Hurricane Helene threatened to spoil their leadership academy but attendees had other plans - Poynter

As Hurricane Helene approached Florida’s Gulf Coast, 30 journalists attending Poynter’s Leadership Academy for Women in Media in St. Petersburg faced an impossible choice: either wait out the storm, or fly home? All 30 wanted to remain. Karen Anderson, Vermont Public’s director of radio programming was excited about going to Poynter. Once there she felt secure enough that nothing could take away from their experience; that is until hearing rumors of hurricane Florence.” Anderson participated in September’s Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA). This month-long session ran from Monday through Friday (Sept 23-25); most members arriving Sunday night. At that point, word began spreading about Hurricane Helene potentially impacting Tampa Bay. “Initially I wasn’t too concerned,” noted Sam Fischer of KARE in Minneapolis. “Everyone here at Poynter is still processing what has just transpired; at first it seemed unbelievable!” noted MJ Slaby of Chalkbeat Indiana Bureau Chief; as soon as reality of hurricane struck them all discussed what actions should be taken next. “Coming from Indiana, I didn’t know much about hurricanes!” She noted that Poynter leadership kept attendees apprised daily of any updates regarding Hurricane Irene’s path or any possible risks moving forward: “Each day it would be something like: ‘Here’s what we know today (Monday).” Tuesday was when you made decisions and Wednesday was when it had to happen by due to time limitations; that helped me tremendously! Everything was very structured day-by-day which proved immensely useful to my situation. Kate Cox, an editor and digital media consultant serving as director for WLA at Poynter, stated she and other leaders closely monitored Helene to make sure any contingency plan took the attendees’ worries into consideration. “Prior to entering the room on Monday, we were planning for what the tone and atmosphere of the room would be and how people felt,” Cox noted. Programming continued as normal on Monday while Poynter leadership provided women with their options on Tuesday. Attendees were impressed by Poynter CFO/COO Jessi Navarro and producer Angela Trajanoski, citing them for going the extra mile every day to keep them informed and up-to-date. “Once it became apparent that Hurricane Irma was intensifying, ProPublica’s team shared its plans – A, B and even an emergency Plan C,” according to Alexis Stephens of ProPublica Communications. “Plan B was to conduct sessions at both locations: for three days at Poynter Institute and Thursday and Friday sessions in our hotel.” Most attendees were already staying at the Bayfront Hilton, located just over half a mile from Poynter, so that all cohort members could relocate permanently for the remainder of the week there – an option all attendees were provided but none exercised. Brittany Ruff, senior producer for MSNBC stated, “For some odd reason I felt extremely relaxed as we navigated Hurricane Helene,” she explained. Every day of their program continued as usual without missing a beat. “Having these women ensure we were learning and developing, even during an intense hurricane of activity, was truly priceless.” During one presentation by WLA leader Kate Cox she used an image of a hurricane as an analogy for how work negotiations may feel like. WLA producer Angela Trajanoski noted, “She completely forgot she had this slide hidden somewhere so when we finally came upon it, the entire room broke into an incredible laugh. Amidst all of the emergency alerts going off around us at that moment in time it provided some much-needed laughter relief!” “I definitely considered leaving,” Anderson stated, but found the program exceptional. “Having this opportunity of gathering with 29 other women who shared my concerns, while receiving practical solutions was such an irresistibly attractive prospect that I made sure that everything in my power to remain with this group – which it did.” Poynter gave WLA participants time to relocate to the Hilton after dismissing class around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and officially closed its campus at 7 p.m. Fischer was among several WLA participants already booked at the Hilton for this week-long conference. “It was so nice having everyone over for my house for the hurricane party!” She commented that one WLA member only left midway due to an urgent work callout a local reporter from WLA who needed to leave early for work. WLA sessions resumed Thursday morning at the hotel as Hurricane Irma crossed the Atlantic Ocean towards landfall near Tampa Bay 200 miles to its northeast in Florida’s Big Bend region. After Thursday’s sessions and as the winds and rain from Helene intensified around St. Petersburg, women gathered in a hotel lobby for snacks, beverages and conversation about Helene. “Thursday night (we) held something of a hurricane party in our shift hotel lobby,” Ruff explained. “Everyone had brought snacks, desserts and wine and spent hours fellowshipping with one another – sharing stories about motherhood, the newsroom and everything in between – making this evening one of the most rewarding in recent memory.” Every cohort member came down at some point just to hang out.” On Thursday night – September 26, when Hurricane Helene made its most direct impactful mark – participants in Poynter’s Leadership Academy for Women in Media assembled in their hotel lobby in Tampa Bay area hotel rooms and took shelter there from severe storm conditions. (Courtesy) Anderson credits that group decision-making with helping him and his friends form closer ties than they might otherwise over the five days, as everyone made difficult choices together. “And as journalists, there was both excitement and fear over this major development that will impact this region and beyond. Many residents and business in St. Petersburg were affected by strong winds, rainstorms and an unprecedented storm surge; however, WLA participants managed to remain safe inside their hotel during this tumultuous storm event. Stephens noted, “By the time I went to sleep later that evening, the storm had subsided significantly,” noting how they spent its peak together enduring it as one community. Poynter campus experienced storm surge, yet no water entered their building; operations resumed normally Friday morning. “It felt like one big pajama party with all your best girlfriends – which was amazing under such trying circumstances!” Fischer noted. It truly was the ideal outcome! By the time it came close to being the end of the week, so much time had been spent together already; it was nice just getting to know each other on an informal level.” Clockwise from left: Brittany Ruff, Kiran Chitanvis and Patty Guerra work during WLA at Hilton hotel lobby during WLA. By Friday morning, it had passed over, yet its full impact hadn’t yet become evident. (Photo: Kate Cox) WLA director Cox observed, “it came down to this: either let ourselves feel helpless against an unpredictable force we couldn’t control or dig in and just do this work; which they certainly did with such presence and intention from their group members that even I was floored by their performance!” “And they certainly succeeded – in fact I was absolutely astounded!” “My role as their agent was easy.” By Friday afternoon, all cohort members returned safely home. One participant raved, “This trip was truly extraordinary – something I was eagerly looking forward to for almost an entire year! I thought the experience was truly unbelievable.” “I was really determined to accomplish everything myself,” Slaby noted, noting they had all of the information needed. She felt extremely thankful she was still able to participate, still do programs and pivot while staying at hotels within reach in order to make everything come together successfully.