SRCCON:LEAD is a hands-on conference, Nov. 19 & 20 in Philadelphia, to reimagine how leadership works in journalism. We’re already so inspired by thoughts from participants—folks have said that leadership needs to be more diverse, more interdisciplinary, more intentional in its development, and more open in its communication. The talks given at SRCCON:LEAD all align with that vision, too, and we can’t wait to hear more.

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Stacy-Marie Ishmael on Leadership in a Time of Turmoil

About the talk

Asking questions—the right ones, at the right time, to the right people—is at the very heart of journalism. In this talk, Stacy-Marie Ishmael poses two questions for our industry and for each other: What does it mean to be a leader in journalism, and what does it mean to lead in a time of upheaval and unease?

About Stacy-Marie Ishmael

Stacy-Marie Ishmael is committed to causing trouble wherever she goes. She works at the intersection of media and technology, with a background that spans breaking news, audience development, and both product and people management.

Follow along with the live transcript on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 9:30 a.m. ET

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André Natta on Finding Your Networks, and Discovering that Vulnerability is a Strength

About the talk

André Natta, editor of Broke in Philly—a collaborative reporting project on economic mobility at Resolve Philadelphia—talks about what happens when you finally get the leadership position you wanted. How do you figure out how to lead instead of thinking, “Well, I’m here; how am I going to figure out how to do this myself?” Most times, this means identifying the networks you don’t even know you have and when (and why) you should lean on them more than you think.

About André Natta

When he’s not negotiating with his cat, Pete, about the use of the home office, André Natta is Resolve Philadelphia’s editor for Broke in Philly: a reporting collaborative project on economic mobility. He previously served as editorial director of the Lenfest Local Lab at the Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Andre started and maintained the local independent news site, The Terminal, in Birmingham, Ala. for more than 10 years. A 2018 John S. Knight Journalism Fellow, he’s previously worked in both hospitality and economic development in Alabama and Georgia and been a columnist for various digital and print publications. He also worked as digital news producer for both the Southern Education Desk, a Corporation for Public Broadcasting funded regional journalism collaborative, and NPR member station WBHM.

Follow along with the live transcript on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. ET

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Bryan Mercer on Collective Action and Current Movements for Change in Philadelphia

About the talk

Bryan Mercer, executive director of the Media Mobilizing Project, talks about collective action and current movements for change in Philadelphia, and something journalism can take away: “Power concedes nothing without a demand.”

About Bryan Mercer

Bryan Mercer is Executive Director of the Media Mobilizing Project, an organization dedicated to using media and communications to strengthen communities organizing for human rights, racial and economic justice. He has led a number of major programs areas, including a collaboration with nearly two-dozen partner organizations to create Keyspots, a city-wide digital literacy program to broaden internet access. In more recent years he’s helped design and lead a winning campaigns to end the state take over of Philadelphia public schools and grassroots civic engagement efforts to set ending mass incarceration as a priority of the Philadelphia District Attorney. Bryan is also a founding member and serves on the steering committee of the Philadelphia based economic and racial justice organizing project 215 People’s Alliance. Bryan received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in Anthropology and Comparative Ethnic Studies.

Follow along with the live transcript on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. ET

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