Join us for a weeklong series of conversations designed to take you behind the scenes of how independent journalism really works and why it matters.
Together, we’ll explore how journalists secure access, stand up for their independence and hold powerful institutions accountable on behalf of the public — and what’s at stake when that work is challenged.
Be part of these candid conversations about the future of press freedom, the responsibility that comes with reporting freely and the daily work required to keep a free press strong.
Why Press Freedom Matters Now
Moderated by Mike Balsamo and joined by Julie Pace (Executive Editor of The Associated Press) with additional editors to be announced.
By nearly any measure, press freedom around the world has been rapidly deteriorating in recent years. 2025 was the deadliest year on record for journalists and media workers, and at least 320 journalists are imprisoned worldwide, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
In this roundtable, industry leaders from The Associated Press and other outlets will speak about how they are working to safeguard press freedom, why independent journalism is necessary to serve the public and what’s at stake when this fundamental freedom is challenged.
Accountability Journalism in Action: Investigating a Multibillion-Dollar Empire
Moderated by Justin Pritchard and joined by Jason Dearen (The Associated Press), Dylan Jackson (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) and Erin Texeira (FRONTLINE).
A groundbreaking investigative collaboration by newsrooms including The Associated Press, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and FRONTLINE (PBS) revealed how the nation’s carpet manufacturing industry continued to use harmful chemicals for years, even as scientific evidence mounted that the consequences would be grave. Today, the chemicals are found in local water, soil, wildlife — and the blood of residents.
In this conversation, reporters and editors from the AP, the AJC and FRONTLINE will discuss the challenges of reporting this investigation, what it’s like to collaborate with journalists across multiple news outlets and the impacts public service journalism can have.
How to Stay Safe and Resilient During Breaking News
Moderated by Mark Grant and joined by, Lyndall Herman (The Associated Press), Destiny Montague (The Associated Press) and Harry Key (CiC Wellbeing).
With an ever-present deluge of breaking news, news fatigue and mental health strain can feel inevitable for both news consumers and journalists. In this session, AP’s VP for Global Safety Risk & Resilience, Mark Grant, and industry experts will share practical tools and strategies to stay safe and supported amidst the breaking news cycle and ongoing threats to press freedom. This session will be valuable for anyone — journalists and news nerds alike.
On the Scene: What it Takes to Secure Access to the Biggest Stories
Moderated by Ricardo Zuniga and joined by Gary Hamilton, Jacquelyn Martin and Regina Garcia Cano of The Associated Press.
From wars and wildfires to Olympic Games and red carpets, the AP is on the ground to bear witness and bring facts to the world. But what does it take for our journalists to get access to the spaces where history’s biggest moments take place?
In this session, AP journalists Jacquelyn Martin, Gary Hamilton and Regina Garcia Cano will discuss what it’s like to cover the world’s biggest events and why it’s so important to have journalists there in person.
Just the Facts: The Evolution of Covering U.S. Politics
Moderated by Meg Kinnard and joined by Zeke Miller, Darlene Superville and Jon Elswick of The Associated Press.
For 180 years, The Associated Press has set the standard for political reporting. We have journalists on the ground across the U.S. and in our Washington bureau who provide in-depth, independent and nonpartisan political coverage of the U.S. government that keep audiences around the world informed.
Join us for a conversation with three of AP’s White House journalists who have covered D.C. politics for decades. We’ll discuss how covering U.S. politics and the White House has evolved over the years and across administrations. How have they refined their own reporting beats over the years? And why is it so valuable for reporters to be able to develop that expertise?