Earlier this year, we assembled a list of 28 conferences to attend in 2020. Since early January, a lot has changed. From local meetups to nationwide conferences, the COVID-19 pandemic has turned journalism event plans upside down. Despite the sudden changes, conference leaders have swiftly assembled online meetings or postponed gatherings to continue sharing ideas and growth among journalists while prioritizing safety. 

Though the past few months have been filled with uncertainty and adaptation, there are still opportunities to collaborate and engage as a community. We will continuously update dates, times and venue changes as new schedules surface. Please let us know of any virtual happenings or changes we missed!

Unless otherwise noted, all of these convenings are taking place virtually:

March

Computation & Journalism Conference, Postponed, Date TBD

“We invite the submission of contributions exploring the interface between data and computer science and journalism in three categories: research, practice, and technology. For the 2020 Symposium, we make a special call for papers that involve data visualization, with an emphasis on the communication of uncertainty.”

America East Conference, Postponed, Date TBD

“America East, administered by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, partners with 14 other state press associations as well as Editor & Publisher, Local Media Association, NetNewsCheck and News & Tech to bring the widest variety of attendees and programming to Hershey.”

April

SND, Society for News Design, Postponed, Date TBD

“What sparks collaboration? How do different crafts work together to tell stories? When should the design of visual information be explanatory and when should it be exploratory? SNDDC 2020 will incubate those discussions and inspire answers, all with the goal of practical applications. SNDDC’s goal is to help you know what to learn, how to sharpen your expertise and find ways to grow your professional networks.”

May

Collaborative Journalism Summit, May 14-15

“The 2020 Collaborative Journalism Summit… will feature a day-and-a-half of panels, roundtables, networking, and socializing about all things collaborative journalism.”

June

Allied Media Conference, July 23-26

“During the Year in Chrysalis, we were already exploring how to grow the virtual components of the AMC, in order to make the conference more accessible and do less harm to the environment. Now the virtual AMC is all we will have.”

Alliance for Community Media, June 24-July 16

“ACM’s Sweet Home , Stay at Home, Workshop Series has been developed as intensive, interactive and informative sessions to cover a variety of topics and issues important to your career, your stations and our industry.”

July

SRCCON 2020, July 15-17

“We expect that in some ways, it will be unlike any event we’ve held before. What we do know, however, is that SRCCON 2020 will remain a unique, accessible, and inclusive event that hosts frank, challenging, nurturing, and creative conversations that need to be had.”

International Symposium on Online Journalism, July 20-24

“The International Symposium on Online Journalism is a program of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas at the University of Texas at Austin, a unique conference that bridges the gap between academia and the news industry.”

Education Writers Association National Seminar, July 21-24

“A trio of momentous forces — the coronavirus pandemic, the resulting economic meltdown, and America’s long-entrenched structural racism — have converged in 2020 to upend the U.S. education landscape. Journalists covering the education sector face a host of immediate challenges as they work to help the public understand a coming academic year like no other.” 

August

NABJxNAHJ, August 5-9 2020

“This is uncharted territory for NABJ. We are enlisting the help of professionals and companies that routinely do virtual conferences, but we’re also looking for members who have experience in the virtual convention space. We welcome your input. We’re in this together and will build an even stronger NABJ.”

Asian American Journalists Association, August 9-15

“Of course, our virtual gathering will have the cornerstones of convention: training, networking and community. 

But we also know it’s been quite a year. So we want to create a space for our #AAJAFamily to process the immense pains from this year, find comfort in our community, and find solutions for bringing more visibility to our communities and our journalism for the rest of 2020 and beyond. 

And after being isolated at home for 100+ days, we want to have fun, too! (Yes, as promised, there will be karaoke.)” 

September

SPJ-RTDNA Excellence in Journalism 2020, September 10-12, Washington, DC

“Excellence in Journalism will be covering everything you need from tech tools to career development, management, and ethical news leadership.”

The Association of LGBTQ journalists (NLGA), September 10-13, Chicago, IL

“NLGJA is the premier network of LGBTQ media professionals and all dedicated to the highest journalistic standards in the coverage of LGBTQ issues.”

Investigative Reporters and Editors, September 21-25

“For the first time, attendees across the United States and around the world will be able to participate in the signature investigative reporting event via a secure, interactive digital platform.”

October

ONA Conference, October 1-16

“Join us at ONA20 Everywhere for inspiring conversations about the latest trends and best practices in digital media; unparalleled networking with influencers and emerging talent; opportunities to explore new tools in our interactive Midway; and much more!”

Hearken’s Engagement Innovation Summit, October 13 & 14 2020, Chicago, IL

“Audience engagement enthusiasts and innovators across community-focused industries gather to explore how a culture of listening, service and trust-building can make us better at what we do.”

December

Journalism and Women Symposium, December 4-6, Austin, Texas

“The Journalism and Women Symposium (JAWS) supports the professional empowerment and personal growth of women in journalism and works toward a more accurate portrayal of the whole society.”

Postponed until 2021

National Native Media Conference, Phoenix, AZ

“The Native American Journalists Association exists to empower the Indigenous voice through journalism with programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote the accurate portrayal of Indigenous people and cultures.

NAJA is committed to increasing the representation of Indigenous journalists in all areas of media, and to provide our membership with the skills and professional network necessary to succeed in the media industry.” 

LION Summit 2020, Seattle, WA

“LION Summit 2020 is our ninth summit, and we’ll bring together independent local news publishers and people who care about supporting independent local news.”

Third Coast Conference, Chicago, IL 

“Based in Chicago, the Third Coast International Audio Festival (TCIAF, or simply Third Coast) is a nonprofit arts organization that celebrates the art and craft of narrative audio storytelling every day of the year. The heart and soul of Third Coast lies in our commitment to access, equity, and creative expression in an ever-changing artistic landscape and evolving professional industry. We center community-building as a means of pushing the boundaries of the medium. We believe and advocate for audio as an art form unto its own.”

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