PMJA Regional Professional Development Series
Hosted in partnership with Google News Initiative
Register Now$150 members · $199 non-members
Your audience is everywhere. Here’s how to reach them without burning out your team.
Audiences are consuming news in ways that didn’t exist five years ago, and most newsrooms are trying to adapt with the same small team they’ve always had. The answer isn’t doing more — it’s doing it smarter.
Near + Now Austin is built for journalists, producers, editors, news leaders, and every role in between. You’ll spend the day working through platform-agnostic strategy, hands-on social video production, and practical approaches to repurposing content efficiently across platforms.
Hosted at Google’s Austin offices through the Google News Initiative, the day includes member station showcases, peer problem-solving, and structured action planning so you leave with a specific next step and a peer partner to keep you accountable.
February 23, 2027 (tentative)
Registration and coffee at 8:30 a.m. · Program runs 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The day moves from strategy to production to action: understand your goals, get hands-on with video, learn how to convert content efficiently, and leave with a plan.
We’re in the early stages of planning for Austin. The session arc below reflects our current thinking — details, speakers, and learning objectives will be confirmed and added as the event develops.
The landscape
Where audiences are now and what that means for public media platforms and strategy.
Know your goals
Audience building vs. serving, and a framework for deciding which platforms matter for your newsroom.
Hands-on: social video
Equipment-light production that works. Demos and workflow for teams without dedicated production staff.
Convert & repurpose
Tools and templates for moving content across platforms efficiently. Member stations share what’s working.
Build your plan
Identify your specific next step and pair with an accountability partner before you leave.
A platform strategy built around your newsroom’s actual goals, tools you can use immediately, and a peer partner to keep you accountable.
Google, Austin
Near + Now Austin is hosted at Google’s Austin offices through the Google News Initiative.
Address and building details coming soon.
Plan your trip
By Air
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is about 20 minutes from downtown by car or rideshare.
Rideshare
Lyft and Uber serve Austin reliably. Venue-specific transit details coming with the address.
Building Security
Google’s offices require a valid government-issued photo ID to clear security. Plan to arrive a few minutes early to allow time for check-in.
Hotel
We’re working to arrange a discounted rate at a nearby hotel. Details coming soon.
Dine-Arounds: The Night Before
Optional · Night Before the Event
Dinner with new colleagues before the work begins.
The evening before Near + Now Austin, we’re heading out to dinner. Multiple restaurants within walking and rideshare distance, each one chosen by a local Austin colleague who knows the city well.
Sign up for the restaurant that sounds right to you and you’ll spend the evening at a table of about 10 people. Some you’ll know. Most you won’t. Seating is limited, so sign up early when registration opens.
Five scholarships available for Austin.
Need-based · Two types
Budget constraints at your station shouldn’t determine whether you can be in the room.
Scholarships cover registration, travel costs, or both. When you apply, you indicate what you need — you don’t need to estimate costs. Travel support is available up to $500, awarded based on need and distance.
Priority goes to journalists at small stations (1–5 newsroom staff), those in early career or currently enrolled in journalism or media programs, journalists from communities historically underrepresented in public media, and attendees traveling from outside the region.
Register for Austin
February 23, 2027 (tentative) · Google, Austin, TX
Register Now — $150Attending multiple events? A series pass covers all four for $500. Learn more →
Questions? conference@pmja.org
PMJA Near + Now sponsors
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Corporation for Public Broadcasting
401 9th St NW
Washington, DC 20004Series funding partner
