Dr. Kortni (00:00)
Welcome to the Compassionate Newsroom podcast. I'm Dr. Courtney Alston-Lemon. I'm a former television reporter and news director turned happiness scholar. I train news leaders and journalists internationally to foster workplace well-being, resilience, and a positive culture in their newsrooms.
Every week I'll bring you evidence-based strategies and inspiring interviews from news leaders, journalists, and experts worldwide who prioritize the mental health of their teams and themselves. Let's redefine what it means to lead with compassion in journalism, one episode at a time.
Dr. Kortni (00:34)
Happy Wellbeing Wednesday. I'm so glad that you're here. Newsrooms everywhere are dealing with the challenges of managing trauma in the workplace. And it also raises an important question. How do we make compassionate leadership the heartbeat of our newsrooms? Well, today's guest has some incredible insights. Her name is Marie Torres.
and she is the managing editor Spectrum News Marie's reputation for compassionate leadership is so well recognized that is even branded into her LinkedIn profile. I said it, it's a must see. It's amazing, just like she is. She's not only a champion for her team, but she's also named Business North Carolina Magazine's Power List in 2023.
Marie's impact goes beyond her newsroom. She brings a true joy and empowerment to all of those around her. And I will say as the founding co-chair of the National Association of Black Journalists Wellness Task Force, I knew she was the perfect choice to be our founding deputy director of belonging. Today, Marie joins the compassionate newsroom studio.
to share her unique leadership style and her powerful ways in shaping her team. Let's dive in.
Dr. Kortni (01:56)
I'm super excited. Hopefully you could tell with my voice. I'm so super excited to interview Marie Torres I couldn't imagine launching the compassionate newsroom podcast without talking to you, Marie.
Marie Torres (02:17)
I'm so excited to talk to you and I cannot wait. I'm so excited about this podcast.
Dr. Kortni (02:22)
Well, look, I'm so happy that you're here
One thing I love about you is the fact that you are, you exude compassionate leadership.
How did that come into being? How did that come into being? How did you become a compassionate leader?
Marie Torres (02:42)
Well, I would say it probably started with just my parents. You know, I tell people I'm a double preacher's kid. So both of my parents were ministers. So being, you know, in an atmosphere of serving and caring and compassion and giving back and just being there for people has just always been a part of my upbringing. And then just having that emotional intelligence, God gave me that, you know. So just having that has just been really helpful.
And then just being mindful, right? You know, we know how it's like to be treated fairly. We know how it feels to be treated unfairly. And I always made it a mission to be the person who treated people fairly. That's who I wanted people to know me as. That's what I wanted my legacy. That's when people heard about me, said my name. I wanted that to be attached, is that I care about people. I'm compassionate about people. I'm someone you can trust.
I'm someone who's honest and I'm someone who is empathetic. And so for me, it's just always been a part of who I am. It's in everything that I do, whether it's at work, whether it's being a good friend, a family member, a mom. That's just always been a part of who I am.
Dr. Kortni (03:49)
I love that. So it's one of the things that I treasure about what you're sharing is that it speaks to your core, right? It speaks to your being. And so I love the fact that you mentioned your parents. I can speak to that in regards to valuing your parents and picking up their leadership skills along the way. So I'm curious about your...
Marie Torres (03:57)
Hmm.
Yes.
Yes.
Dr. Kortni (04:17)
experience in the industry. And what I mean by that is we all have different leaders, right? who is that leader that really was meaningful to you, that really changed your life, that was so transformative? Who was that leader and why was their leadership style so much of a benefit to you?
Marie Torres (04:32)
Yeah.
Yeah, I will kick it all the way back to the beginning of my career. And I say career, I'm going way back. But it made such a difference. When I was 16, I started in news and I had an opportunity really to intern at a local TV station where my mom grew up, her hometown. And I had an anchor who was also the news director. His name was Les Atkins.
Dr. Kortni (04:47)
You going way back.
Marie Torres (05:07)
I hope you're listening less, who he really made a difference in my life because he gave me a shot. I'm in an area that's very much, came originally from upstate New York, but my mom wanted to move down south, as she called it. And so I was thrown into a completely different environment, culturally, all of that, whereas in New York it was just...
We're used to just so many different cultures and I come from a mixed background being Puerto Rican and African American. So I already know what that in itself is like is kind of being mixed and having different cultures and then coming to a small southern rural community where it really was white and black. Segregation was still very real. There were still black schools and white schools even though they didn't say that. It was just the way that that community still lived.
