A PMJA Regional Professional Development Series · August 2026 – March 2027
Near + Now
You don’t have to go far to go further.
Four cities. Four focused topics. Each event is one full day of learning built around the work you’re already doing — and the colleagues who know exactly what that’s like. You’ll leave with more than notes. You’ll leave with a plan.
events
to home
at every event
$200
per event.
Registration opens May 1 for all four events.
If you make public media journalism happen, you belong here.
Near + Now is designed for everyone on the team — reporters, producers, hosts, editors, podcasters, digital leads, audience specialists, and every role that’s emerged in the last five years and still doesn’t have a clean title. One day. Close to home. At a price that doesn’t require a budget conversation. That’s not an accident. It’s the whole point.
Near + Now is how PMJA is delivering on its mission in 2026–27 — replacing our traditional annual conference with something more accessible, more affordable, and closer to where you actually work.
You report, produce, or edit
Feel inspired and learn skills you can use the next day.
You lead a team
Bring your people, or come alone to connect with peers from across the region. Either way, you’re not just going for yourself.
You work across platforms
Your expertise belongs in the room and shapes what everyone takes home.
You’re two years in or twenty
This is peer learning. Lean on each other as you discuss problems and find solutions.
Every Near + Now event follows the same arc.
No matter which event you attend or what the topic is, here’s what you can count on from the moment you walk in.
Lay the groundwork
Set the context for the day: why this topic matters right now, and what the field is actually doing about it.
Dive deep
Learn the core concepts you’ll be applying throughout the day’s activities.
Station examples
Real newsrooms. Real decisions. See how peers are applying these ideas with the constraints you recognize.
Peer exchange
Learn from the people in the room. Every day has structured time for sharing what’s actually working.
Action + accountability
You’ll leave with an action plan and a peer partner who’ll follow up when you’re back in the newsroom. Think: inspiration AND implementation.
Every Near + Now event ends with structured action planning and a peer accountability partner. We build this into the schedule because we believe professional development that doesn’t change anything isn’t worth the day away from the newsroom.
Four events. Four topics. Bringing the learning to you.
Registration opens May 1 for all four events.
The unglamorous work — the systems, the coordination, the processes that make great journalism possible — deserves the same attention we give the journalism itself. This event is for everyone who keeps the machine running and wants to do it better, smarter, and with less friction.
- Lay the groundwork: what operational excellence actually means in public media
- Dive deep: systems and processes that stick under deadline pressure
- Station examples from peers who’ve made changes and can show you the results
- Peer exchange: what’s working, what keeps breaking, and what others wish they’d done sooner
- Action planning: build a plan you’ll put to work the moment you’re back and pair with a peer who’ll hold you to it
Under $200 per person · Scholarships available for every event
Questions? Contact us.
Feel like AI is everywhere you look? This event is about understanding its place in the newsroom and the ethics and workflows that requires. This isn’t a jargon-filled tech conference. Just journalists helping each other figure out practical, responsible ways to work smarter when budgets are tight and audiences demand more.
- Lay the groundwork: discover what’s real and what’s just hype
- Dive deep: AI tools you can use today with the ethical frameworks to use them responsibly
- Station examples from colleagues already using emerging tech
- Peer exchange: create guidelines and start applying new tools
- Action planning: your AI roadmap and a peer partner to keep you honest
Registration opens May 1.
Your audience is everywhere. Your bandwidth isn’t. This event helps you build a platform strategy that’s actually sustainable, not just aspirational.
Full session details and speakers announced soon.
Registration opens May 1.
Data tells you who’s listening. Community relationships tell you why it matters. This event bridges both, turning audience intelligence into journalism that deepens trust.
Full session details and speakers announced soon.
Registration opens May 1.
Not near these cities? We know Near + Now doesn’t reach everyone yet, and we don’t take that lightly. Scholarships are available at every event to help offset travel costs, and virtual learning extensions are in development. Sign up for PMJA updates to stay in the loop.
Stay close.
Registration details, speaker announcements, and scholarship information come through PMJA’s regular channels. Here’s where to watch — and how to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Interested in supporting Near + Now? Learn about sponsorship opportunities.
PMJA Near + Now sponsors
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Corporation for Public Broadcasting
401 9th St NW
Washington, DC 20004Series funding partner
