PMJA Regional Professional Development Series
Hosted in partnership with Google News Initiative
Register Now$150 members · $199 non-members
AI isn’t coming. It’s already in your newsroom. The question is whether you’re using it well.
Every public media journalist is navigating the same moment: tools that can genuinely help sitting next to real risks, unclear policies, and a lot of noise about what AI means for the industry.
Near + Now New York City cuts through that noise. Journalists, producers, editors, news leaders, and every role in between spend the day getting practical: what responsible use actually looks like, which tools are worth your time, how to build the policies your newsroom needs, and what happens when things go wrong.
Hosted at Google’s New York offices through the Google News Initiative, this event includes hands-on time with tools and real case studies from newsrooms that have been figuring this out in the open.
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Registration and coffee at 8:30 a.m. · Program runs 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The day moves from landscape to practice: start with the big picture, go deep on responsible use, learn from real projects, learn from real mistakes, and leave with a plan for your own newsroom.
The landscape
How AI is changing search, news consumption, and the industry. What the real risks and opportunities look like for public media specifically.
Responsible use
Where AI genuinely saves time, where it creates risk, and how to build the policies and workflows your newsroom needs to use it well.
Hands-on: what’s working
Case studies from newsrooms doing interesting things with AI, followed by dedicated hands-on time building with tools. You’ll leave having actually used something, not just heard about it.
What went wrong
Real examples of AI implementations that failed or damaged trust. The lessons, and how to apply them before you’re in that situation.
Build your plan
Identify one change or decision you’ll make when you get back to the newsroom. Pair with an accountability partner before you leave.
A clear-eyed view of what AI can and can’t do for your newsroom, the frameworks to act on it responsibly, and a peer partner who’ll follow up when you’re back at your desk.
Google, New York City
Near + Now New York City is hosted at Google’s New York offices through the Google News Initiative, a global program supporting the future of journalism.
Sessions take place in Google’s Chelsea offices.
Plan your trip
By Air
New York is served by three major airports: JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), and Newark (EWR). Subway and rideshare options connect all three to Manhattan.
By Train
Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal serve Amtrak and regional rail from across the Northeast. Both connect directly to the subway.
Getting Around
The NYC subway is the most reliable way to get around. Lyft and Uber are also widely available. 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: Tuesday, September 8
Optional · Night Before the Event
Dinner with new colleagues before the work begins.
On the evening of Tuesday, September 8, we’re heading out to dinner. Multiple restaurants within walking and rideshare distance, each one chosen by a local New York 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 New York City.
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 New York City
Wednesday, September 9, 2026 · Google, 85 Tenth Avenue, Chelsea, NYC
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
