Got this message today from the National Association of Black Journalists and wanted to pass it along to you. They’re partnering with the New York Times to produce an almost year-long leadership academy for beginning or mid-career managers in print and web journalism.

From NABJ:

NABJ/New York TIMES LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

November 2010 – August 2011

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
October 1, 2010

WHAT IS IT?
The Leadership Academy is a unique training and development program for print and Web journalists who are, or aspire to become, newsroom managers.  Beginning or mid-career managers will be guided through the issues and challenges of newsroom leadership, and will gain skills necessary to lead in a rapidly-changing media world.

Journalists selected to attend the Academy will receive all expense paid leadership training at The Times during the fall and at Harvard University through the Maynard Institute Media Academy in January and March (each session at Harvard is a week long).  The group will come together one last time at the summer NABJ convention to share their experience with interested colleagues.

Applicants should have two to five years experience in one or more management positions. Deadline for applications is October 1, 2010.

HOW DO I APPLY?
The Leadership Academy is open to newspaper and Web journalists with strong leadership and managerial potential who want to further develop their skills. Applicants may come from a range of newsroom experience including–but not limited to-department or section heads, deputy or assistant editors, assignment editors, slots, photo editors, photographers, designers, graphics editors and Web editors.

An application must contain ALL of the following:

1. The application form, completed and signed, CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
2. Your resume
3. A letter of recommendation
4. Proof of membership in NABJ

Applications may be obtained and information provided by contacting the coordinator of the Leadership Academy Juanita Powell-Brunson, at 212 556-3599 or poweljf@nytimes.com.

Applicants must be able to meet the time requirements including two days in November or December in New York; one week at Harvard in January, another week at Harvard in March; and the NABJ convention in August.

Deadline:Applications must be postmarked by October 1 and mailed to:

CONTACT:
The NABJ/New York Times Leadership Academy
Attn: Dana Canedy
Senior Editor
PO Box 2690
Times Square Station
New York, NY 10108

Nowadays, what do you need to become a good journalist? Some may rush and say “a journalism degree.” But what do you say? We all know that students are trying to figure out what to study, what’s necessary to make a living, what it really takes to cut the mustard. So, I  asked a working journalist what he thinks especially during these tough times.  See what this New York Times business reporter says:

Surprised?

Kristina Libby, a social media consultant I profiled last week said that she would have waited to get an MBA rather than rush to grad school. What do you think?

Like Mr. Nixon stated, whatever you end up studying should enrich what you end up doing, in Libby’s case, an MBA would give her the business sense to understand her business client’s problems and run her consultancy (whereas a degree in public relations would only help her understand PR and social media principles, best practices, ethics and tactics which are still important). In Nixon’s case, a more nuanced foundation of statistics would probably have aided his business reporting for the New York Times more than a journalism degree would have.

My take: When looking to get a degree, in the beginning follow your passions and after undergrad assess what you need after working a few years. School won’t necessarily teach you to do. Only doing can teach you to do. School can refine your knowledge, expand your networks and enhance your ability to do something in a niche way. But more on that later.