On this episode, we’re joined by Adrienne Johnson Martin. Adrienne is the executive editor at MLK50.com. Adrienne has been an editor for more than 30 years for The Los Angeles Times, The Raleigh News and Observer, Duke Magazine, and now MLK50, which she’s been with for 2.5 years. She’s a graduate of Syracuse with a masters from Columbia Journalism.
MLK 50 was founded by Wendi Thomas, a longtime columnist and managing editor at the Memphis Commercial Appeal. It focuses on poverty, power and public policy in Memphis and the systems that make it hard for workers to make ends meet – issues that Martin Luther King cared deeply about.
Adrienne talked about her career path and the many things she learned from her stops on the road to MLK50. She explained how the newsroom measures success not just in the amount of readership, but in how its stories move the community forward. And she talked about her editor’s notes, which are meant to convey a journey of understanding and learning.
She addressed two pieces in particular, one about comments made by actor Jonathan Majors about how his girlfriend should have stood by him like Coretta Scott King and Michele Obama did for their husbands, and another about the idea of starting over when it comes to policing.
Other links
Journalism Salute interview with (now former) MLK50 writer Carrington Tatum
Adrienne’s salute: Lynell George and the Institute for Independent Journalists
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Tionna Taite, Founder, Nineteen Fifty-Six Magazine
Nick Toso, Former CNN Español Producer; Founder: Rolli
Diana Kruzman, Midwest Journalism Fellow - Grist
Ted Bridis, Investigative Reporting Professor, University of Florida
Daniel Chang and Carol Marbin Miller, Investigative Reporter and Editor at The Miami Herald
Kam Burns: Engagement Editor, Politico; Founding Member - Trans Journalists Association
Susan LoTempio & Kristin Gilger from the National Center on Disability and Journalism
Jessica Meyers, Editor-in-Chief, Global Press Journal
Starr Dunigan, Reckon (Black Joy newsletter)
Anita Hofschneider, Honolulu Civil Beat Reporter
Emma Restrepo, Host "Dos Puntos"; Freelance Journalist/Professor
Allie Singer, Senior Editor for Special Projects at Time For Kids
Rod McCullom, Science Journalist
Kelundra Smith, Arts & Culture Journalist
Boston Globe Senior Newsroom Developer Vince Dixon
Chris Jones, 100 Days in Appalachia, Report for America
Katie Klingsporn, Managing Editor of WyoFile
Longtime Radio Reporter Richard Davies: "How Do We Fix It?"
Carrington Tatum, Reporter - MLK50 Memphis
Journalism Documentary Filmmaker Don Colacino (Trusted Sources)
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