1:30 PM – Arrival & Registration
Check in, pick up your badge, and connect with fellow alumni, students, and faculty before the program begins.

2:00 PM – Welcome & Opening Remarks
Words of welcome from J-School leadership, including the state of the school and reflections on a rapidly changing journalism landscape.

Remarks by Dean Graciela Mochkofsky. Host Noelle Lilley (‘20) is an Emmy-Award winning reporter covering Harlem for CBS News New York.

2:30 PM – Keynote Conversation — The Rise of the Solo Journalist
How are journalists building independent media brands, earning audience trust, and reshaping the future of news? A dynamic conversation blending candid discussion, video, and audience Q&A featuring Dave Jorgenson, Founder, Local News International — a former Washington Post TikTok journalist, who launched launched the @WashingtonPost TikTok in 2019. Moderated by Simone Sebastian (‘10), Alumni Board Chair and former founding editorial director of Capital B, a nonprofit news organization for Black audiences.

3:30 PM – Break

4:00 PM – Beyond the Byline: Expanding Journalism Careers
Journalism skills travel. This panel explores how storytelling and reporting expertise translate across industries — from academia and investigative research to social media and corporate communications. The panel is moderated by dominic k. mckenzie (‘18), Assistant Professor of Digital Storytelling and Director, Howard University Academy for Media Futures, Howard University, and features Mary Wilson (‘16) and Annais Morales (‘11).

4:45 PM – Career Strategy: Navigating Journalism Today
An open “ask the doctor” format covering career mobility, salary negotiation, freelance vs. staff roles, and building a sustainable journalism career on your own terms. Featuring Michelle Higgins, Assistant Managing Editor, Talent, Wall Street Journal.

Networking Reception
Close out the day with music, drinks, and good company. Visit the swag table and keep the conversations going.