“When the Nation Institute was founded more than 50 years ago, we were a modest organization affiliated with the Nation Magazine — but that name no longer reflects the breadth and impact of what we do today,” said Taya Kitman, Executive Director and CEO of Type Media Center, regarding the rebranding of the organization.
Type Media Center, the rebrand of the 52-year old Nation Institute, will be dedicated to “world-class independent journalism and publishing”and will be a nonprofit media company with two major programs rebranded as Type Investigations and Bold Type Books.
Type Media Center aims to produce “groundbreaking investigative journalism and award-winning nonfiction,” adding to the public discourse on social change in America. According to a press release announcing the rebrand, Type Media Center is both women-led and majority women-staffed, and will focus its journalism on “elevating voices in media that too often go unheard.”
“We are committed to diversifying publishing and journalism because we see representation as essential to uncovering hidden truths. As a women-led organization working to diversify these fields from writers to editors, we see gender equity as vital to our mission of holding the powerful to account,” said Kitman.
In particular, Kitman is looking for progressive women philanthropists to support the rebrand and help build a corps of women writers who will continue to expose hidden problems for women and address issues of discrimination. “Could the wave of #MeToo reporting have happened without so many women reporters and editors taking the lead?” added Kitman. “Supporting Type Media Center helps to ensure representation is realized in fields that have the potential to change the public debate.”
Type Media Center disburses over $1 million every year in support for both established and up-and-coming journalists and authors. With awards, fellowships, and reporting contracts, more than 100 journalists from diverse backgrounds receive support for their work.
An interesting piece of history predates Type Media Center’s role in historical social change. When the Nation Institute was established in 1966, it hosted Martin Luther King, Jr.’s first public address opposing the Vietnam War. “The very notion of truth and facts are under assault,” continued Kitman. “The ability to dig deep, take risks, and enable talented journalists to reveal powerful truths is needed more than ever.”
Type Media Center’s publishing imprint, Bold Type Books, will continue publishing journalism and nonfiction by women and people of color. “We’re anticipating an inspiring first year for the Bold Type Books imprint,” said Katy O’Donnell, Senior Editor. “From Reniqua Allen’s It Was All a Dream and Akiba Solomon and Kenrya Rankin’s How We Fight White Supremacy, out this winter, to next fall’s Fantasy Island, by Ed Morales, we’re continuing to publish courageous, deeply-researched nonfiction works in 2019.”
In the Type Investigations newsroom, the Ida B. Wells Fellowship will help to support investigative reporting and diverse journalism talent cultivation. “We’re excited to unleash more bold investigative journalism as part of Type Media Center,” said Esther Kaplan, Editor in Chief at Type Investigations. “This name foregrounds what we do: rigorous, game-changing, truth-seeking reporting that sparks real change. We’ll be launching major projects in the coming months including a Frontline documentary, a Gimlet podcast, and a feature story in the Washington Post Magazine, and we look forward to establishing partnerships with an even wider range of news organizations.”
Related:
Joy-Ann Reid to Receive African American Policy Forum’s Journalism Award
Gender Lens Experts: Check Out this Women and Money Summit
Jean Case Explores Fearlessness in Business and Philanthropy
Take the Lead Delves into Gender Parity in Journalism
