Summer Summit

Deborah Douglas | Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications

The Medill Midwest Solutions Journalism Hub invites journalists and media professionals to join our transformative Summer Summit.

303 E Wacker Dr

There's still room. Please email deborah.douglas@northwestern.edu to register directly.

8amPreconference SoJo Meetup | OPTIONALNew to solutions journalism? Join the Medill Midwest Solutions Journalism Hub before the kickoff of the Summer Summit for a grounding in the fundamentals of solutions journalism. This fast-paced, interactive session will support your understanding of concepts shared through the day and at free trainings offered through the Hub throughout the year. 9-9:15amWelcome Remarks 9:15-10:30amConflict As a Force for GrowthRight now, conflict is shaping headlines, policies and communities in ways that can either divide or strengthen us. When this occurs, news media have a unique opportunity to reframe the stories we report and the engagements we support, shifting from high conflict to good conflict.Led by Hub Director Deborah Douglas; Chris Green, executive editor of The Journal at Kansas Leadership Center for the Common Good; and Andrea Faye Hart, a media organizer and chaplain, this 90-minute interactive workshop explores what conflict is really about and provide examples of high and good conflict in news stories. Participants will learn looping, a deep listening technique, and investigate the “understory” during a breakout exploring how to report with nuance, depth and clarity. 10:30-11:15amReal Impact: Journalism That Dismantles Systemic InjusticeJoin us for a compelling dialogue with Chicagoan Robert Johnson, a recent exonree, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Alison Flowers, whose groundbreaking reporting was instrumental in securing Johnson's release from prison. Moderated by Amber Payne, publisher of The Emancipator, this session explores the powerful intersection of solutions journalism and justice reform, offering valuable insights for journalists and storytellers seeking to create meaningful impact by excavating systems that reveal responses that lead to real impact. 11:30am-12:15pmInvestigative Impact: Finding the Right Solutions StoryJoin Pulitzer Prize-winner Tina Rosenberg, co-founder of the Solutions Journalism Network, for a session on integrating rigorous solutions-focused approaches into investigative reporting. Drawing from her extensive experience, Rosenberg will guide participants through:<ul><li>Identifying solutions angles that naturally extend from investigative findings</li><li>Evaluating the credibility and effectiveness of potential solutions</li><li>Maintaining critical perspective while reporting on responses to problems</li></ul>This session is ideal for investigative journalists seeking to expand their reporting toolkit and increase the constructive impact of their work. 12:15-1:15pmLunch 1:30-4:15pmFuture Spin: How We Can Fix the News TogetherOne of the most significant challenges to the survival of a free press has been the failure to invent a more resilient business model. This 2.5-hour firestarter session and interactive workshop challenges journalists to reimagine their role in society — not just as documenters of change, but as catalysts and partners in addressing the systemic challenges to a credible news and information ecosystem. This isn't just a conversation—it's an activation. Facilitated by Flip Labs Founder Cheryl Dahle, a former journalist who works at the intersection of design and social change, participants will step into the role of creative agitator. she will be joined by Candice Fortman, JSK Fellow and Outlier Media board member and Ashir Badami, senior lecturer, leader of Media Management and Leadership at Medill. Max Kabat, founder of goodDog, a brand and business strategy shop, and publisher of The Big Bend Sentinel, a weekly newspaper covering the borderlands region of far west Texas, and The Sentinel, a mixed-use retail ecosystem that supports it, in Marfa, Texas, will join us.Guided by design thinking principles, summit attendees will actively co-create solutions that support a viable news and information ecosystem. The workshop portion engages hands-on prototyping to empower participants to seize ownership of journalism's evolution to drive transformation with a refreshed sense of agency about shaping the media's future. 4:30Closing Remarks This event is supported by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Field Foundation of Illinois and Solutions Journalism Network.

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