Leo Mores Newspaper Leadership Institute

The Leo Mores Newspaper Leadership Institute is a five-month program created to enhance the leadership, organizational and performance skills of mid-to upper-level newspaper professionals. The program establishes a network of current and future newspaper leaders who understand and can respond to local, regional and national issues impacting the newspaper industry.

The Institute is comprised of five one-day seminars held on one Friday of each month. The first session will be in May. The program is centered on developing skills through creative instruction and active participation.  Each session will explore an area of professional interest. 

Learning will focus on developing a solid understanding of the skills necessary for leadership, which participants can immediately put into practice. The number of participants is limited to 8 newspaper professionals to maintain the effectiveness of small-group instruction. 

The Leo Mores Newspaper Leadership Institute has become a program recognized for building the talents and advancing the careers of Iowa’s newspaper leaders. It is an exciting opportunity for any newspaper employee seeking a leadership role at their newspaper and in their community. It will provide support and assistance to newspaper professionals at any size operation as they build newspaper operations relevant to their communities.

The INF is grateful to Steve and Alan Mores of Harlan Newspapers for their commitment of $50,000 to establish the Leo Mores Newspaper Leadership Institute in 2009. The gift is in honor of their father Leo Mores, longtime publisher of the Harlan News-Advertiser and Harlan Tribune.

For additional details, download the Institute program and timeline here.

Application deadline: March 20, 2012

Download an application form here.

Questions? Contact Jana Shepherd, jshepherd@inanews.com or 515-422-9051

Here's what past Leo Mores Newspaper Leadership Institute graduates think about the program:

The Mores name and quality community newspapers have been synonymous in this state for many years. So when the Leo Mores Newspaper Leadership Institute was first announced in 2009, I knew it would be a great program.
At first I was hesitant to commit to five Fridays over a five-month period. As it turned out, the time invested in the Leadership Institute was worth far more than what I would have accomplished those five days in the office.
The program is great for newcomers to the industry, but also for those who are eager to progress in this constantly-changing environment. We enjoyed presentations from both newspaper professionals and from those outside our industry.
Session topics focused on every aspect of the business — the changing media environment, working with budgets, developing leadership skills and contributing to your community. After some sessions I could immediately see ways to apply what I had learned. Other times I found the information helpful many months down the road, in a situation I hadn’t anticipated.
The Leo Mores Newspaper Leadership Institute is great for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills and better themselves for the next step on their career journey. 
Myrna Wagner
Sheldon N'West Iowa Review

I thought the Mores Institute program was outstanding. Along with networking with classmates, and learning about how newspapers large and small have similar challenges, the program also helped to define what leadership really is and how to become a leader in the industry and in your community. I really came to understand myself and my role much better. The time commitment is minimal compared with the knowledge you take from the program.
Ken Brown
City Editor
Dubuque Telegraph Herald

It's easy to seal ourselves off in our own little portion of the media world. We think of our neighboring newspapers as the competition and believe the way we are doing things is the right way; the ONLY way. This class allowed me to venture outside my comfort zone and realize my interest in the industry ran much deeper than the sports page I edited at the time. We didn't solve all the problems the newspaper industry faces, but opportunities to discuss those issues are too few in our business. The Leo Mores Leadership Institute was one of the most productive experiences of my journalism career.
Tony Baranowski
Director of Local Media
Times Citizen Communications, Iowa Falls

Being in the Mores Leadership Institute last summer was a great experience, and one that I would recommend to anyone in the newspaper profession who is wanting to further their professional development.  Not only were the sessions very informative, but it was a great way to network with current and future leaders of our profession.  I still keep in contact with a few of the individuals in class, which is great when I need to bounce ideas off of someone other than my own staff.  The fact that sessions were only once a month, made it easy to plan ahead, and the time commitment was definitely worth it.  This program is very unique, and one that Iowa is very lucky to have.  If you have a chance to partake in it, sign up right away.    
Chris Rhoades
Director of Sales & Marketing
Enterprise Publishing Company