Master Class for Media Managers Builds Community
When Professor Jill Geisler opened last fall’s Master Class for Media Managers, she greeted the group with a milestone message: forty-three professionals from newsrooms across the country had enrolled, making it the largest online cohort the program had hosted.
Geisler, who has led the class for years, knew the size of the group would require extra care. Online sessions, she explains, work best when everyone feels seen, heard, and genuinely part of the conversation. The more people in the class, the more the instructor has to build an infrastructure and culture that makes it happen.
That intention shaped the week-long experience, which blended structured lessons with candid discussion and thoughtful peer support. The result was a sense of community that participants quickly embraced, even though they came from varied media roles and platforms across North America.
I’m already implementing some of what we covered in my day-to-day work. Michael Woods, Senior Producer, CBC News Parliamentary Bureau
For Brook Arnold, Vice President and General Manager at KOAM News Now and KOAM Marketing in Kansas, one session stood out above the rest. “The coaching module had the greatest impact on my work and the way I think about leadership,” she said. “Getting the most out of team members and helping others reach their potential is one of the greatest responsibilities we have as leaders, yet organizations rarely teach coaching.”
Arnold valued the opportunity to role-play real workplace scenarios and observe how others approached similar challenges. “It was done in a non-threatening environment that allowed creativity, input from others, and even the chance to start over if needed,” she said. “That made the learning stick.”
Another defining element of the class was its emphasis on self-reflection. Participants completed self-assessments during sessions, prompting deeper awareness of their own leadership habits. “Those moments of reflection often made something click, or showed me where more work was needed,” Arnold shared. “At times I had to really stop and evaluate my own actions to answer honestly. Self-reflection and self-awareness are true skills, and this class reinforced how essential they are.”
Michael Woods, a digital senior producer for the CBC News Parliamentary Bureau in Canada, said the topics on feedback and difficult conversations stayed with him long after the class ended. “Each day was useful in its own way, but those sessions struck a particular chord with me,” he said. “I’m already implementing some of what we covered in my day-to-day work.” He also appreciated the clear structure of the program, noting that the consistency of the format and advance readings helped him get the most out of the material.
The coaching module had the greatest impact on my work and the way I think about leadership. Brook Arnold, Vice President and General Manager at KOAM News Now and KOAM Marketing
Much of the class’s impact, he says, came from Geisler herself. In feedback after the class, he told her, “This class’s success rests on your experience and expertise, your positive attitude, and your willingness to listen. You foster such a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. It was a true joy.”
For KOAM’s Arnold, the experience also offered perspective on her own leadership journey. “Oftentimes we’re promoted to manager because we excel at our jobs, and leadership skills become an afterthought,” she said. “What I’ve learned over the past decade is that these skills make or break leaders and organizations. I only wish I had taken this course earlier.” Moving forward, she plans to apply the “coach, don’t fix” strategies emphasized in the class and devote more time to reflection and self-awareness. “When the leader gets better, everyone wins,” she added
While part of a record-setting Master Class, participants successfully exchanged real-world challenges, workshopped solutions in real time, and left with tools they could immediately apply to their organizations. The spirit of collaboration proved strong enough that several asked to continue the conversation through coaching sessions in the new year.
Looking ahead to her Master Classes in 2026, Geisler hopes to continue offering a space where media leaders feel supported, challenged, and connected, and to hear again from leaders like CBC’s Woods, “It was a true pleasure to spend the week learning from you.”
Story by Destiny Woods • Photo courtesy of Jill Geisler • Dec. 20, 2025
Master Class for Media Managers Builds Community and Confidence Among Communications Leaders
For Brook Arnold, Vice President and General Manager at KOAM News Now and KOAM Marketing in Kansas, one session stood out above the rest. “The coaching module had the greatest impact on my work and the way I think about leadership,” she said. “Getting the most out of team members and helping others reach their potential is one of the greatest responsibilities we have as leaders, yet organizations rarely teach coaching.”
Arnold valued the opportunity to role-play real workplace scenarios and observe how others approached similar challenges. “It was done in a non-threatening environment that allowed creativity, input from others, and even the chance to start over if needed,” she said. “That made the learning stick.”
Another defining element of the class was its emphasis on self-reflection. Participants completed self-assessments during sessions, prompting deeper awareness of their own leadership habits. “Those moments of reflection often made something click, or showed me where more work was needed,” Arnold shared. “At times I had to really stop and evaluate my own actions to answer honestly. Self-reflection and self-awareness are true skills, and this class reinforced how essential they are.”
Michael Woods, a digital senior producer for the CBC News Parliamentary Bureau in Canada, said the topics on feedback and difficult conversations stayed with him long after the class ended. “Each day was useful in its own way, but those sessions struck a particular chord with me,” he said. “I’m already implementing some of what we covered in my day-to-day work.” He also appreciated the clear structure of the program, noting that the consistency of the format and advance readings helped him get the most out of the material.
Much of the class’s impact, he says, came from Geisler herself. In feedback after the class, he told her, “This class’s success rests on your experience and expertise, your positive attitude, and your willingness to listen. You foster such a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. It was a true joy.”
For KOAM’s Arnold, the experience also offered perspective on her own leadership journey. “Oftentimes we’re promoted to manager because we excel at our jobs, and leadership skills become an afterthought,” she said. “What I’ve learned over the past decade is that these skills make or break leaders and organizations. I only wish I had taken this course earlier.” Moving forward, she plans to apply the “coach, don’t fix” strategies emphasized in the class and devote more time to reflection and self-awareness. “When the leader gets better, everyone wins,” she added
While part of a record-setting Master Class, participants successfully exchanged real-world challenges, workshopped solutions in real time, and left with tools they could immediately apply to their organizations. The spirit of collaboration proved strong enough that several asked to continue the conversation through coaching sessions in the new year.
Looking ahead to her Master Classes in 2026, Geisler hopes to continue offering a space where media leaders feel supported, challenged, and connected, and to hear again from leaders like CBC’s Woods, “It was a true pleasure to spend the week learning from you.”