Nominate your young executives for SNPA's mentor program

Attendees at the SNPA News Industry Summit in Sarasota last October were dazzled by a panel of young newspaper executives who articulated their passion for the industry. Now, with the NEX GEN Mentorship program, we are moving to the next level by formalizing an ongoing program to identify future stars of our business and to help advance their careers.”

SNPA President Tom Silvestri

Wednesday, Jan. 29, is the deadline to nominate a young executive from your newspaper to participate in the SNPA Foundation's new "two-way" mentorship program.  This program will pair young newspaper professionals with experienced industry experts in a structured mentorship program.

"It is billed as a 'two-way' program because we fully expect the seasoned mentors to get as much or more from the relationship as the young executives who are assigned to them," said SNPA Executive Director Edward VanHorn.

The program, called "NEX GEN," offers young executives or those with executive leadership potential the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.  The program includes a variety of events and activities throughout the year designed to strengthen participants' industry knowledge, professional relationships, analytical skills and aptitude for innovation.  

• The deadline for newspaper participant applications is Jan. 29.
• The participants who are chosen will be announced on Feb. 6.

The program was developed by SNPA President Tom Silvestri, publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch; Future Leaders Committee chairman Jason Taylor, president and general manager of the Chattanooga Times Free Press; and SNPA member services director Howard Hoffman.

Newspaper candidates must submit an application by Jan. 29.

Newspapers whose candidates are accepted into the NEX GEN Mentor program agree to pay $750 as a commitment fee and pledge to grant time for their participants to attend the Las Vegas and Charlottesville meetings, and to complete assignments as outlined in the syllabus. 

The young executives who are chosen to participate will meet for the first time with their mentors at the Key Executives Mega-Conference in Las Vegas on Feb. 23.  The 2014 program will culminate with a presentation at the SNPA News Industry Summit in Charlottesville, Va., on Oct. 4.

The SNPA Foundation will subsidize many of the costs of participation by the young executives, including their conference fees, hotel rooms, meals and airfare to attend both the Las Vegas and Charlottesville meetings.

SNPA executives who would like to be a mentor in this program should contact Howard Hoffman via email or phone (404.256.0444). 

Newspapers that want to nominate a candidate to participate in the program will find details about the program and an application here.

"Attendees at the SNPA News Industry Summit in Sarasota last October were dazzled by a panel of young newspaper executives who articulated their passion for the industry," Silvestri said.  "Now, with the NEX GEN Mentorship program, we are moving to the next level by formalizing an ongoing program to identify future stars of our business and to help advance their careers."

• See the program syllabus here.
• Complete the application.
• Read additional stipulations.