The Kortni Alston Lemon Media (KALM) Institute for Workplace Wellbeing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to caring for the people behind the headlines and broadcasts. Founded by Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon — a former news director and television reporter turned happiness scholar — KALM exists because too many journalists and media professionals are silently struggling with burnout, trauma, and stress.

For nearly a decade, Dr. Kortni has trained newsrooms across the country, witnessing firsthand how many organizations want to prioritize mental health but simply don’t have the resources. That’s why she made the bold decision to devote herself fully to launching KALM — to meet that urgent need.

In the clip above, Dr. Kortni is covering Hurricane Claudette. To reach her live shot, she crossed the Galveston Causeway in nearly 100 mph winds, barely able to see the flooded road. She drove alone to meet her photographer in the field, went live for her station, and later appeared on CNN.

What the image doesn’t show is the level of danger and invisible toll. For journalists, that kind of risk and trauma is often considered “just another day at work.”

According to the Dart Center, 80–100% of journalists experience work-related trauma. Imagine if Mental Health First Aid certification had been available in her newsroom that day. The support, care, and awareness could have made all the difference.

Our Mission & Vision

That’s why KALM exists — to ensure journalists, news leaders, and media professionals have the tools and training to care for themselves and one another. Through advocacy, research, and training programs — including Mental Health First Aid certification — KALM empowers media professionals to:

Recognize and respond to mental health challenges.
Prevent burnout and secondary trauma.
Build healthier, more resilient workplaces.

Our vision is clear and urgent: a compassionate media industry where those who inform and connect our communities can do so with strength, resilience, and well-being.

Real-World Impact: What Happens When Media Professionals Become KALM Mental Health First Aiders

KALM’s impact is measured one person at a time — through the journalists, digital storytellers, PR teams, and communication scholars who have completed Mental Health First Aid certification and are now better equipped to support themselves and the people they work with.

These are the individuals who carry the weight of breaking news, crisis communications, public scrutiny, and the emotional demands of the classroom. When they train with KALM, they gain practical tools that immediately shape how they lead, collaborate, and care.

One of those leaders is Marie Torres, Managing Editor at Spectrum News 1, who shared:

Mental Health First Aid has made me more aware of the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges or crises. I was able to apply that knowledge within days of my certification. Those I have helped have expressed relief at knowing someone sees them and can point them to the appropriate resources.

Her experience reflects the transformation happening across the media landscape:

Broadcast journalists are spotting early signs of distress in colleagues covering traumatic events.
Digital Media professionals are using these skills to navigate high-pressure coverage while supporting their teams.
Public relations executives are applying MHFA techniques during intense crisis situations.
Communication faculty are bringing mental-health awareness into the classroom, shaping a better-prepared next generation.

Every certification represents a real human impact — someone who now feels seen, supported, and guided to resources that can help.

This is the power of KALM-trained Mental Health First Aiders:
They are changing workplace culture one conversation, one moment of awareness, and one act of compassion at a time.

Every Contribution Moves the Mission Forward

Every contribution—large or small—helps KALM move closer to our bold goal of certifying 1,000 media professionals in Mental Health First Aid.

A one-time gift helps us train the next journalist who needs support today.
A monthly gift sustains the long-term work of building compassionate, resilient, mentally healthy newsrooms across the country.

Your giving directly powers KALM’s evidence-based training, supports our 501(c)(3) mission, and strengthens the well-being of those who dedicate their lives to informing and serving the public.

KALM’s Mental Health First Aid training is nationally certified through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and led by our founder, Dr. Kortni, a certified MHFA Instructor.

The Work in Action

Captured below is Dr. Kortni at work — training media professionals to care for themselves and their teams. Every workshop, every certification, and every conversation is rooted in one goal: ensuring that the people who inform and connect our communities are not left to struggle alone.

The work is urgent. Across the media industry, professionals face relentless pressure, high stress, and exposure to trauma. Yet with the right training and resources, they can build resilience, protect their well-being, and strengthen the industry from the inside out.

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Supporters make this possible. Every gift — whether one-time or monthly — fuels this mission and helps KALM change the picture of media toward health and well-being.

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Together, we can create a future where media professionals flourish. Donate today.

Strengthening Media Through Mental Health First Aid Certification

Every $170 certifies one media professional — help us reach 100 and build toward 1,000.

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