– The Nation Fund for Independent Journalism

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, meals 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.

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 The Nation‘s Katrina vanden Heuvel, Bhaskar Sunkara, Elie Mystal, Lizzy Ratner and Dave Zirin, The New School’s Natasha Lennard, author Sarah Aziza, radio host Christina Greer, Betsy Reed (The Guardian US), Richard Kim (THE CITY), Clarissa Leon (Documented), Allegra Kirkland (Teen Vogue), Liza Featherstone (Jacobin) and Luis Feliz Leon (Labor Notes/In These Times), among others. Programming includes an exclusive FOIA training by Ken Klippenstein and small breakout sessions facilitated by Nation editors.

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

In-person applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until 11:59 PM EST, May 5, 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 our hosts at The New School and by the great generosity of the Puffin Foundation.

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

2024 Conference