Military Veterans in Journalism Inc.

Overview

Military Veterans in Journalism Inc. is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization founded in 2019. It aims to support military veterans and their family members pursuing careers in journalism by providing mentorship, job opportunities, and enhancing coverage of veteran and military issues in newsrooms.

Mission and Objectives

The organization's mission is to increase the presence of military veterans in American newsrooms. Currently, despite about 7% of Americans having served in the armed forces, only 2% of media workers are veterans. MVJ seeks to bridge this gap by leveraging the unique perspectives, nuanced understanding, and on-the-ground experiences that veterans bring to journalism.

Programs and Initiatives

MVJ offers several programs to support its mission:

• Fellowships and Career Support: MVJ provides fellowships and career-enhancing events to assist veterans in navigating the journalism industry. An online job portal helps connect veterans with employment opportunities.
• Disability Inclusion Program: Sponsored by the Ford Foundation, this program focuses on improving media coverage of disabilities and disabled veterans. MVJ offers grants to support innovative reporting projects related to disability issues.
• Counter-Disinformation Initiative: With support from organizations like the MacArthur Foundation and the Knight Foundation, MVJ works to combat misinformation targeted at military communities through fact-based reporting.
• Annual Journalism Convention: MVJ hosts an annual convention to bring together reporters, newsroom leaders, and supporters of newsroom diversity, highlighting the contributions of veterans in journalism.

Funding and Partnerships

MVJ has received significant grants from foundations such as the Knight Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. Additionally, it collaborates with organizations like the Poynter Institute and news outlets such as CNN and The Texas Tribune to support its initiatives.

Leadership

The organization is led by co-founders Zack Baddorf and Russell Midori, with a diverse board of directors including professionals like Mike Gentine, Jen Paquette, Babe Garcia, Priya Sridhar, and Zachary Baddorf.

Impact

By advocating for greater diversity in newsrooms, MVJ aims to enhance the quality and depth of reporting on military and veteran issues. It has built a community of over 700 veteran journalists across the U.S., promoting a more robust and informed media landscape.