Events

 

April 11, 2025 - April 12, 2025

2025 NABJ Region I Conference

April 11-12, 2025 | All Sessions: Howard University, Blackburn Center, 2397 6th St NW, Washington, D.C.

 

Theme: Innovate, Inspire, Impact: Journalism in Action

Thanks to Our Partners and Sponsors:

WAMU

Baltimore Banner

The NABJ Region I Conference will be hosted by the Washington Association of Black Journalists from April 11-12 at Howard University in Washington, D.C.! 
With the theme “Innovate, Inspire, Impact: Journalism in Action,” this two-day conference will bring together journalists, public relations professionals, students, and educators to explore the future of journalism and new ways to approach storytelling in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. Through engaging sessions, interactive workshops, and collaborative discussions, attendees will gain fresh insights and tools to elevate their work and amplify their impact.
There also will be a career fair that will include top national and local employers.
Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to connect, learn, and network. Together, we can shape the future of journalism. 
Join us in the nation’s capital! All are welcome!
Registration NOW open! Click here to reserve your seat and save! View hotel booking information below.

Schedule Preview

Subject to Change.

*Speaker information updates in progress.

April 11, 2025
6 – 9 PM | WABJ Opening Reception | Additional Fee Required for Admission | Contact WABJ for details and tickets.
*Transportation not provided.
NPR | 1111 North Capitol Street, NE | Washington, D.C.
All sessions held at Howard University, Blackburn Center.
April 12, 2025
7:30 – 9:30 AM | Registration & Continental Breakfast 
Registration will be on the first floor. Breakfast will be in the ballroom.
8:30 – 9:00 AM | Welcome – Room: Ballroom
  • Speakers:
    • Melony Roy, NABJ Region I Director and Supervising Producer, The Wall Street Journal
    • Phil Lewis, Deputy Editor, HuffPost
9:00 AM – 4 P.M. | Career Fair  (Subject to change.) – Room: Hilltop Lounge
  • NBC4 Washington
  • Newsday 
  • Baltimore Banner 
  • CBS News & Stations
  • POLITICO
  • DC News Now
9 AM – 9:45 AM | The Legacy and Future of NABJ: A Conversation with the Founders
In honor of the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) groundbreaking journey, this panel brings together the visionary founders who set the course for an organization that has empowered generations of journalists. These pioneers will reflect on the challenges they faced, the progress made, and the ongoing work needed to ensure that Black voices continue to shape the media landscape.
  • Moderator: Phil Lewis, Deputy Editor, HuffPost
  • Panelists: 
    • NABJ Founder Allison Davis
    • NABJ Founder Sandra Dawson Long Weaver
    • NABJ Founder Joe Davidson
10 AM – 10:50 AM | Breakout Sessions I 
    • Covering Politics in a Polarized World: Political polarization has become a defining feature of many regions around the world. Journalists face increasing challenges in reporting on politics in ways that are fair, balanced, and credible. This panel will discuss strategies for navigating political bias, fact-checking political claims, and engaging with audiences on highly contentious topics.
      Room: Reading Lounge
    • Moderator: Tia Mitchell, Washington Bureau Chief, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    • Panelists:
      • Brittany Gibson, Politics Reporter,  Axios
      • Raquel Martin, Washington Correspondent, Nexstar
      • Eva McKend, National Politics Correspondent, CNN
      • Brandon Tensley, National Politics Reporter, Capital B
      • Brianna Tucker, National Politics Breaking News Reporter, The Washington Post
    • Breaking Barriers: Preparing for Success in Journalism: This panel is designed to empower aspiring Black journalists with the tools, insights, and strategies needed to excel in their careers. Industry professionals will share their journeys, offer practical advice, and discuss how to navigate challenges in the ever-evolving media landscape. From networking tips to overcoming barriers, this session will provide students with actionable guidance to help them transition from the classroom to successful careers in journalism. Attendees will leave inspired, informed, and equipped to build their own paths to success.
      Room: The Forum
    • Moderator: Eric Sellers, Associate Producer, ESPN and President, Southern New England Association of Black Journalists
    • Panelists: 
      • Tramon Lucas, Digital Editor, The Baltimore Banner and President, Baltimore Association of Black Journalists
      • Bryan Colbert, Broadcaster, Washington Commanders
      • Mikea Turner, Four-Time Emmy-Nominated Journalist, FOX 5 DC
11 AM – 11:50 AM | Breakout Sessions II
The Art of Storytelling: Crafting Compelling Podcast Narratives: Storytelling is at the heart of every successful podcast. This panel will dive into the techniques and strategies that make a podcast’s narrative compelling, whether it’s fiction, investigative journalism, or personal storytelling. Panelists will share insights on how to keep listeners hooked from episode to episode.
Room: Reading Lounge
    • Moderator: Zuri Berry, Digital Strategy Editor, The Baltimore Banner and Owner and Principal Producer, ZMC Podcasts
    • Panelists: 
      • Melony Roy,  NABJ Region I Director and Supervising Producer, The Wall Street
      • Oluwakemi Aladesuyi, Reporter and Executive Producer, Reuters
      • Eryn Mathewson,  Podcast Producer, CNN

 

