What’s Coming: Journalist Events in August
Welcome to Blogger Events, a monthly column of upcoming blogger and journalist events that we think you should know about. Plan even further ahead and bookmark our page with upcoming events for the entire year.
Plan ahead with these events for journalists in August. Topics include leadership skill building, the latest uses of AI in the newsroom, census reporting and strategies to combat news fatigue.
Aug. 4-25: Adaptive Leadership Skills for First-Time Managers
This is a 4-week interactive virtual course from the Online News Association. It’s designed for new managers in their first two years in a management role, but more experienced managers in need of a reset are also encouraged to attend. Come away with a personalized leadership strategy and have a clear understanding of how to “build creative, collaborative and resilient teams ready to adapt to shifting conditions facing the journalism field now and in the future.”
Aug. 12-16: NABJ Convention & Career Fair
Head to Atlanta for the 50th anniversary of the NABJ 2026 Convention & Career Fair. Hundreds of training sessions, workshops, entertainment and networking events will fill the schedule. The NABJ Career Fair is the country’s largest career expo for Black journalists and media professionals.
Aug. 14: Using AI in innovative ways to reach new audiences
This webinar is the second in The Business of Journalism in the Age of AI series from The University of Maryland. As audience engagement through search engines shrinks, professors from Merrill College will take this time to demonstrate new, AI-driven ways to boost engagement.
Aug. 18-20: LMA Fest 2026
Local Media Fest heads to Chicago this year. Attend sessions on local advertising, ways to reach younger audiences, Google Analytics training, AI’s impact on local news, data protection and more.
Aug. 26: Beat Academy: Reporting the 2030 Census
It’s not too early to start talking about and planning your reporting for the 2030 Census. During this free webinar from Poynter, hear from leading census experts and journalists about the report’s effects on politics and federal funding, where to find reliable census experts, historic problems with undercounts, and much more.
Aug. 27-Oct. 1: Lead with Influence (deadline to apply July 27)
During this six-session interactive course, Poynter will teach “informal but influential leaders the skills and strategies to turn workplace challenges into career opportunities.” Learn about your own leadership style and how best to work with other styles. You’ll practice how to give and receive feedback, apply empathy, and navigate work and your wellbeing with intention.
Aug. 31-Sept. 30: Edit to Elevate: Essentials for New Editors
This series from Poynter will feature an introductory session on Aug. 31 and 90-minute sessions each Wednesday through Sept. 30. Experts will provide practical strategies for new editors to guide their reporters from pitch to published story. Strengthen your line-editing skills, develop your sense of purpose as an editor and more.
Coming in September
Sept. 2: Bringing Readers Back: Real-World Tactics for Combating News Fatigue
During this hour-long session from the Online News Association, Angela Pacienza, Executive Editor at The Globe and Mail, and journalism consultant Jennifer Kho will dive into case studies examining the current state of news avoidance. They’ll provide “tactics and strategies to make their offerings more friendly and relatable, including creating entire new beats, broadening the scope of alerts, and re-thinking what makes an audience-first story mix.”
Sept. 9-11: Independent News Sustainability Summit
San Diego will welcome hundreds of local independent online news leaders and supporters for this year’s summit, hosted by LION Publishers. Expert-led presentations, interactive workshops and engaging peer-to-peer discussions will focus on LION’s three pillars of sustainability: operational resilience, financial health and journalistic impact. Hear from the community about “knowledge, hard-won lessons, and actionable advice on running a sustainable news business.”
Sept. 9-30: AP Writing Workshop: Storytelling for Any Platform
Sign up now for this four-part online course, during which AP writers and editors will “show you how effective writing – and the things that go into it – can point the way toward better outcomes in your own writing.” Come away with a better understanding of the foundations of reporting and start becoming a better communicator by developing your writing and editing skills.
Did we miss an event? Email the team and let us know so we can add it to our full list of upcoming events for journalists and bloggers.
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Rocky Parker is the Manager of Audience and Journalist Engagement at Cision PR Newswire. She's been with the company since 2010 and has worked with journalists and bloggers as well as PR and comms professionals. Outside of work, she can be found trying a new recipe, binging a new show, or cuddling with her pitbull, Hudson.
