Summer and fall are prime journalism-conference-season-time. There are lanyards and nametags, awkward happy hours, hallway hugs and hellos, and hopefully a lot of learning and inspiration.
Whether you’re a conference circuit regular or a first-timer, here’s a growing list of some that should be on your radar. Know of one we missed? Let us know!
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Collaborative Journalism Summit, from The Center for Cooperative Media
May 13-15
Denver, Colorado
“The Summit will feature two days of lightning talks, workshops, and participatory discussions about a wide array of #collaborativej topics and projects.”
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2025 NSC, Best of Photojournalism and NPPA Honors Awards
May 15-17
Alexandria, Virginia
“Celebrate the best in visual journalism with the NPPA and the Northern Short Course! This year, we’re combining the Northern Short Course Awards, NPPA Honors, and the Best of Photojournalism Awards into one incredible evening. Join us as we recognize outstanding work, honor our 2025 awardees, and connect with industry leaders over dinner.”
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95th Annual International News Media Association (INMA) World Congress of News Media
May 19-23
New York City
“Offering news media an aspirational framework for innovation, leadership, impact, and financial sustainability amidst the tumult of political change.”
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Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit
May 20-22
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“The Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit is an interactive conference for journalism fundraising and development professionals to connect with colleagues, attend hands-on workshops, and learn from inspirational keynote speakers.”
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Education Writers Association National Seminar
May 28-31
St. Louis, Missouri
“The 78th EWA National Seminar comes after elections that will likely change education on the federal, state and local level. This includes the possibility of an intensified focus on school choice and renewed battles over curricula and books on race and LGBTQ+ issues, all amid growing concern about threats to the safety and civil rights of marginalized students. The Education Writers Association will use this pivotal moment to help members fairly and equitably cover what has actually happened and what may come.”
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Health Journalism 2025, from the Association of Health Care Journalists
May 29-June 1
Los Angeles, California
“In a time when the pursuit of truth and accountability is more critical than ever, join us for a vital gathering of journalists, health care professionals, policymakers and experts to confront the pressing challenges and opportunities shaping health care and journalism today. ”
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INN Days, from the Institute for Nonprofit News
June 3-5
Minneapolis, Minnesota
“The conference is a dedicated space for you to step back from day-to-day operations and dive deep into action items and new ideas to help you make progress on longer-term goals and strategies.”
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Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Conference 2025
June 11-13
New Orleans, Louisiana
“RTDNA25 is about building meaningful connections. Engage in conversations with journalists who share your passion for excellence. Every session is designed to foster collaboration, spark innovation and tackle challenges head-on, ensuring you leave with insights you can use immediately.”
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IRE 2025, from Investigative Reporters and Editors and NICAR
June 19-22
New Orleans, Louisiana
“Join IRE & NICAR for our annual investigative journalism conference June 19-22, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.”
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Catholic Media Conference
June 24-27
Phoenix, Arizona
“The Catholic Media Conference provides professional development, networking, a celebration of our peers, and support for the faith formation of Catholic media professionals.”
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PMJA 2025: Cultivating Innovation, from the Public Media Journalists Association
June 25-27
Kansas City, Missouri
“Join us in the heart of Kansas City for #PMJA2025: Cultivating Innovation, a conference dedicated to exploring the latest tools, techniques, and strategies for public media journalists. Network with peers and leaders, learn from experts, and discover how to shape a vibrant future for public media.”
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PMDMC, Public Media Development and Marketing Conference
July 7-10
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“PMDMC is more than just a conference, it’s a community. You’ll build relationships with colleagues from public media and beyond to share best practices and forge valuable connections you can draw from throughout the year.”
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The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors
July 9-13
Brookings, South Dakota
“We continue to work on the details for the full conference agenda, but things are coming together nicely. Among our on-campus sessions will be presentations such as: The emergence of new news media outlets (both commercial and non-profit) in South Dakota; a discussion about how small newspapers with limited staff can engage their community to help cover the news; the plusses and minuses of social media engagement for community newspapers.”
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Association for Alternative Newsmedia Publishers Conference
July 8-12
Madison, Wisconsin
“MadisAAN 2025 programming is designed to be both inspirational and immediately helpful to your team today. Join us as we hear from some of the brightest minds in journalism right now, along with all of the great practical programming that our members expect.“
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NAHJ Conference and Expo 2025, from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists
July 9-12
Chicago, Illinois
“The NAHJ 2025 conference will offer unparalleled career development opportunities with leading Hispanic journalists and media professionals, featuring workshops and panels that provide essential tools for career growth in a rapidly evolving industry.”
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SRCCON 2025, from OpenNews
July 25-26
Minneapolis, Minnesota
“SRCCON events are for people who want to transform the ways journalism and tech work in their organizations and communities.”
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AAJA 25, from the Asian American Journalists Association
July 30-August 3
Seattle, Washington
“Forging our legacies, navigating the future.”
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NABJ 25, from the National Association of Black Journalists
August 6-10
Cleveland, Ohio
“Join us in Cleveland for the #NABJ25 Convention & Career Fair! #NABJ25 is the premier multi-day conference for journalism education, career development, networking, and innovation.”
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AEJMC/WJEC
August 8-10
San Francisco, California
“Join us for excellent sessions, informative workshops, activities, and exciting socials. Each day will be an opportunity to learn from colleagues and absorb knowledge about the industry.”
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2025 Indigenous Media Conference, from the Indigenous Journalists Association
August 13-15
Alberquerque, New Mexico
“The Isleta Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, N.M., will be the venue for the Indigenous Journalists Association’s 2025 Indigenous Media Conference, Aug. 13-15.”
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LMA Fest 2025, from the Local Media Association
August 18-21
Chicago, Illinois
“Join us in Chicago at the Gleacher Center, Aug. 18-21 for LMA Fest — a unique event focused on revenue, opportunities, and the future of local media.”
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2025 Independent News Sustainability Conference, from LION Publishers
September 3-5
St. Louis, Missouri
“Hosted by LION Publishers, this event will gather independent news publishers, industry experts, and supporters of independent news to share expert knowledge, hard-won lessons, and actionable advice on running a news business while being in community with people who care deeply about strengthening the local news ecosystem.”
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NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists National Convention
September 4-7
Atlanta, Georgia
“Join the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ journalists and communicators for three days of learning and development in Atlanta.”
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ONA 2025, from the Online News Association
September 10-13
New Orleans, Louisiana
“The Online News Association’s annual conference is a gathering for digital leaders to collaborate on insights to build the next iteration of digital media. ONA25 will explore the themes of AI, climate and resilience in journalism.”
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ACP Annual Conference and Trade Show, from the Association of Community Publishers
September 11-12
Mobile, Alabama
“Prepare for an unparalleled experience at ACP’s conferences, where meaningful connections await. There’s no substitute for the face-to-face interactions with friends, colleagues, and industry experts — a cornerstone of ACP events. Not only will you acquire essential skills, ideas, and accreditation, but these conferences foster lifelong friendships within the industry.”
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MediaFest 25, from the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists
October 15-18
Washington D.C.
“MediaFest is the nation’s largest gathering of students and their advisers – covering everything from newspapers to literary magazines, business to technology, and student leadership to adviser certification.”
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NPA Summit, from the News Product Alliance
October 23-24
Chicago, Illinois
“Redefining journalism for democratic resilience in the age of AI and platform fragmentation.”
Special thanks to Andrew DeLong, Poynter’s director of donor engagement, for collecting an internal spreadsheet of journalism conferences.
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