And this was a white anchorman that was not lost on me. well, possibly at the time it was lost on me, but now thinking back, you know, it really made a difference. He gave me a shot. He taught me everything that I could possibly learn about radio and television. He took me under his wing. You know, I was very eager to learn every single thing that I could and
He recognized that about me. And I hadn't had someone other than my parents or my family members or maybe teachers along the way, but no one really recognized my gift. No one really recognized my willingness and eagerness to fulfill this dream that I had at 12 to be in news, to be an anchor woman or be a part of a broadcast overall. And he did. And one of the things that he told me, and here's a part of being a good leader is,
doing what you said you going to do. So he said, I did so well that I can go on to school and come back and I'll have a job. Okay, I'm 16 years old. Someone, you know, who was like this legendary person in the area tells little old me that and I believed it. And I went to school, went on to UNC Greensboro and then I got out of school and I kind of doubted myself. And I was like, they're not going to remember me. They're not. No one's going to.
Remember me as that 16 year old intern, and he had he actually left that TV station to become a public relations officer, but he was still in the area and the general manager called him up and said, hey, do you remember this? I was young lady, but you remember this girl? Who is this woman? Who is she? And he said, absolutely hire her, hire that girl.
Dr. Kortni (07:31)
Wow.
Marie Torres (07:33)
And in his mind, he still saw me as that 16 year old who was eager and was like, I can do this and show me everything and I'll continue your legacy if I have to, you know, and he remembered me. And so not only did he give me a shot at 16, he helped launch my career. And so that for me was someone who cared, who saw my potential, who cultivated that. And then he, he's still on his word. So many years later, he's still on his word.
Dr. Kortni (07:59)
That is incredible. I love that you mentioned the fact that even though he was no longer in the newsroom, right? Although he kind of still is in the newsroom, even though he wasn't physically in the newsroom, right? That there was so much in terms of value from the general manager and for him to say, gotta hire her. Was it hire that girl?
Marie Torres (08:07)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Yeah, right.
Yes.
Dr. Kortni (08:27)
Hire that girl, I love it. I love it. And the rest has been history in terms of that. So how do you model based on levels of his style? What is something that has been inspired by him or you have been inspired by him that you now replicate?
Marie Torres (08:27)
HIRE THAT GIRL!
It has been.
I would say identifying those gifts in people. I'm very much so keen to that. Listening to people talk, seeing their work ethic, getting to know them as people. I try to bring out those gifts in people and I think that was something that I thought he did for me as well. I'm coming in blind but I have an eagerness. So okay, well, I can use that eagerness, right?
You have a passion I can use that passion and so let's use this passion for to you know Align you with this area or that area And I think and people recognize that people recognize when you're giving them a shot And they want to do well for you and not just for you for you know their own careers of course But then also for the overall product when they feel seen and I think that's what I Definitely continue on is the I see you I see you mentality and that's what he
He did for me.
Dr. Kortni (09:43)
I love that. I love that because I think it's so important in leadership that we see people, that we create safe spaces, and that we support them. And when I say all those three things, I certainly think of you in terms of what you do for individuals. How do you go about making sure that you are cultivating this space of psychological safety for your team?
Marie Torres (09:56)
Yes.
Well, it's a lot of things. And I think, you know, for me, it goes down to, again, my core beliefs, right? You know, I want to be treated with kindness. I want to be treated with care. I want someone to recognize I'm not a machine and that I can't just keep going and just burning out. You know, so a lot of times it's, how do I feel? How do want to be treated? And for me, I think me just exuding that on someone else.
They can tell that I'm just as invested in them as I am in myself And I think that just creates a connection a bond it creates trust You know and then you know you can have those honest conversations with them and you can ask them You know either outside of work, you know, just how's your day? How was your weekend? You know And you just you almost kind of become friends you create a bond and I get it, you know
With work, know, you don't always want to think about it as a friendship mentality But it is a relationship and you have and people have to recognize that you have to be able to build trust and honesty and care and compassion and that's how You create these newsrooms that are compassionate newsrooms
Dr. Kortni (11:21)
How do you go about developing that trust?
Marie Torres (11:26)
A lot of talking. A lot of one on ones. And it doesn't have to be in a formal setting. Again, it go back to, you know, how, you know, did you eat today? What did you have for lunch? You know, maybe I'll try that. You know, I think it just comes down to just being genuine and being authentic and being yourself.