Reporting Securely: Digital Safety & Legal Guardrails for Journalists 
In an era of increased digital surveillance, misinformation, and threats, journalists must navigate complex ethical and legal considerations to protect sources, verify information, and uphold their First Amendment rights. 
This workshop offers practical strategies for journalists to safeguard themselves and their sources. Participants will learn about digital tools for protecting confidential information like anonymous leaks or whistleblower reports, techniques for fact-checking sources, and best practices to remain within legal and ethical boundaries. 
Room Location TBA
    • Moderator: Khorri Atkinson, Senior Labor and Employment Reporter, at Bloomberg Law
    • Panelists:
      • Ron Nixon, Vice President of Investigative, Enterprise, and Grants and Partnerships, The Associated Press
      • Martina Stewart, News Team Lead, Bloomberg Law and Former Attorney
      • Grayson Clary, Staff Attorney, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Noon – 1:00 PM | Lunch Break | Ballroom
Box lunches will be provided.
1 PM – 1:50 PM | Breakout Sessions III
Room: The Forum
  • Covering Political Economic Agendas: The control of both branches of Congress and the White House currently belongs to one party. The party is implementing a conservative economic agenda on taxes, deregulation, trade, and more. This panel will cover the major economic stories likely to come up in the current presidential administration and which federal agencies and members of Congress, as well as White House officials, journalists, should be watching. Also, this panel will explain how plans for tariffs, if enacted, could ripple through the domestic and global economy. 
    • Moderator: Philana Patterson, Head of News Audio, Wall Street Journal
    • Panelists:
      • Josh Jamerson,  Deputy Politics Editor, The Wall Street Journal
      • Greg Ip,  Chief Economics Commentator, The Wall Street Journal
      • Natalie Andrews, White House Correspondent, Wall Street Journal
  • Journalism and Artificial Intelligence: AI is transforming every aspect of the media landscape, from content creation to audience engagement. This panel will explore how AI tools are reshaping journalism, including automated content generation, AI-assisted investigative reporting, and the potential risks and rewards for journalists using these technologies.
    Room: Reading Lounge
    • Moderator:
      • Colin H. Campbell, Frederick Douglass Institute Teaching Fellow, Pennsylvania’s Shippensburg University and President, The Capital Press Club and Editor ofPanAfricanReport.com
    • Panelists:
      • Ingrid Sturgis, Chair, Department of Media, Journalism and Film, Cathy Hughes School of Communications, Howard University
      • Zuri Berry,  The Baltimore Banner, Digital Strategy Editor, The Baltimore Banner
      • Elite Truong, American Press Institute
2 PM – 2:50 PM |  Navigating Workplace Challenges Proactively | Room: The Forum
Learn how to confidently address issues such as microaggressions, layoffs, job performance and promotion, and salary negotiation at work before they escalate into major legal disputes. This interactive session featuring legal and workplace experts demystifies local and federal workplace protection laws and provides actionable strategies for proactively advocating for yourself and your colleagues.
  • Moderator: Criminal Justice Reporter, Capital B
  • Panel: 
    • Robert Baldwin III, Founder and Managing Attorney, Virtue Law Group
    • Ciera Parks, Human Resource Executive, CWC HR Training & Solutions
3 PM – 3:50 PM | Breakout Sessions IV
  • Mind Over Deadline: Prioritizing Mental Wellness in Media
The quickly evolving media landscape, which has led to reduced staff numbers and, in some cases, remaining workers doing more with less, has added stressors to an already fast-paced newsroom environment. Now, more than ever, mental well-being is just as important to professional development as learning the tools of the trade. This panel discussion will focus on finding work-life balance, setting healthy boundaries, and practicing self-care.
Room: The Forum
    • Moderator: Candace Y.A. Montague, Journalist, Health, Gender Equality, and Social Justice
    • Panelists:
      • Jessica Larché, Regional Emmy Award-winning Evening News Anchor and Investigative Reporter, WTKR News 3
      • Rashad Mills, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Public Speaker and Author
      • Dr. Shauna Moore Reynolds, Owner, SMR Counseling Services and Professor of Counseling, Johns Hopkins University
  • Journalism Research Masterclass: This session will sharpen participants’ reporting by giving them a chance to learn from writers and editors who use precision research skills to support deeply reported journalism. This workshop will cover best practices—primary sources, finding experts, research strategy— and fact-checking. Both session topics are relevant to many types of media, including magazines, podcasts, documentaries, and newspapers. There will be Q&A opportunities to allow attendees to workshop an idea with the collective group.
Room: Reading Lounge
    • Presenter:  Natalie Meade, Freelance Journalist and Fact-Checker, The New Yorker
4 PM – 5 PM | Keynote | TBA

Registration 

Registration Rates
(Total includes a $3.00 administrative fee.)
Early-Bird by March 31, 2025 – (Last Day to Register Online)
  • Professional Member (Professional/Emerging Professional/Alumni/Academic/Media-Related Members) – $60
  • Student Member – $25
  • Nonmember – $80
  • Student Nonmember – $35
On-site registration is available in-person on April 11-12, 2025
*No Cash Accepted • Debit or Credit Cards Only
  • Professional Member (Professional/Emerging Professional/Alumni/Academic/Media-Related Members) – $100
  • Student Member – $45
  • Nonmember – $125
  • Student Nonmember – $65

If you’re not signed into our site already, you’ll need to log in using your NABJ username and password to view the discounted member rates.

 

Hotel 

NABJ Region I Attendee Rates Available at Yours Truly DC