About Media Transformation Challenge
MTC is a vibrant and diverse community of practice dedicated to supporting media industry leaders and organizations through performance-driven change.
Our industry-leading MTC @ Medill Fellowship Program, dynamic Alumni Network, and comprehensive Support Services empower leaders to drive organizational transformation, develop sustainable business models, engage with underserved communities, and reinforce democratic values.
These initiatives empower leaders to effectively manage current challenges while cultivating resilience and adaptability for the future.
MTC’s community reflects the industry’s rich diversity, from established legacy institutions to agile digital startups and essential support organizations.
Our Fellows, Alumni, and Coaches are leaders who bring varied perspectives, rich experiences, and forward-thinking solutions to the table.
Increase The Odds
MTC’s fundamental value proposition is helping Fellows and Alumni increase the odds of success at the challenges they and their organizations must achieve.
Early wins build insights, momentum, and the confidence to realize larger-scale outcomes and change.
World-class tools and concepts help drive measurable success.
And our diverse, dynamic network of Fellows, Alumni, Coaches, and Experts ensures mutual investment in each others’ success.
Our Team
Amanda Barrett
Coach
Amanda Barrett is passionate about serving audiences and ensuring that journalism reflects the wide diversity of the world we live in. She is VP of…
Charlie Baum
Executive Director
Charlie Baum has been associated with MTC since the very opening dinner of the original Sulzberger program in January 2007. While helping build the foundation,…
Karen Gordon
Faculty
Karen Gordon is the founder of Strategic Horizons, Inc., providing strategic, organizational, and communication guidance, as well as executive coaching, to a wide range of…
Lauren Gustus
Coach
Lauren Gustus became executive editor of The Salt Lake Tribune in the fall of 2020. The Utah news organization was the first and remains the…
Quentin Hope
Organization Management and Strategy, Independent Consultant
Quentin Hope is an independent consultant with over 25 years of experience serving clients across a broad range of industries and organizations in…
Stéphane Mayoux
Coach
Stéphane Mayoux is an executive coach whose professional DNA is rooted in 25 years of BBC international journalism. Stéphane has been closely supporting media companies…
Fran Scarlett
Coach
Fran Scarlett is a business strategist, consultant and coach who is passionate about building sustainable entrepreneurial organizations. Scarlett has worked with companies of all sizes…
Doug Smith
Founder
Doug Smith is the founding executive director and architect of the Media Transformation Challenge. His challenge-centric design draws on more than three decades of helping…
Danyelle White
Coach
Danyelle White is the vice president of strategic initiatives & community engagement at The Salt Lake Tribune, the first and only major metro to transition…
Benjamin Wagner
Director of Engagement
Benjamin Wagner is a consultant and creative, founder of Essential Industries Incorporated, and Director of Community Development for the Media Transformation Challenge…
Funders
Media Transformation Challenge is supported by grants from
Family of Jeff Chambers & Andi Okamura
"What’s truly special about this program is its design — not just for learning new tools and frameworks to move my challenge forward — but for connection. From hikes and dinners to wine tasting and storytelling, our cohort has grown into something more than colleagues. After just three weeks together, we’ve built an unexpected intimacy. We share fears and aspirations, yes. But more than that, we champion each other. "
“MTC has been such a game-changer for me. It completely shifted how I think about business, giving me a strategic toolkit I know I'll be using for the rest of my career. On top of that, it’s been a huge boost for my personal growth – the coaches were incredibly supportive, and the camaraderie with my cohort was amazing. I’ve come away with not just new skills but a group of friends I know I can count on.”
"One of the biggest takeaways that I had from (my MTC fellowship) was that you’re not just coming up with a good idea and saying, ‘This is how I’m going to implement it across my organization.’ When you run into roadblocks, there’s a method. It’s not just you against the world."
"MTC has been a game changer for me both professionally and personally. The cohort and the coaches became a like a second family. One of my favorite (tools) was From-To: It helped me with clarity as to the essential practices needed to ensure NAHJ’s palabra will be here for a long time."
"Taking part in this program was challenging and inspiring in equal measure. It helped turn a back-of-a-napkin idea into a reality which is now generating many millions of dollars annually and gave me skills that I still use daily."
"When I was thinking of applying, I worried about the size of the investment for a small enterprise like West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Now, I can give you 10 ways I have earned that investment back with substantial interest, not to mention the friendships and soul-supporting experience of being with people who have the same passion for telling stories."
"I am the only Fellow to take part in the MTC experience twice (to pursue two different challenges), and each time, I grew personally and professionally. The tools I learned allowed me to apply rigor and an outcome-based thinking to the projects at hand. I continue to draw on them in my daily work, but they are only part of the story. Individual coaching made those tools come alive for me and the insights, friendship and support of my fellow alumni have been invaluable. I expect those relationships to last long into the future."
"We believe so strongly in the value of the program that we have continued to send group leaders from our organization year-after-year from all departments. And each time, they grow their personal skill set and contribute more fully to achieving our overall company goals of growth, innovation and increased market share. And each time, they tell us it has changed the way they work. It has been nothing short of revolutionary for us."
"I applied to help save my business. My biggest customer was teetering on bankruptcy. I needed a strategy to survive. While my personal background was in journalism and general management, I didn’t have an MBA. MTC gave me the business skills necessary to develop strategy, manage change and measure results. The program helped me define my core business challenge and then, through classroom instruction and persistent focus, taught me the tools necessary to succeed."