For only the second time since 2019, the annual Puffin Nation Fund Student Journalism Conference is back in-person hosted by The New School in Manhattan! The event convenes speakers from the most dynamic independent media outfits nationwide to talk to student journalists about the history, role and craft of journalism through workshops, discussions, seminars, video screenings, breakout sessions, networking opportunities and a party. 

There are also focused opportunities to learn about writing for StudentNation, applying for internships at The Nation and other related resources for journalists starting their careers.

The proceedings will be live-streamed and will include exclusive virtual programming for remote participants. There are only 100 in-person spots so apply early, if interested.

The conference is entirely free of charge for all accepted applicants. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and an evening reception are included. Travel reimbursements (within the US) and a finite number of free housing spots for two nights in a New School residence hall are available. All attendees, both in-person and virtual, receive free Nation subscriptions and student journalism resource kits. 

Speakers include Katrina vanden Heuvel, Dave Zirin, Elie Mystal Luis Feliz Leon and Bhaskar Sunkara, among many others to be announced soon.

Eligibility
The conference is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at two and four-year schools in the United States. High school students and students studying outside of the U.S. are encouraged to participate in the live stream.

Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:

• A cover letter (250 words or less) explaining why they want to attend
• One published piece of journalism (link is acceptable)
• A resume

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until midnight EST, May 1, 2025. Act fast if you want to attend in-person. Application materials should be in Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) format, should include a request for housing and travel reimbursement if desired, and should be emailed to studentconf@thenationfund.org. (Funding requests have absolutely no bearing on applications.) Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants will be informed of their status within two weeks of their submission. For more information, email studentconf@thenationfund.org.

This conference is made possible by the great generosity of the Puffin Foundation.

You can see images and videos of the 2024 conference below:

2024 Conference