CBS News Development Program

Diversity Initiative In Partnership With CBS Affiliates

(CBS)  CBS News sponsors a unique program to identify and support promising journalists.

The program, which began in January 2005, is designed to develop a pool of highly qualified producers and correspondents from which CBS affiliates and stations, as well as CBS News, will be able to draw talent. The goal of this program is to increase diversity in our newsroom, locally and nationally.

CBS News will work with CBS affiliates and minority journalist organizations to gather recommendations and will conduct screenings at minority journalist conventions to identify candidates for the program, each of whom should have a minimum of two to three years professional experience in a TV newsroom. Applications will consist of a resume, a tape and recommendations. A committee comprised of CBS News executives and executive producers, CBS Newspath executives, and CBS News' Director of Recruitment will select and interview the finalists for the program.

Two journalists, one producer and one reporter, will be selected each year for the program. CBS News will hire the journalists to work for two years at participating CBS affiliates. The journalists will be placed in strong newsrooms with a commitment to mentoring and enthusiasm for the project. Each participating affiliate will be involved in approving the candidate for its own newsroom. At the end of two years, the goal is for the journalists to join the CBS News organization.

Interested individuals may contact Crystal Johns, Director of Talent Development & Diversity Recruiting at [phone]. Click on this application link to obtain the form and more information. The annual deadline for submission is December 30.