The Compassionate Newsroom

Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon is a Happiness Scholar, TEDx speaker, and Transformational Trainer. Her area of research is interdisciplinary, combining positive psychology, business administration, and media management. Her research concentrations value happier workplaces, well-being, and meaningful work.

She is a Podcast Host for Kourting Happiness, which helps listeners learn how to commit to well-being one episode at a time fueled by positive psychology. According to Feedspot, the podcast is among the top 80 for happiness and the workplace.

Dr. Kortni is an advisory board member with the Carter Center's Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, where she guides journalists globally on effective, empathetic, and accurate reporting on behavioral health. Furthermore, she is an active and dedicated member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), where her husband, Ken Lemon, serves as the 23rd President. She is the founding Co-Chair of the NABJ Wellness Task Force. As a Happiness Scholar, her extensive experience in journalism and expertise in positive psychology have positioned her to train journalists, news managers, and media professionals in workplace well-being and resilience and foster a positive newsroom culture. She has coached leaders and journalists for Report for America, 19th News, the American Press Institute, and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY).

With nearly 20 years of experience in the journalism industry, Dr. Kortni has worked as a news director in Baltimore for WEAA-FM, an NPR affiliate station. Additionally, she has served as a Television Reporter in Houston, Philadelphia, and Youngstown, Ohio.

She has a Ph.D. from the University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communication, and an MBA from Morgan State University. Her bachelor’s degree is in Television Production from Delaware State University.