Stakes of the Story

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SPJ Region 2 Conference 2026

April 18

Check in starts at 11 a.m. 

Lunch with keynote speaker begins at noon

(check this site often as details are subject to change)

Journalists today face profound challenges. Press freedom is under pressure around the world, misinformation spreads rapidly, all while the media landscape continues to evolve at breakneck pace. At the same time, the need for strong, ethical journalism has never been greater.

The SPJ Region 2 Conference brings together journalists, students, editors, and media professionals from across SPJ’s Region 2 for a day of conversations, workshops, and connection centered on this year’s theme: Stakes of the Story. As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the conference will explore the enduring role journalism plays in informing the public and strengthening democracy.

Throughout the day, participants will engage with leading journalists and educators on critical issues shaping the profession—from misinformation and investigative tools to storytelling that informs communities and holds power to account. The conference offers an opportunity to sharpen skills, exchange ideas, celebrate award-winning journalism and, importantly, connect with others committed to the craft and responsibility of journalism.

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Schedule

11:00 AM Registration opens at VCU’s Academic Learning Common 

12:00-1:15 PM Keynote and luncheon Academic Learning Common

1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Session A Workshops at VCU’s Robertson School of Communications

• Vertical Leap: How to connect with audiences through short videos
• Going Solo: You don’t need a job at a news organization to make a living as a journalist
• Pushing Past the FOIA Wall: Data Centers, ICE and Criminal Justice records 

3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Session B Workshops at Robertson School of Communications

• Internship-to-Job Pipeline: You need a newsroom internship to break into the news business. This session will show you how to get one.
• Post Post: After The Washington Post laid off more than 300 employees, eliminating its sports desk and cutting back on local news, other media organizations mobilized to help fill the gaps in coverage.
• AI – aye yi yi! How to harness the power of artificial intelligence to improve your journalism and make yourself more marketable.

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mark of Excellence awards at VCU’s Academic Learning Common 

5:30-6:30 p.m. Reception at VCU’s Academic Learning Common 

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Keynote with Eric Deggans

Eric Deggans is the Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, overseeing classes on media issues, ethics and journalism. He also serves as a critic-at-large at NPR, moving into this role in 2025 after serving nearly 12 years as the first full-time TV critic hired by the network, also contributing as a media analyst and guest host.

Eric is also a guest instructor and member of the National Advisory Board for the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, FL, appearing as guest host, interviewer or pundit on shows for CNN, MSNBC, PBS and other outlets. He came to NPR from the Tampa Bay Times newspaper in Florida, where he served as TV/Media Critic and in other roles for nearly 20 years. A professional journalist since 1990, he is the author of Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation, a look at how prejudice, racism and sexism fuels some elements of modern media, published in October 2012 by Palgrave Macmillan.

A native of Gary, Indiana, Eric was inducted in 2024 into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame. He has also served as a moderator for discussions organized by the Smithsonian Institution, the National Endowment for the Arts, The National Book Festival, the Chautauqua Institute and the South By Southwest conference. He has earned the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Indiana University – the institution’s highest alumni honor. In 2019, Eric became the first African American to serve as chairman for the jurors who select the George Foster Peabody Awards for excellence in electronic media at the University of Georgia; his one-year tenure capped a total six years he served on the board of jurors.

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Getting Here

Registration, keynote and luncheon, awards ceremony will take place at VCU’s Academic Learning Common building

Street parking is available on Cary Street and Main Streets, and nearby side streets. Parking also available at the West Main Street Parking Garage: 801 West Main Street, Richmond VA 23284

Workshops will take place at VCU’s Robertson School of Communications