I think that has definitely just helped me kind of cultivate that my newsroom and then again going back to you with my You know, call my mentor really too Less, you know doing what you say you're gonna do when people see that you do that and when people see that you know what and not only Doing what you say you're gonna do doing it for all That's a big issue that I've seen in newsroom is favoritism right where it's like you have your certain people that you go to but
My job is to find those gifts in everyone and to celebrate them. Celebrate them for those gifts. Not only do we put the work in together, but we also receive the rewards together. And when people see that, they do feel like someone cares about me, not just as a journalist or my work, but as a person. And I think that's the core of what all of us as leaders should be doing. We should be cultivating people.
Dr. Kortni (12:34)
I love that. I love that in terms of, when you say cultivating people, what opportunity or what time were you in your career when you realized how impactful that was in terms of cultivating people?
Marie Torres (12:51)
Oof.
I think even before becoming a leader, when people saw that I would, that was just who I was. When I had trusted people in high positions coming and confiding in me, that was a big deal. Because again, I go back to what I said about Les, little old me? You're telling me these things? You trust me with these things?
you're coming to me for advice. And I mean, these are people in, you know, at that point I wasn't, you know, necessarily a leader as a producer at that point. in my career, I was a weekend producer even, and then to have, you know, these legendary folks who say, know, you care and, because you care, I'm coming to you and I'm not coming to other people. And so I think that was really kind of mind blowing to me because I was like, well, you could have gone to any of other people. Like they have way more, but.
It was something that drew them to me. And I think it was just, again, me being authentic, me being real, me being caring and compassionate and being trustworthy. And I think that was really pivotal. And then it just really shaped, that shaped the rest of my leadership because it was like, I know that I have this gift where people will want to talk to me because they trust me. And so what do I do with that? That's responsibility. I have to grow that. I have to maintain that.
I have to let that shine in a newsroom so that, you know, I'm not the only one. Because maybe someone's afraid to be like me. And when I say we don't have to be exactly like each other, but in regards to caring and compassion, especially in an industry that can be really cutthroat, where people do not care, where people will come in angry, leave angry, turn over trash cans, all kinds of... I've seen it all. I've seen it a lot. But I think when people see that you're the opposite of that.
It just creates that whole culture and I'm all about creating and cultivating that culture.
Dr. Kortni (14:51)
I love that and you said so many wonderful things in terms of making sure that people understand, your team understands how much you care. Share with us some specifics in regards to what that has looked like in terms of examples for you as a leader.
Marie Torres (15:02)
You
Yeah, I would say recognizing burnout. And it is a person who has been burnt out plenty of times. You know, I look at, you know, I do my own self checks, right? You know, I'm not sleeping well. I'm not eating well. I've been working and I haven't even gotten up from my desk in four hours. If I feel what that feels like, right? If I...
Knowing what that feels like. And if I'm looking out in the newsroom and I'm seeing someone else doing that exact thing, and then they are frustrated and they can't concentrate and all of those things, like I will go to them. And there's been plenty of examples. I'm known as some call me finally the newsroom mama. And that's because, and that's because like I will go and check on folks and say, you know, did you eat today? You know what, let's go outside for a walk. Let's, you know,
It's so pretty outside and just encouraging people like, know, it's not as cloudy today. Let's go for a walk or, you know, just small things like that. Or asking, you know, sometimes people come to me with some really deep, you know, deep matters that impact them personally, like a death in a family, a divorce, sometimes a child going off to college or a child getting hurt.
those type of things and they trust me to be able to, you know, just talk with them. Just listen. A big part of it, I'm talking a lot about talking, but a lot of it too is about listening. And sometimes that's all people need is a listening ear. So there's so many examples, but I think really it just comes down to like identifying the needs of your team and identifying the needs of individuals as well. So yeah, there's a lot of examples, but
Again, I'm the newsroom mama. I'll make sure you're fed. I'll make sure you're smiling. I'll make sure you're heard. I'll make sure you cared for. Yes.
Dr. Kortni (17:01)
I love it. The newsroom mama. I love it. I love it because it says a lot about the fact that you lead with care, right? And it's really an affectionate title that you didn't create, right? That your team created would speak so much about who you are in terms of providing that level of support.
Marie Torres (17:10)
Yeah.
Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
Nope.
