Al Neuharth Free Spirit Alumni

The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is in its 23rd year and going strong! We are doing some housekeeping and will be closing this page.

Find us over on our Facebook here!: https://www.facebook.com/free.spirit.journalism.conference/

Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference The purpose of the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is to promote the vital role of the First Amendment as a cornerstone of democracy, and to inspire students to pursue journalism careers.

Marion County Record Newspaper Raid Should Concern Us All The Marion County Record newspaper raid raises questions: When can police search newsrooms? When does the First Amendment protect journalists?

"In my week representing Texas at the 2023 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, I made 50 friends and so many memories: our fun sightseeing nights taking crazy pictures, our wildly active group chat, some amazing chocolate mousse and the raucous boat party.

Amid the fun and bonding, I dined with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa, heard from talented media professionals, learned about the legacy of Al Neuharth, got a breakdown of press freedom, and much more.

My lessons from the week are best boiled down to this: Focus on what’s in your control, do your best and don’t worry about the outcome. "

READ MORE HERE:

What a Chronic Aspirer Learned as a Free Spirit Scholar Four takeaways from a student scholar who attended the 2023 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference.

Do you have any professional or career updates you’d like to share? We’d love to spotlight you in the next edition of our Free Press Bulletin newsletter!

Email us your professional updates along with your name, Free Spirit class year and state at [email protected].

It's Friday, Free Spirits! That's a good reason to smile.

Pictured: 2012 Free Spirit alum, Joon Lee, and 2023 Illinois representative, Tomas Moran

Photo Credit: Malek Naz Freidouni

We honor Free Spirits everywhere who dream, dare, do and who courageously exercise their rights to express themselves, spark conversations and inspire action.

In the famous words of USA TODAY founder Al Neuharth, “When the voices of democracy are silenced, freedom becomes a hollow concept. No man or woman should be sentenced to the shadows of silence for something he or she has said or written.”

Did you know that the Freedom Forum has initiatives to help journalists at every stage of their career?

While the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism program is an opportunity for high school students, the Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism is a mentorship program for early career journalists. Founded in 1991, the program originally placed diverse journalists into newsroom internships and has now evolved to address a critical industry need — mentorship.

The program relaunches this fall where we will pair 12 early career journalists (with up to five years of experience) with Chips Quinn alumni mentors. Fellows and their mentors will attend in-person training in Washington, D.C., Oct. 20 - 22 to learn power skills, including work/life sustainability and self-advocacy. Our goal is to help retain diverse talent in the industry.

To learn more, check out the Chips Quinn Scholars Program here:

Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism - Freedom Forum Class of 2019 (Anne Bailey/Freedom Forum) About The Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism, an initiative of the Freedom Forum, provides mentorship and training for early career journalists.…

Free Spirit alumni, The Freedom Forum and Dow Jones News Fund
invite you to the virtual program "The Increasing Threats: Facing Journalists Worldwide" on Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 12:30 p.m. –1:45 p.m.

The program will provide firsthand accounts of how journalists bear witness to critical stories and the threats they sometimes face in war zones or repressive regimes. In addition, participants will leave with a better understanding of how the First Amendment provides protections to journalists that are not universal.

To learn more and RSVP, click here:

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: The Increasing Threats Facing Journalists Worldwide . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. The Freedom Forum and the Dow Jones News Fund present a conversation on the importance of international reporting and the dangers journalists face both here and abroad. The program will amplify the story of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich who has been detained in Russia since March 202...

After three years online, the 2023 Free Spirit Conference was HUGE a success! In June, students from across the country gathered in the heart of D.C. for a week of programs centered on journalism, free press and first amendment. All 50 states + D.C. were represented, and we had robust programming with 45 speakers from WSJ, Washington Post, New York Times, ESPN and USA TODAY.

Check out one quote from a 2023 scholar that sums up the conference best:

"This was such an amazing conference and an experience that I will never forget. It was well-organized with a variety of activities and panelists that filled me with inspiration and motivation to break my way through the field and make my own mark. I found Al Neuharth’s story to be so important and his innovative mind to be ever-important in this changing world. I will forever be grateful for this amazing opportunity, and it will guide me through the rest of my career, no matter where I end up."

Photo Credit: Malek Naz Freidouni

Free Spirit Alumni!

The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is back in person after three years online. We’d love for you to join us virtually for this year’s alumni panels. You will find the Zoom information below to view our two alumni panels, which include:

- Journalism 101: How to Get Your Foot in the Door from 9:45-10:45 a.m. EDT
- Beat to Your Own Drum: Understanding Beat Journalism from 11 a.m.-noon EDT
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: June 27, 2023, 9:45 a.m. to noon, EDT (US and Canada)
Topic: 2023 Alumni Panels Free Spirit Conference

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://freedomforum-org.zoom.us/j/82513629615?pwd=YjBOMS9sZG8rZWZGakZWWDR3UjFWZz09

Passcode: 195102