27th International Symposium on Journalism (ISOJ)

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Event: 27th International Symposium on Journalism (ISOJ)
Attending: Dr. Wolf Siegert
Number in Party: 1
Date: Sept. 17-18, 2026
Confirmation Number: 9BN2K7R5JGY

THURSDAY, SEPT. 17, 2026: Journalism, Democracy and Community Trust
Venue: Shirley Bird Perry Ballroom at the University of Texas at Austin (Texas Union)

7:30–8:30 a.m.—REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST

8:30–9:00 a.m.—OPENING INSPIRATION
Rosental Calmon Alves, founder and director, ISOJ/Knight Center
Tom Rosenstiel, Eleanor Merrill Scholar on the Future of Journalism and professor of the practice, University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism

9:00–9:45 a.m.—KEYNOTE
Keynote speaker: Elizabeth Green, CEO and founder, Civic News Company
Moderator: Marisa Kwiatkowski, director of journalism, Knight Foundation

9:45–10:45 a.m.—PANEL
Future of public and non-profit media
Moderator: Luis Patiño, CEO, Austin PBS & Austin City Limits
Sarah Adler Hartman, CEO, The Texas Tribune
Ashley Alvarado, president and CEO, Texas Public Radio
Melissa Bell, CEO, Chicago Public Media
Lauren Gustus, executive editor and CEO, The Salt Lake Tribune

10:45–10:50 a.m.—SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Trei Brundrett, founder-in-residence, New_Public
Melissa Bell, CEO, Chicago Public Media

10:50–11:10 a.m.—COFFEE BREAK

11:10 a.m.–12:10 p.m.—LIGHTNING PRESENTATIONS + DISCUSSION
Rebuilding trust: Community-centered journalism in an age of misinformation, crisis and uncertainty
Moderator: Lynette Clemetson, director, Wallace House Center for Journalists, University of Michigan
Jody Chong, executive director, City Bureau
Martina Guzmán, founder, VERDAD
Vanan Murugesan, executive director, Sahan Journal
Nina Weingrill, journalist and researcher, D.I.G – Democratic Information Governance (Brazil)

12:10–12:40 p.m.—SPOTLIGHT TALKS
Innovating to build community: Live journalism, games and more
Laura Aguirre, co-founder and strategic director, Alharaca (El Salvador/Germany)
Madeleine Bair, founder & co-executive director, El Tímpano
Catarina Carvalho, editor and founder, Mensagem de Lisboa (Portugal)

12:40–2:00 p.m.—LUNCH BREAK

2:00–3:00 p.m.—LIGHTNING PRESENTATIONS + DISCUSSION
Independent and creator journalists and the new information economy
Moderator: Mallary Tenore Tarpley, assistant professor of practice, UT-Austin
Micah Gelman, CEO, Local News International
Liz Kelly Nelson, founder, Project C
Aaron Parnas, independent journalist, The Parnas Perspective

3:00–4:10 p.m.—PANEL
Reporting the U.S. midterms: Domestic and international eyes on democracy
Moderator: David Ryfe, professor, University of Texas at Austin
Bhagyashree Garekar, US bureau chief, The Straits Times (Singapore)
Patrick Svitek, politics reporter, CNN
Macarena Vidal, correspondent, El País (Spain)
Patrick Marley, national reporter, Washington Post
Anna Johnson, Washington bureau chief, The Associated Press

4:10–4:30 p.m.—COFFEE BREAK

4:30–5:15 p.m.—FIRESIDE CHAT
What does it take for journalism to be trusted in a democracy? Lessons from community and local journalism
Adam Ganucheau, executive editor and chief content officer, Deep South Today
Richard Gingras, board chair, Village Media

5:15–5:30 p.m.—SKILL SHARING
Listening as leadership for resilient newsrooms
Luisa Ortiz Pérez, executive director, The Media Resilience Network

5:30–7:00 p.m.—THE MOODY PARTY
A welcome reception offered by the Moody College of Communication in the Texas Union. RSVP is required.