Dr. Kortni (17:29)
for your team. I'm curious in regards to, because you're a managing editor of Spectrum News. At one point you were a morning show producer. As a morning show executive producer, right? And so now being managing editor and having this even more of a responsibility in terms of the team itself.
Marie Torres (17:29)
Yes.
Yes.
Executive producer, yes.
Yes.
Dr. Kortni (17:58)
What initiatives does Spectrum have in place? Because you are Spectrum in Raleigh. And what does Spectrum have in place to really support the well-being of journalists?
Marie Torres (18:04)
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Well, I'm definitely proud of the different initiatives that Spectrum has launched and not just recently, but over time, over time and it keeps evolving. And I'm very, very proud to be a part of that. Self-care is so important. I cannot stress that enough. I was one who, big talk at one point was work-life balance. And I think I'm close to achieving that, very close to achieving that.
But I'm still trying to figure out what's the balancing line. Spectrum has definitely talked about self-care, getting mental health treatment, offering that, free services, as well as things that are covered by your insurance. The pandemic really just took the blanket off of what was, I guess, a stigma of talking about mental health, because we were all going through something.
all at the same time. And so we had to talk about it. We just had to. And so during the pandemic, there was a huge push with our company to talk about mental health, to provide resources like counseling, to check on your team. Like literally, and even to this day, we just went through what was the aftermath of a hurricane, Hurricane Milton, and almost every week.
Our management team is saying, check on your team. Who is doing okay? Who needs a break? Those type of things. And that's not even from the most corporate level. That's just on the basic, we are all literally in this thing together. This new cycle that has been constant, constant, constant. So everything from mental health services to just check on your people.
Those are just some of the things that we try to do at Spectrum. And then not only that, but that's talking to some of the basic needs, but in regards to career growth too, because that's important, right? If you feel like you're in a job and you're stuck and you can't, you just feel like you just can't grow, we also have growth opportunities for folks through various different programs, lots of training for folks, whether it's leadership training so they can be prepared to take the next step.
or diversity and inclusion training so that everyone can treat everyone fair in the workplace, not only how we tell our stories, but how we treat one another. So there are quite a few different things and I'm very proud to be a part of it and to, you know, I'm the first one to say, hey, that mental health free treatment, go ahead, I've done it. And I will put myself on the line. I've done it. And it's been so helpful to me.
So I highly encourage all of our folks and not just within Spectrum, but all journalists, right? Like we deal with a lot of things. We cover a lot and you know, we can't, we can't pour into anything if you know, we're tapped out. And so we need to be able to replenish ourselves as well. So I encourage any journalists, make sure that you're intentional about your own self care and make sure you're intentional about the self care of those who look up to you and who you lead.
Dr. Kortni (21:19)
I love it. love it. You know, one of things I really treasure about your response to my question in regards to initiatives of spectrum is one of the things that is the goal of the Compassionate Newsroom is for stations and companies from around the world to be inspired by the resources and the models.
of companies like Spectrum. And it's so great to hear about the work that you're doing, especially for the fact you just mentioned Milton, Hurricane Milton, and then not too far away was Helene. So how is your team coping as it relates to dealing with these hurricanes and tropical storms? And what does it look like in terms of your team right now?
Marie Torres (21:59)
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, it's been a lot and that's just the honest response. It's a lot. But I will say this. I think that because we have created a overall culture of care and compassion, it makes us better storytellers when we go out into communities that really need that care and compassion. It starts at home base. It really starts at home base.
And, you know, it's just been a lot to tell those stories because they're so heartbreaking. you mentioned, you know, Milton, you know, and Helene. Helene had a really big impact on Western North Carolina. And we've sent and they're still in recovery mode out there. They really are. And there's I think we still don't even we still can't even comprehend the amount of loss that happened. I mean, whole towns that look like
They almost got started and just someone just stopped. Hotels that may never be able to rebuild or they don't know how. They don't know how the infrastructure is so impacted. Reporting on stories where a family of 13 lived in the mountain area and 11 of those family members were gone in one day because of landslides and flooding and homes just being washed. Everything people work for generations.
a whole lineage, you know, just uprooted, washed away. So it's very, very tough to not only just hear the stories, but then to have that care and compassion to be able to thoughtfully tell those stories and be sensitive to the needs of the folks there and having the right tone.
and how you tell those stories. And then not only just the one individual stories, but what does that look like in a whole newscast? What are we communicating overall to our entire state about the struggles that these folks are going through? And then how can, not only that, but also encouraging people, how can you give back? You know, we're also a part of, you know, we're not just gonna tell people's story on the worst day of their life. We're gonna also encourage someone else
to take action. How can you help? And being mindful of also letting people know of those resources. So it's been a lot. I think at the end, we will say, you know, we did as much as we could to make sure that we were there. And I think that's important. A part of, you know, compassionate leadership, I wanted to mention is, you know, not just always being caring, compassionate, all that. It's also being present.
