New York Broadcasters Association Graduates Rising Leaders
Eight media professionals complete an MBA-style fellowship focused on station management and leadership skills.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Internships
The New York State Broadcasters Association has officially graduated the eight members of its 2026 Rising Leaders Fellowship class. This program is designed to cultivate the next generation of broadcast management and C-suite talent across the state.
Why it matters
The program aims to prepare emerging broadcast leaders for station, C-suite, and community leadership roles by bridging personal development with business acumen. It serves as a pipeline for specialized expertise in the evolving media landscape.
The 2026 cohort consisted of 8 fellowship graduates who completed a rigorous curriculum covering strategic planning and broadcast accounting. This marks a continuation of the association’s commitment to internal industry talent development.
The players
New York State Broadcasters Association
This is a trade organization that serves as the professional representative for broadcast stations across the state.
Danielle Ashworth
She is one of the eight fellows who successfully completed the 2026 leadership program.
Candace Curby
She is a participant who graduated from the association's 2026 Rising Leaders Fellowship.
Josh Koumjian
He is a media professional recognized as part of the 2026 fellowship graduating class.
Kathleen O'Hare-Stewart
She is a member of the professional cohort that finished the 2026 leadership curriculum.
The details
Operating as an MBA-style program, the curriculum focuses on critical business areas including sales, news, finance, and podcast production. Participants study revenue development and content leadership to better manage complex station operations.
Timeline
The Rising Leaders Fellowship class of 2026 graduated on October 22, 2026.
Market Landscape
The fellowship mirrors the professional development protocols found in the Association of American Publishers' industry certification standards. This initiative reflects a broader trend of media trade groups taking an active role in formalizing executive training pipelines.
For local viewers and listeners, this program ensures that stations are managed by trained professionals with a deep understanding of community and business leadership. These developments help maintain the quality and local relevance of broadcast news and programming.
The takeaway
Investment in specialized management training is becoming a critical tool for maintaining local station competitiveness. Readers looking for leadership growth should seek programs that blend technical business skills like finance with creative content strategies.
Further reading
Learn more about professional pathways in the industry by visiting the Internships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Radio Ink.
