In the fast-paced world of journalism, your team's well-being is your greatest asset. 

Elevate Your Newsroom with Customized Mental Health First Aid Training. 

Coming Soon! 

Be the First to Know

Our Mental Health First Aid Training for News Leaders is launching soon! Don’t miss the opportunity to be at the forefront of this essential initiative. Stay informed and get early access to our training program.

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TRANSFORM YOUR NEWSROOM

Why Mental Health First Aid Training?

Equip Your Leaders with Essential Skills

News leaders often find themselves on the front lines of their teams' mental health challenges. Our training provides them with the tools to:

LEAD NEWS WELL

Assess the Risk

Recognize the signs of mental health issues and learn how to approach your news team with care.

LEAD NEWS WELL

Listen with Compassion

 Listen non-judgmentally with empathy to colleagues in distress.

LEAD NEWS WELL

Give Reassurance

Offer initial help and support to colleagues in distress.

LEAD NEWS WELL

Encourage Appropriate Professional Help

Guide your news team toward professional help.

LEAD NEWS WELL

Encourage Self-Help

Implement self-care and well-being strategies for yourself to support your team.

NICE TO MEET YOU

Meet Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon, the Founder of KALM.

I’m Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon, a former news director and television reporter who has turned nearly 20 years in journalism into a calling—one centered on advancing workplace well-being in newsrooms. Now a happiness scholar and certified Mental Health First Aid instructor, I specialize in helping news professionals build healthier, more resilient organizational cultures.

I founded the Kortni Alston Lemon Media Institute for Workplace Wellbeing—also known as KALM—to deliver evidence-based training and support for journalists, producers, and newsroom leaders. KALM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping the media industry with tools to foster mental wellness, resilience, and compassionate leadership.

At KALM, we believe that workplace well-being and compassionate leadership are the competitive advantage in today’s demanding media environment.

As we grow our programs and digital presence, this page offers you an early opportunity to engage with one of our signature offerings: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification tailored specifically for the news industry.

"Dr. Kortni's training is spot-on for journalists... Dr. Kortni's genuine warmth and caring nature make it easy to open up and trust her. Her training has helped me to become a more authentic leader."

- Kim Holt, WSOC-TV

"Dr. Kortni's training is so vital. It comes down to intentionality. We as leaders must create a space to foster self-care, empathy, compassion and belonging in our newsrooms."

- Marie Torres, Spectrum News 1 North Carolina

"Dr. Kortni shows up in a way that garners immediate trust with participants. Having experience as a journalist certainly helps with this, as news leaders know that she understands their challenges."

- Samantha Ragland & Emily Ristow, American Press Institute
Why Choose Our Training?

Newsroom Transformation: Get Certified in Mental Health First Aid with an Industry Expert

Lead your news team towards a healthier future with a Mental Health First Aid certification tailored specifically for the media industry by Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon, a certified instructor in Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Dr. Kortni draws on her extensive background as a television reporter, news director, and now a happiness scholar. She delivers a program that addresses the unique pressures news professionals face.

This course will empower news professionals to:

Strive to increase mental health awareness so your news team has the tools and the confidence to support one another.

Cultivate an understanding that culture is a key influence on mental health. 

Understand that early intervention is key to positive outcomes.

Secure Your Spot: Sign up for our waitlist to get notified about registration openings and be the first to access Dr. Kortni's specialized Mental Health First Aid Training for news professionals.

SECURE YOUR SPOT ON THE WAITLIST