It's also just even if you can't do anything, but just stand there and just let people know that you are there. That's huge. That's huge. And again, that's not just in the newsroom. That's home base. The newsroom's home base is when you get out into the community, right? And that's our job is to get out in the community and to tell those stories and to show people that we're there. And that's really important. That in itself creates trust. And in an industry where
There's a lot of mistrust. We need that. We need those relationships of trust in our communities.
Dr. Kortni (25:35)
Wow, so many impactful dynamics in terms of what you just shared, especially as it relates to where the communities are, right, in Western North Carolina concerning Helene. And it's interesting you say that because as, although I'm a happiness scholar and I train news leaders, I'm also a chair of a department and professor of journalism at a university. And one of my team members, one of my faculty members,
was out for, well, out of power for a week. you know, and then dealing with health issues and up getting COVID during that time. I can't even imagine being sick and not having those essential resources like electricity, because we'll think about, electric, what is like, my refrigerator, my garage won't open and, you know, like.
Marie Torres (26:13)
Yeah. Yeah.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Kortni (26:28)
All the things that sometimes we may not think about, I think it's wonderful that Spectrum has really got their eye on newsrooms in terms of its people, just to make sure that you're checking in on each other and as leaders checking in, but then also just checking in as it relates to each other. So I'm curious, I'm gonna do my own check-in and...
Marie Torres (26:43)
Yep, absolutely.
Yes.
Dr. Kortni (26:57)
I'm curious with my check in as it relates to you. You talked about this intentionality, right? In regards to your team. How are you intentional in regards to your wellbeing? You mentioned, things in terms of caring for yourself, but what does that look like? What are some specifics?
Marie Torres (27:01)
Mm-hmm. Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Not looking at work emails on my time off. It is hard, and it took me a while to get there, unless it's very important, of course. But I do let my team know if it is that important, you can call me. That's OK to do so, or text me. Unplugging from the news cycle. It's OK to take a day or two to just not.
Dr. Kortni (27:21)
Good for you, by the way, because that's hard.
Marie Torres (27:43)
see news, it's okay. And then you can start fresh. And you can start fresh. I like bubble bath. A bubble bath sometimes. Right, right. And even the preparation of a bubble bath is like, you have to be intentional with that too, right? know, creating an atmosphere for myself where I can feel peace. You know, that could be fragrances, that can be making sure I
Dr. Kortni (27:50)
Ooh, who doesn't like bubbles?
Marie Torres (28:09)
Clean up a certain area of my house. I just want to sit and meditate in. Prayer is a really big thing for me. Walking. I love being outdoors. So you'll often see me outdoors even at work. And I encourage people, let's just go for walks. Breathe some fresh air. Know that the world has not ended. All the problems that are happening, the world has not ended. know, like the sky has not fallen. You know, spending time with those who love me.
and who I love, that's very important. I have a tribe, I have built a tribe of women and they have built me as well that we were intentional about, listen, we're gonna go out and have a friend's date. I just had a friend's date yesterday. I said, I had a long week, can we just have a friend's date? And that's my way of checking in with them and them checking in with me, you know, after a long week. So it's,
A lot of different things, but I think it's things that bring you joy, that bring you peace. At one point for me, was reading long novels. I don't have as much time like that now, but you know, I did, I love to see the creativity that other people have. So whether that's enjoying a great book or going to a museum or just learning a new thing, working on me as a person, right? I'm not just...
managing editor, Spectrum News, Marie Torres, like who is the little girl inside of me that just wants to have fun and who just wants to connect and who just, you know, wants to enjoy life, you know, listening to music, any of those things. Those are some of the small things that I'm passionate about and I am intentional to make it a point that every single day I do one of those things that I enjoy.
Dr. Kortni (29:56)
I love that. So it's not maybe all the things that you mentioned, but just at least one of those things every day.
