUniversal and the Wyncote Foundation to launch a new fellowship designed to employ a veteran as a journalist in NBCUniversal’s Philadelphia affiliate newsroom.

Thanks to support from the Wyncote Foundation, veterans who are members of Military Veterans in Journalism are now eligible to apply for this paid, in-person, six-month reporting fellowship at NBC10 that will start in early November. The chosen fellow will assist in filling critical coverage gaps on the military and veteran affairs beats in the Philadelphia area.

“Supporting a veteran with a passion for journalism is not only a great opportunity for NBC10 but also a powerful way to amplify diverse voices in our newsroom,” said Elizabeth Flores, VP of News for NBC10 and Telemundo62. “We embrace the value that a veteran brings to our team, and we are excited to create an inclusive space that nurtures their talent and experiences. Together, we can make a significant impact and ensure that all perspectives are represented in our stories.”

This fellowship program provides an opportunity for a military veteran journalist to further develop their broadcast news skills and build both a network of world-class journalists and a portfolio of work. During the program, the selected fellow can expect to work with newsroom management and news team members to support news coverage and production, work with producers and reporters on live shots and coverage, and learn and assist with fast-channel content publication.

“Military Veterans in Journalism is proud to continue our collaborative work with NBCUniversal to diversify America’s newsrooms through the hiring of more military veterans,” said Devon Lancia, MVJ Partnerships Director. “This fellowship presents a great opportunity for vets to help produce news that makes a difference in the Philadelphia community. We’re pleased to provide this fellowship and thankful for the Wyncote Foundation and NBC10 team’s support.”

The chosen fellow will report to NBC10’s news director. Veterans who are recent college graduates, transitioning or early in their civilian journalism careers are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. Ideal fellowship candidates will have some experience reporting and writing on deadline for a general audience. The fellow will work 40 hours per week and earn $20 per hour for the duration of their fellowship.

Applicants for this internship may apply online with Military Veterans in Journalism. The deadline to apply is October 31 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Oct 18

Sword and Pen – Let’s Talk: Four MVJ Convention Interviews

By #MVJ2023, Podcast

by Lori King, host of Sword and Pen

The Sword & Pen podcast booth at the MVJ2023 Convention. Here, Lori is joined by podcast guest Juan Carpanzano. Photo courtesy of Russell Midori.

On this special episode of Sword and Pen, I had a wonderful opportunity to speak with four attendees during the 2023 MVJ Convention held at the New York Athletic Club on Oct. 5-7 in New York City. This was the first time the Sword and Pen podcast was recorded during the convention, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have such diverse perspectives on the show.

As I sat at my remote podcast booth during the career fair, I cajoled unsuspecting guests to join me behind the mic. What made it more special was the background chatter of veterans, their spouses and those who support our MVJ mission as they met with media companies and journalism schools.

Dan Clare, DAV’s chief communications and outreach officer, pictured here at their booth at the MVJ2023 DAV Career Fair. Photo courtesy of Lori King.

First up at the mic was Dan Clare, a Marine Corps and Air National Guard veteran. He was a military public affairs officer for 17 years and is now the director of communications for DAV, Disabled American Veterans, who sponsored the MVJ Career Fair.

Dan talked about his experience as the burn pit whistleblower; the value of having veteran voices in the media; and about his hope that veterans found jobs in newsrooms during the career fair. Not only did Dan operate a booth for DAV at the career fair, but he also sat on the Shaping News Coverage of Disabilities panel.

NBC News producer Patrick Martin, right, joins the NBC News team for the MVJ2023 NBC Newsroom Tour. Photo courtesy of Lori King.

Next up was Patrick Martin, an army airborne infantry veteran from Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated from Columbia University – Graduate School of Journalism – and is now a producer for the NBC News Health and Medical Unit. Patrick came to the convention to give a tour of the NBCUniversal Studio at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. He also sat on the NBC panel.

During the podcast he talked about how important it is to get veterans in newsrooms, and his role as an NBC producer.

Evgenia Vlasova enjoys the MVJ2023 Opening Reception. Photo courtesy of Tim Belizaire.

Evgenia Vlasova is a Brooklyn-based video producer, editor and educator. She has been teaching at the New York Film Academy for eight years. Evgenia is not a veteran, but she is a member of MVJ.

She spoke about being a broadcast journalist in her homeland of Russia before she came to the United States, and how the Russian media is government controlled. She is currently seeking her citizenship. She also talked about the power of storytelling.

