The Lenfest Next Generation Fund

The Lenfest Next Generation Fund supports professional development opportunities for Philadelphia-area journalists and students of color.

The Lenfest Next Generation Fund supports professional development opportunities for Philadelphia-area journalists and students of color.

Created in 2019, the Lenfest Next Generation Fund aims to increase BIPOC representation in journalism by covering attendance costs for the national professional development conference of the awardee’s choice. After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program evolved to also cover costs of professional equipment and support journalists participating in unpaid internships.

The Lenfest Next Generation Fund has two tracks:

The Professional Development Track provides awards to support either attendance of a professional development activity of an awardee’s choice or the purchase of equipment used for professional purposes.
The Internship Support Track provides funding to support students and journalists while participating in unpaid internships.

Recognizing that in-person networking events provide a stronger chance for journalists and students to create opportunities to grow professionally, The Lenfest Institute increased the awards this year to make these opportunities accessible and to ensure that students of color can pursue meaningful internships without worrying about financial support.

2023 Next Generation Award first-time winners

Daisie Cardona, Kensington Voice
Khysir Carter, Kensington Voice
Abigail Chang, REVIVE Radio
Denise Clay-Murray, Philadelphia Hall Monitor
Monique Curry-Mims, Civic Capital Consulting
John Duchneskie, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Jemille Q. Duncan, Freelance
Maxayn Gooden, Woman of Valor74 and Jahworld_18
Rhonda Heckstall, 6abc
Karen Hua, NBC Philadelphia
Pryce Jamison, Chestnut Hill Local
Stephen Jiwanmall, La Salle University
Oronde McClain,Oronde McClain Foundation and Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting
Sunny Morgan, The Almost Adult Podcast
Nathan Mutale, Love Now Media
Mariyum Rizwan, Resolve Philly
Tamara Russell, REVIVE RADIO
Kiara Santos, WURD Radio
Dashawn Walker, Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting
Feini Yin, Our Fishing Log podcast