Marie Torres (30:01)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Just one of those things. And sometimes it could be as simple as like, I'm just gonna call up a trusted friend. You know, I just need to talk to someone. That's self care. It doesn't always have to be a mental health professional, although that's good and I would highly encourage it. But someone you trust, just to say, you know, I just need to talk to someone. And I need to talk to someone who I trust and who cares for me.
and will give me good guidance or will make me laugh. Something like that. That could be just something so small that you can incorporate into your day.
Dr. Kortni (30:45)
curious in regards to the tribe that you just mentioned and just being able to call up a friend. Is it important for you to talk to another news person in regards to your day that try to help or in days some days is it news person or a non news person? How does that work and how did you go about cultivating your tribe?
Marie Torres (30:52)
Yeah.
Yeah, so my tribe is made up of news professionals and non-news have, you know, a best friend of mine who we have been in the trenches together in crazy breaking news for many years. She and I met in Norfolk when I was a producer for CBS affiliate up there and
She's still my closest friend and she makes sure that I celebrate my birthdays because I can get little, well, don't wanna do anything for her, I'm okay. No, she's like, we're gonna go have a blast. She makes sure, for those important moments that I'm having fun, I'm taking care of myself because she knows how hard the work is. And another good friend of mine who I met when I moved to the Raleigh area, we've been friends for the past eight years.
you know, she is actually a mental health professional, and a health professional. also has a background in education and she's just amazing. She's just such the kindest. She's so kind. her family's kind. She's so kind. and I just love her and she is one of the, she is probably one of the first people that I met in Raleigh who was like, you're getting out of the house. You're, you're getting you away from work.
We're just gonna sit down and we're gonna have lunch. You know, like you need to have lunch. And I'm like, why do I need to have lunch? She's like, do you see how you're responding? We need to have lunch. We need to get you away from the chaos, you know, is news and life and all of that, and just have moments to just enjoy. And so those are some of the women who are part of my tribe, who I'm very close with, but I encourage everybody, get you a tribe. Get you some folks who care about you, who will look after you, who you can call on.
Dr. Kortni (32:33)
Wow.
Marie Torres (32:52)
when you need something and also be that friend back. One of the duties that I used, well, out of the long list of duties that I have, I have created Being a Better Friend as a part of it. That's a new initiative that I have for myself. I could be a great leader and I could be a great mom and a great worker and all of that. But I realized what me being a great friend has meant to me.
because I'm treating people how I want to be treated. And so it makes me more mindful. How am I treating myself? You know, I'm giving so much to them. What am I also giving to me? You know, and they make sure that I check in on myself. They make sure I'm not running myself raggedy. Cause I can. I can.
Dr. Kortni (33:37)
I love that you have such self-awareness. I love that you're friends, right? Your tribe is very observant, clearly empathetic. In positive psychology, we talk about the value of wellbeing, but then qualifying it to positive relationships. Clearly positive.
Marie Torres (33:45)
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Dr. Kortni (34:00)
And then I really value your call to action. Like go get yourself a tribe, right? Go get yourself a tribe. And one of the things that resonated as you shared that is for someone who might be thinking, where do I go? Or is a news manager might think to themselves because you're so busy focusing on your team, the value of professional organizations. And there's one that you and I share.
Marie Torres (34:05)
Yes! Yeah.
Dr. Kortni (34:27)
and it happens to be the National Association of Black Journalists. I will, so full disclosure, my husband is the national, well, the 23rd national president of the National Association of Black Journalists. Marie happens to be the former president of the Raleigh chapter of NABJ, we eloquently call it. And then on top of that,
Marie Torres (34:28)
I love it.
I love it.
Yes. Mm-hmm.
Dr. Kortni (34:51)
I'm the founding co-chair of the NABJ Wellness Task Force and we're dedicated to the wellbeing of our members. And so when that came to be, was like, we gotta get, I gotta get Marie on this in terms of being on the leadership team. And she is, so she is our director of belonging, which speaks to you. That is just who you are. So tell us,
Marie Torres (35:06)
And that's
Yes. Thank you. you. Yes. Yes.
Dr. Kortni (35:19)
your thoughts on the importance of journalism organizations and like NABJ and others and then also what journalist organizations can learn from NABJ and the Asian American Journalists Association that has a mental health wellness arm to their professional organization and the Society of Professional Journalists. So for those who don't,
Marie Torres (35:38)
Yes.
Dr. Kortni (35:48)
What is the value in regards to having a group focusing on well-being?
