Welcome to the Kalm Institute.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that trains media professionals to

 

Fuel Our Mission
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How do we support every part of the media industry from the newsroom to the boardroom?

The media industry runs on resilience. Journalists chase truth, photographers capture history, executives lead through disruption, sales teams build sustainability, and staff across every department keep the mission alive. But even the strongest professionals need support. 

KALM Institute builds on those strengths, offering Positive Psychology tools, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, and workplace well-being strategies that empower the entire organization. 

As part of KALM, The Compassionate Newsroom podcast highlights why Mental Health First Aid is urgently needed in the media today. Listen here. 

“Dr. Kortni has participated in two API Local News Summits as an expert, leading table talks with news leaders. These participatory events, where both experts and news leaders come to share their knowledge and learn from others. 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. Many of our summit-goers left the event citing takeaways from her talk as things they wanted to try in their own news organizations." 

Samantha Ragland & Emily Ristow - American Press Institute 

Trusted by the Industry: Our Founder Has Trained For...
Our programs include:

The media industry’s greatest resource is its people—we’re here to protect them.

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Our Founder's Story

How one journalist turned happiness scholar is reshaping well-being in the media

Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon, widely known as Dr. Kortni, is a former news director and television reporter who has transformed nearly 20 years in journalism into a calling centered on advancing workplace well-being in the media. Today, she is recognized happiness scholar and certified Mental Health First Aid instructor, specializing in helping news professionals build healthier, more resilient organizational cultures.

She is the Founder and President of the Kortni Alston Lemon Media Institute for Workplace Wellbeing, better known as the KALM Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping the media industry with tools to foster mental wellness, resilience, and compassionate leadership. 

At the KALM Institute, Dr. Kortni leads with the belief that workplace well-being and compassionate leadership are not optional; they are the competitive advantage in today's demanding media environment. 

As the KALM Institute expands its program and digital offerings, it remains grounded in its four pillars: promoting workplace well-being, cultivating resilience through Positive Psychology, leading with empathy, and providing Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification tailored to the unique challenges faced by media professionals. 

 

 

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What Our Change-Makers Have To Say

  

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The Compassionate Newsroom Podcast

Never miss an episode—sign up to be the first to know when new conversations drop. Each episode features guest experts, powerful stories, and evidence-based strategies on workplace well-being, resilience, and compassionate leadership in the media industry.

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