This spring, TFAS hosted three Regional Student Journalism Conferences, bringing aspiring journalists to Charlottesville, Virginia; New York City, New York; and Chicago, Illinois.

Each conference, part of TFAS’s new Student Journalism Association, took place over the course of three days and served as in-depth training for student journalists to hone their skills, network with professionals and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving field of journalism.

Student attendees were members of TFAS’s Student Journalism Association, representing the nation’s top young conservative, libertarian and independent journalists who believe in restoring objectivity to the media with a platform to develop their skills, voice and network.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA

The first conference took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, bringing together 13 young journalists from the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions, including Washington & Lee University, Wake Forest University, University of Virginia, Clemson University, Georgetown University and the University of North Carolina.

TFAS alumna and Student Journalism Association member Blake Mauro ’22, editor in chief of the Clemson Tiger, said the weekend was a perfect opportunity to not only connect with top professionals in the journalism industry, but also with fellow peers as aspiring student journalists.

“TFAS’s ability to connect like-minded, driven individuals will never fail to impress me,” Mauro said. “Making those connections, bouncing ideas off each other and learning the success and hardships other journalists and their publications have been through was a truly rewarding and enriching experience.”

The conference began on Friday evening with a keynote address from Eliana Johnson, editor-in-chief of the Washington Free Beacon. Johnson, who was formerly White House correspondent for POLITICO and Washington editor of National Review, shared her experiences navigating the media landscape and the importance of good reporting. Encouraging the students to learn basic, solid reporting, Johnson remarked:

“It’s important to nurture good writing. We don’t have enough talented reporters who can make an impact… You can be one of those reporters. Plus, it’s a lot of fun.”

Saturday’s packed schedule included sessions led by seasoned journalists including Kate Bachelder Odell, Novak ‘22, from The Wall Street Journal, emphasizing news reporting techniques and opinion writing.

The afternoon featured a career guidance panel with early-to-mid career journalists moderated by Ryan Wolfe, Director of TFAS’s Center for Excellence in Journalism.

The panelists emphasized hard work, resilience and adaptability in the media.

Sunday included a newsroom simulation where students collaborated under pressure, gaining insights and article ideas. In this final simulation, students reflected on their learnings and expressed their gratitude to TFAS and its donors for making this enriching experience possible.

CHICAGO

The second conference took place in Chicago, Illinois, bringing together 17 journalists from universities across the Midwest and Western United States. Students represented publications included Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Claremont McKenna College, Hillsdale College, Stanford University and University of Notre Dame.

The conference kicked off Friday evening with a keynote speech by Noah Rothman, Senior Writer at National Review. In his remarks, Rothman discussed how student journalists can make a significant impact both on their campuses and in the media at large.

Saturday’s schedule began with TFAS alumnus Steve Hayes ’94, Novak ‘00, CEO and Editor of The Dispatch, delivering a talk on “Techniques for Effective News Reporting.” Following Hayes, Christine Rosen, Senior Fellow at AEI, emphasized the importance of opinion writing.

After lunch, students took part in the first activity simulation, which focused on reporting on election year activities.

Sunday’s agenda featured remarks from Anne Marie Tamburro, Student Press & Campus Rights Program Officer at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) on “Legal Literacy for Student Journalists.”

Following Tamburro’s remarks, students engaged in reporting simulations on typical campus events, where they held mock editorial meetings, and practiced news desk assignments, research and source building, editing and rewrites.

The Student Journalism Association and its regional conferences are part of the newly launched Center for Excellence in Journalism. The center is the latest initiative in TFAS’s long history of efforts to advance the field of journalism. TFAS offers world-class journalism training for students and young professionals nationwide. Generous contributions directly empower aspiring journalists like these to become the future storytellers and critical thinkers of our society.

NEW YORK CITY

The final conference, held in New York City, New York, brought together 19 student journalists from the northeast region. Distinguished speakers included TFAS alumnus Tim Carney, Novak ‘03, Senior Political Columnist at the Washington Examiner and Paul Gigot, Vice President of The Wall Street Journal Editorial Pages. Other notable speakers included Michael Moynihan from The Fifth Column podcast, Sierra McClain, Rago ‘23, Jimmy Quinn, Novak ‘23, from National Review and Carine Hajjar, Rago ‘22, from the Boston Globe.

The conference kicked off with a keynote from Tim Carney, Novak ‘03, sharing insights into his journalism career journey and offering guidance for success in the field.

Saturday’s agenda was filled with educational sessions, including a discussion led by Paul Gigot on strategies for journalistic achievement. After lunch, Michael Moynihan provided valuable insights into effective news reporting techniques.

Afternoon sessions featured a panel of young TFAS alumni journalists, including Jimmy Quinn, Carine Hajjar and Sierra McClain, who shared advice from their recent career journeys.

Student Journalism Association member Zach Gardner, managing editor and staff writer for the Princeton Tory, said he was interested by Jimmy Quinn’s national security reporting, especially on China and wanted to hear about Quinn’s sources and insights.

“I was really interested in Jimmy Quinn’s work on topics of national security, particularly China,” said Gardner. “I wanted to hear more about how he has gained his sources, and I was also interested to hear about what he has learned about national security from pursuing stories on his beat.”

Sunday’s program included activity simulations, enabling students to apply their skills and engage in discussions on topics such as campus developments, journalism’s trajectory, and the significance of free speech.

Each weekend conference left student journalists equipped with practical advice and renewed inspiration to pursue their paths as conscientious reporters. These weekend sessions, tied with on campus training, mentorship and funding help future journalists gain the skills necessary to be leaders in the future. TFAS’s Student Journalism Association is committed to supporting a new generation of reporters, writers and editors who are dedicated to truth, accuracy and integrity in journalism.

Investments in the TFAS Center for Excellence in Journalism not only support the professional development of these young individuals, but also nurture the future of a free and informed press – a cornerstone of American democracy.