What is the focus?
At this free Local News Summit, we will bring together journalists and newsroom leaders from Mississippi and beyond to explore and exchange creative and innovative practices for reaching new audiences and expanding coverage of under-served communities.
We plan for it to become a regular event that serves as an ongoing support, resource and catalyst for journalistic innovation.
Who will be there?
The summit will include professionals who work in newspapers, online, television and radio, and higher education.
There will also be a chance to meet representatives of national, regional and state foundations and other philanthropic groups, including our new Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation.
In addition, representatives from Press Forward Mississippi, the MacArthur Foundation, Rebuild Local News and the Knight Foundation, some of the biggest national funders of innovative journalism, are already confirmed participants.
These are organizations that want to fund quality journalistic efforts in Mississippi.
In addition, researchers and faculty from in the academic world will be there looking for ways their work can support your journalistic needs and vision for serving the people of Mississippi.
Space is limited, so please register and save June 6-7, 2024, to join us! We will be sending more details soon and updating our website about additional speakers and events, so stay tuned.
For more information, email Ellen Meacham at ebmeacha@olemiss.edu
Schedule of Events
*Our schedule is in progress — Stay tuned for updates on panelists and events!
June 6
3 – 7 p.m. | Registration
4 – 5:30 p.m. | Optional Pre-conference meeting: University – News Partnerships
4 – 5:30 p.m. | Optional Pre-conference meeting #2: Deepfake detection workshop (DeFake Team)
6 – 8 p.m. | Opening reception and Press Forward Mississippi Kickoff
June 7
8 – 8:30 a.m. | Continental breakfast
8:30 – 8:45 a.m. | Welcome and Orientation, Andrea Hickerson, Dean of the School of Journalism and New Media
8:45 – 9:45 a.m. | Panel 1: Covering Mississippi – Challenges and Opportunities
Coffee Break
10 – 11:00 a.m. | Panel 2: Advocating for Journalism in MS
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. | Panel 3: The Journalism Pipeline in MS
12:15 – 1:15 p.m. – Lunch conversation with Jim Brady of the Knight Foundation and Dale Anglin of Press Forward moderated by Dean Andrea Hickerson
1:30 – 2:30 | Panel 4: Innovations in Audience Engagement
Coffee Break
2:45 – 3:45 | Panel 5- Sustaining Journalism in Mississippi
4 – 5:00 p.m. | Closing Plenary: Keeping the Momentum
5 – 7 p.m. – Celebration of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation at the University of Mississippi