Marie Torres (35:55)
Yes. no, NEBJ is my tribe too. I will proudly say that that is my tribe. There's so much I can say about NEBJ. Let's start on a personal note. I think NEBJ saved my life. And I'll be very transparent. in a domestic violence relationship, also while trying to be a news leader.
Dr. Kortni (35:58)
Ha ha!
Marie Torres (36:18)
And that can take a huge toll on you mentally, where you may think you're not good enough or where you may think that you're not seen. And I think some of that impact also probably, you know, also leads me to be a little bit more compassionate because you never know what people are going through. You just never know. NABJ and...
my mentors and leaders within NEBJ on a local level saw me. I was just interested. I always wanted to be a part of it. I didn't get into NEBJ until a later in my career. No one had really engaged me earlier than that about it. And so was always curious, just didn't know how. Like, how do I be a part of this? don't know. What do I need to do? And I was just invited to a meeting.
by a friend of mine and she said, you you should, you should come. And I was like, is that it? This is, this is my chance. And I came in and people recognized me. My mentor, Brett Chambers, who was my immediate, he was my predecessor before I became president. He recognized my leadership skills. He recognized that I cared about people and could do and was willing to do and was passionate about doing the work.
And I started to see people recognizing my work and I didn't feel so invisible. I don't want to get emotional, but I didn't feel so invisible anymore. And I could see that the work that I was doing was making an impact, whether it was creating a safe space for people to talk during the pandemic about what they were going through at work during our chapter meetings, whether it was...
talking to law enforcement leaders about, black law enforcement leaders about how they are addressing social unrest during the George Floyd riots and after his murder. Going to college campuses and seeing the twinkle in their eye, just like I used to have that twinkle of looking at what could be my future and then mentoring those students and then providing opportunities for them to become interns, giving them advice on their career.
those were the things that I was doing on a local level really before being, you know, a part of more of the national effort. But I knew if I could do the work on the ground, if I could just with this little territory that I had, it's a big territory, but this out of the national scope, in this little territory, if I could do all that I could, then I could be contributing to what is being done nationally, right? Because I know that
with my mentors, they've been in different markets and they tell me about all these great things that the national organization is doing. And so that really made me want to become more involved with the national organization. Cause I'm like, I can do this with this little territory I have. What more can I do? What more can I do to make people feel seen and feel supported and feel encouraged and feel like they have someone in their corner and someone who will give them advice when they're in really tough work situations.
And so I'm just so happy to be a part of NABJ. NABJ is my tribe. NABJ has fought for me. NABJ has lifted me, has supported me. And I'll be honest and go back to saying NABJ likely saved my life.
Dr. Kortni (39:27)
Wow, wow, that's so, I mean, honestly so powerful. One of the things that we talk about often at NABJ is our conventions being like reunions. And we even have the NABJ, well, the hashtag, which is NABJ family, right? Because that's how we see each other. And I really, I really treasure you sharing your story as it to the impact and the value.
Marie Torres (39:38)
Yes.
family.
Yes.
Yeah.
Dr. Kortni (39:55)
of NABJ. And I also have to share that radio television digital news association, which is a group that, you know, really helped me when I was a news director. And I will admit I'm so honored to serve as a trainer for them now training news leaders on well-being. And so I think it's really important because what you just shared, Marie, is such an impact on a professional organization in regards to
saving your life and for a newsletter that is listening right now who may not be a part of that type of organization, that type of infrastructure, I highly recommend finding an organization that speaks to you. just, you know, Maria and I just talked about NABJ and then I just mentioned Radio Television Digital News Association.
Marie Torres (40:42)
Absolutely.
Dr. Kortni (40:49)
And then I also have worked with the American Press Institute as a trainer where I actually recommended Marie be there for one of their summits in terms of belonging. Because I knew if, look, if I hear something about belonging, I just think Marie Torres. That's it. So I just had to say, got to, don't forget about Marie here. So I'm so grateful.
Marie Torres (40:56)
Yes.
Awesome.
It was amazing. It spoke to me. It spoke to me. one of the things that I'll say that I took away from this, from that summit, and I wanted just to say this, is resilience. You know, I learned a new way, really a definition that I just wasn't so familiar with with resilience. thought resilience was just keep getting knocked down and keep getting up, keep getting up, keep, you know.
Dr. Kortni (41:18)
Yes, it was so fantastic!
Mmm.
huh.
