Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference

06/24/2024

High school juniors from across the country are here in our nation's capital for a week of learning focused on journalism and the First Amendment. You can follow along for updates from Freedom Forum and Free Spirit scholars themselves using . Here's a thread with highlights from Day 1: https://x.com/1stForAll/status/1804909331525022141

01/09/2024

The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference website features testimonials from alumni about the impact the program had on them.

"The Free Spirit conference showed me what was possible in journalism,” says Abha Bhattarai, from the Class of 2004, now Economics Correspondent at The Washington Post. “It was my first glimpse into the world of real-life reporters and confirmed that my passions — uncovering stories, talking with people, and writing — could become a career. The week in Washington, D.C. was exhilarating, and I left feeling certain that I wanted to be a journalist.”

See more here. https://www.freedomforum.org/al-neuharth-free-spirit-and-journalism-conference/

Make sure to share this page with high school juniors who might benefit from this program!

12/21/2023

The annual Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference for high school juniors returns to the nation’s capital June 22-27, 2024.
The Freedom Forum is pleased to welcome students to a week of activities including panels with top journalists and visits to the U.S. Capitol and other landmarks in Washington, D.C.
Students selected for the program receive an all-expenses-paid trip and a $1,000 scholarship to the college of their choice.
Please help us spread the word to high school juniors before the March 1 deadline!

The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference selects 51 high school juniors from across the country each year for a life-changing conference in Washington, D.C. Participants receive an all-expenses-paid trip and a $1,000 scholarship to the college of their choice.

11/28/2023

Happy GivingTuesday!
Freedom Forum CEO Jan Neuharth explains that all gifts made today will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $30,000, during this giving season!
"Celebrate this giving season with a contribution to ensure the First Amendment remains strong for future generations."
Learn more about the year-end giving match, to support programs including the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, here:

Your gift supporting the work of the Freedom Forum will help foster First Amendment freedoms for all. Act now, and any gift up to $30,000 will be DOUBLED through our matching gift challenge.

11/26/2023

Every year at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, students represent their home states.
So it's always neat to see when alumni return home to make an impact in their community.
Kacie Yamamoto, who represented Hawaii in the class of 2018, is now at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser after graduating from USC in the spring.
It's just one of many examples of Free Spirit alumni pursuing journalism careers, some of them back where it all began!
You can check out Kacie's work here:

Hawaii's top source for breaking news, covering Hawaii news, business, sports, entertainment and weather.

11/16/2023

Congrats to 2023 Free Spirit Talvin Dhingra!

A reporter at The Graphic (Amherst Regional High School, Massachusetts), Talvin was recognized as a finalist for the 2023 Student Freedom of Information Award at this year’s National High School Journalism Convention, for his outstanding public records reporting.

His adviser, Sara Barber-Just, and his team used public records to support powerful stories about transphobia and anti-LGBTQ+ behavior by students and staff at the local middle school as well as broader management issues within the school district. Their reporting led to multiple staff being placed on leave during a Title IX investigation.

We applaud Talvin and his team for his work to foster the First Amendment and student press rights! 👏

11/15/2023

Don't miss this video on the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, featuring several of alumni doing great things in journalism!

11/14/2023

Free Spirit alums! Check out our new promo video for the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. It showcases highlights from this year's conference and the 2023 class.

BIG thank you to Derrell Bouknight, Kyle Rogers, and Maura Judkis for sharing about their experiences as Free Spirits!

11/10/2023

Here's some news from Press Forward, a coalition of funders led by the MacArthur Foundation.

There are so many Free Spirit alumni working in local news - as reporters, editors, and entrepreneurs.

Read on for more on Press Forward's first six local chapters, and big ambitions for raising more funds.

The coalition announced its first six local chapters, and their leading funders, last week.

11/03/2023

This week, we got to see a number of 2023 Free Spirits at this year's Journalism Education Association (JEA) / National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Boston!

We connected with hundreds of high school journalists and their advisers, and the biggest takeaway from the week was that JOURNALISM MATTERS, now more than ever.

11/03/2023

"While the industry endures various challenges, we know that having a caring mentor who has been through similar work and life experiences can make a difference for someone navigating the start of their career."

The Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism has selected 13 fellows from across the United States for this year’s early career mentorship program, provided by the Freedom Forum. Check out the fellows and mentors here!

The Chips Quinn Scholars Program for Diversity in Journalism has selected 13 fellows from across the U.S. for this year’s early career mentorship program.

10/30/2023

"Although the differences among us were quite evident, they were often overshadowed by our similar lived experiences as student journalists. Whether through censorship of content or restrictions on their ability to spotlight injustice in their respective schools, each of my classmates recounted moments when they felt as though their voice was not heard.

As I listened to their experiences, the importance of maintaining student press freedoms became clear to me."

Check out this SNO Sites article from Free Spirit, Riana Mahtani, about her experience from the 2023 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference.

Riana Mahtani is the 2023 Florida representative at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. She is a senior at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Riana is the executive producer at Pine Crest Television Network, and she is also the News/Opinion section editor on the PC Paw Prin...