Juan Carpanzano hails from Bogota, Colombia and lives in New York City. He is a marine veteran who spent five years with Combat Camera.

Juan Carpanzano takes photos during a panel. Photo by Lori King

Juan Carpanzano takes photos during a panel. Photo courtesy of Lori King.

He is an advance media studies major at Fordham University, concentrating in photojournalism. He talked about how everyone has a voice, and offered this for advice: Push, push, push, and be confident in yourself!

Connect with the guests!

Dan Clare: ⁠X | DAV.org

Patrick Martin: LinkedIn profile | NBC Health News

Evgenia Vlasova: Instagram

Juan Carpanzano: Instagram

Sword and Pen is a Military Veterans in Journalism production, and is brought to you monthly by host Lori King

Lori King: X ⁠⁠⁠@intro2pj⁠⁠⁠ | Instagram | Website

Got an idea for a podcast guest? Shoot me an email at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Sep 01

Military Veterans in Journalism Celebrates Labor Day with Membership Promotion

By Resources

This weekend, MVJ celebrates the spirit of hard work and determination that keeps journalism alive. We appreciate all the hard work our community of military veterans, service members and spouses puts in to keep America informed, and we are pleased to announce that Military Veterans in Journalism will provide a free year of membership to veterans and military spouses who join our community during Labor Day weekend.

“We’ve seen the outsized impact MVJ’s programs have had on our members’ careers and growth,” said MVJ President Russell Midori. “And we’ve also seen our members’ impact on the newsrooms we’ve partnered with. We want to ensure that all veterans and spouses who need these resources to jump-start their careers can take full advantage of them.”

It typically costs $30 for a professional journalist to join the organization, but any new members who sign up from September 1 through September 4 are eligible to take advantage of this opportunity. Once veterans or spouses become members, they receive access to robust resources to support their career growth. These include exclusive job opportunities and paid internships and fellowships in local and national newsrooms, hiring and networking events and webinars, access to fully funded basic and advanced journalism training and certification programs, and a widely praised mentorship program that pairs world-class, highly experienced journalists with members.

To get a free year through this promotion, please reach out to MVJ Membership Coordinator Marcy Bach at [email protected]. We look forward to welcoming more military veterans and family members into our community and celebrating all the hard work and service our community does to bolster America’s news media.

Aug 25

Military Veterans in Journalism’s Work on Tackling Disinformation and Extremism

By Resources

The spread of malicious information and extremist narratives within veteran and military communities presents a pressing challenge. Groups involved in spreading these narratives target military and veteran community members, hoping to use their voices to normalize extremist ideas and bolster their perceived credibility, patriotism and professionalism – and it is working. Experts in domestic terrorism and law enforcement analysts “estimate that veterans and active-duty members of the military may now make up at least 25 percent of militia rosters.”  

As these groups gain support within the community via targeted disinformation, the narratives they perpetuate undermine public trust in our nation’s institutions and pose significant risks to national security and the well-being of those who have served. 

I have spent much of my career deeply involved in countering disinformation and extremism. I’ve developed counter-narratives against ISIS and Al Shabaab propaganda in collaboration with the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE) and contributed to NATO research on Russian disinformation in the Central African Republic, among a variety of other opportunities. I have also had the privilege of putting my knowledge to use as an adjunct professor at NYU teaching about disinformation. As the executive director of Military Veterans in Journalism, these experiences in tackling disinformation have provided me the expertise to lead our organization’s efforts in safeguarding the integrity of information within military and veteran communities.

Launched in January 2023, MVJ’s Counter-Disinformation Program aims to tackle this issue by providing investigative, nonpartisan reporting, countering false narratives, and actively engaging within our military and veteran community to prevent recruitment to these violent extremist groups. This program is a demonstration of Military Veterans in Journalism’s dedication to supporting the welfare of our military and veteran communities while building public trust in American institutions, including the news media, through veteran voices.

We have been honored to partner with a variety of well-known, expert organizations in support of our program goals. Program partner newsrooms include Military Times, Military.com, Task & Purpose and The Associated Press. We have also collaborated with The Poynter Institute, PolitiFact, Task Force Butler Institute, the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Project Over Zero and the Solutions Journalism Network on training initiatives to ensure our reporters are putting out the best journalism possible. Advisory collaborators include the University of Alabama’s Veterans and Media Lab, We the Veterans and Military Families, and START at the University of Maryland. Through these collaborations, we have equipped the program team with the knowledge and skills to effectively tackle the issues at hand.

