October 4th, 2026 • 2026: Columbus
Six tips for building a freelance career outside major media hubs
Freelancers don’t have to live in a major metropolitan city like New York, Los Angeles or Washington, D.C., to find meaningful work. Speakers at the SPJ 2026 panel, “How to Build a Freelance Career Outside Major Media Hubs,” shared ways journalists can use their location, relationships and expertise to build freelance careers in smaller markets.
October 4th, 2026 • 2026: Columbus
Protecting the Press: Journalists Urged to Prepare for Threats Before They Happen
Journalists do not have to wait until a threat becomes a crisis to seek help, representatives from four press freedom and journalist safety organizations told SPJ 2026 attendees during a workshop on protecting the press. The session, “How to Protect the Press: A Workshop with Journalists and Press Freedom Groups,” brought together representatives from Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Freedom of the Press Foundation and Crisis Ready Media to discuss physical, digital and legal threats facing journalists.
October 3rd, 2026 • 2026: Columbus
Don’t Let Your Beat Get You Down
For reporters managing beats with lots of ground to cover, staying on top of the news means deciding where to be, who to talk to and what can wait. At an SPJ conference panel, “How To Not Get Beat Up By Your Beat,” on Oct.