Marie Torres (41:42)
That's what my thought of resilience was, but resilience I learned at that summit was taking a moment to step back. If you're knocked down, you know what? Let me lay here for a little bit. Let me lay here. And that's okay. And let me recharge and let me become more empowered. Let me learn. Let me heal. And let me get back up.
Dr. Kortni (41:56)
Mm-hmm, and that's okay.
Marie Torres (42:12)
And that was so important because in regards to being compassionate, we got to understand too that people need time to lay down, recharge, heal up, and then get back up to fight a new day. So that was very helpful to me that it's okay to be down sometimes, but just know that use that time to cultivate, you know, all those things that you love about yourself, that you love about your interactions with the world.
be mindful of those things, and then bring that when you come to fight again. Bring that experience with you.
Dr. Kortni (42:48)
I love that, absolutely. I often tell people I feel like I'm probably overly transparent with my team and my students. But I think it's important for people to know, right? Like why you're thinking this way or being there for them in terms of that support. And I'm so grateful to hear that you really value the American Press Institute. I knew...
Marie Torres (42:55)
Me too sometimes.
yes.
Dr. Kortni (43:13)
that you needed to be in that space. And I'm so grateful that you were. And for those who may not know about the American Press Institute, they are a phenomenal nonprofit organization that also works with news organizations and trainings. And they have these specially curated summits that are
Marie Torres (43:37)
Hmm.
Dr. Kortni (43:38)
curated by the people in the room that are doing the work and learning how to continue to grow and to elevate. And I was first a part of it. They asked me to speak for their mental health summit in Atlanta. And I really valued and treasured getting that invitation to serve on their summit focused on belonging in Minneapolis. And like I said, when I think belonging, I think Marie Torres. So, I'm so, so.
So happy that you were also there and we could share in that experience together. Well, thank you.
Marie Torres (44:13)
Yes.
And you were amazing. You were amazing teaching us about happiness. And I've said this so many times, who doesn't want to learn how to be happy or happier or happier at least. And you brought some wisdom and some great nuggets. And I really appreciate that. And that has helped me in my leadership as well. So I want you to know I treasure that about you. Thank you.
Dr. Kortni (44:39)
thank you so much, Marie. You know, you are just incredible. And it's so interesting. look I'm about to wrap up with one more question, but I'm already going to put it out there that this is just one of many of you coming to the compassionate newsroom podcast. Yeah, we got to we got to have you back. We got to have you back. Well, you know, I'm ending every podcast with this question and.
Marie Torres (44:56)
what an honor, I'm honored. Okay.
Dr. Kortni (45:08)
It is about compassionate leadership. I want to know from news leaders like yourself, what it means to you. So my final question is, what does compassionate leadership mean to you?
Marie Torres (45:24)
think it goes back to some of the things that I mentioned earlier. But I'll say this. It could mean changing someone's life, as I mentioned about NABJ. It could mean making sure that people feel seen, people feel loved, people feel supported. Again, you don't know what people are going through. And so being that compassionate leader,
Seeing people for who they are, bringing their gifts out, cultivating their gifts, showing them that you're there, even if you're just there to listen. That could change someone's whole life. That could be the reason they stay at their job or leave. That could be the reason they stay in this race called life or leave. So I take it as a huge responsibility. And maybe that kind of goes back to my
double preacher's kids roots of service and so I cannot imagine being anyone else. I want to be anyone else. I've learned from some not so good leaders of what not to do and I've learned from some really great leaders of what works. And I want to be the leader of compassion and I want to be the leader that encourages other people to treat people with that same compassion as well.
If anything, a part of my legacy, I would hope that, you know, it's just not me doing the work, but that people watching me will be inspired and want to do the work too.
Dr. Kortni (46:45)
I love that. I love that in terms of continuing to build off that momentum, right? Each one teach one and being inspired by each other. I love that. Marie Torres, thank you so much for being here with us today.
Marie Torres (46:54)
Yes. Yeah.
Thank you so much. Love you Courtney.
Dr. Kortni (47:03)
Love you too. Yay, it's a love fest.
Marie Torres (47:05)
Uh-huh.
Dr. Kortni (47:09)
Thanks for tuning into the Compassionate Newsroom podcast. Together we can transform workplace wellbeing in news. If you found value in today's episode, please share it with a colleague to help foster a supportive environment in the industry. And don't forget to subscribe and also visit our website for more resources at thecompassionatenewsroom.com.