With the program now underway, we want to take a moment to emphasize our organization’s objectives and values regarding how we are approaching this complex challenge. 

Our focus is on combating violent extremism and protecting our nation, irrespective of political affiliations. We are aware of the efforts by certain extremist groups to exploit the military veteran community and capitalize on its perceived credibility. This exploitation undermines the values we hold dear and poses a threat to our country. It also weakens the broader community when veterans are painted and characterized as extreme.

This is not a partisan issue for us at MVJ. For us, this is an issue of the potential extremist propaganda has to turn the freedom of belief veterans have sacrificed to protect into negative, harmful action. It’s about the actions these groups are driving veterans to take that harm our nation.

Countering disinformation is a complex and ongoing challenge. We are dedicated to refining our approach in collaboration with partners and experts in the field. Our program advisory board, established to guide our reporters in their coverage, consists of 11 such partners and experts. They will help us establish baselines for success, provide advice throughout implementation and guide coverage toward timely and pertinent issues within the malicious information space.

Our approach also involves engaging with the veteran and military communities. By employing veteran reporters and journalists, we aim to enhance trust and authenticity in our reporting. We recognize that trust is crucial in challenging disinformation and fostering meaningful dialogue, and that’s why we’ll be implementing a variety of tactics across social media and other online forums to directly engage with community members. We’ll be aggregating reporting in an online portal separate from newsroom sites.

While it is important to address the presence of extremism within some veteran groups, we want to emphasize that the vast majority of veterans and military members are not violent extremists. However, we know that those limited few who do turn to the extremes have an outsized influence, so we have an obligation to prevent their numbers from rising. We will continue to work with our partners to safeguard our nation, protect our community, and empower veterans and military members against the influence of violent extremist groups.

We welcome your questions, thoughts and suggestions on this effort. Feel free to email me at [email protected]. For more information and updates on our counter-disinformation program, please watch our website for updates as we navigate this complex challenge.

Jul 18

Military Veterans in Journalism Opens Membership Voice Board Member Seat

By News

Military Veterans in Journalism is making a big change to give our members the opportunity to have a direct impact on the future of our organization. The MVJ team is opening a seat on our Board exclusively for a member of our community. Our team values the unique perspectives, experiences and commitments to journalism our members display, and we believe they are the best candidates to help us guide and shape the future of the organization that serves them.

Apply Today
Application deadline: July 28, 2023

Note: Only MVJ members are eligible to apply for this position.

MVJ Membership Voice Board Member Seat Expectations

MVJ’s Board members play a vital role in providing first-hand insights to improve the organization while serving as representatives of our community. By setting aside a Board seat for one of our members, we aim to enhance our team’s understanding of areas for improvement and determine the best path forward for MVJ with regard to supporting our membership. Each member in this Board role will have a term of two years, providing an opportunity for long-term commitment and impact within our community.

Each individual Board member is expected to:

  • Possess a comprehensive knowledge of MVJ’s mission, policies, programs, and organizational areas of need.
  • Diligently read and comprehend the organization’s financial statements.
  • Act as an active advocate and ambassador for MVJ, fully engaging in identifying and securing the necessary financial resources and partnerships to advance its mission.
  • Utilize personal connections, networks, and resources to foster collective action that enables the organization to fully achieve its mission.
  • Assist in identifying personal connections that can contribute to MVJ’s fundraising efforts and enhance its reputation.
  • Prepare for, attend, and actively participate in Board meetings.
  • Fully participate in one or more Board committees.
  • Adhere to the organization’s bylaws, policies, and Board resolutions.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all of MVJ’s internal matters.

Board members will be expected to contribute in at least one of the following ways: a) providing financial support, b) securing donations, or c) offering their time and expertise in various operational aspects of the organization.

As MVJ’s highest leadership body, the Board has the following responsibilities to fulfill its fiduciary duties:

  • Help shape the mission and purposes of the organization.
  • Select and evaluate the performance of the chief executive.
  • Engage in strategic and organizational planning.
  • Ensure strong fiduciary oversight and financial management.
  • Facilitate fundraising and resource development.
  • Enhance the organization’s public image.
  • Assess its own performance as the governing body of the organization.

Any communication with outside organizations regarding MVJ will be coordinated with MVJ leadership to ensure consistency and alignment with our goals and objectives.

We invite you to seize this incredible opportunity to be part of our passionate team driving positive change in the media industry for military veterans. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to MVJ.