This urgent national conference will bring together leading voices to address one of the most pressing challenges facing our democracy: restoring trust in American journalism. Through thoughtful dialogue and solution-driven conversations, participants will examine how media, technology and public perception intersect — and what it will take to rebuild credibility and strengthen the role of a free press in civic life.

Adam Kinzinger, from Illinois, who served six terms in the House, was one of only two Republicans on the January 6th Committee. He is the founder of the Country First movement with 100,000+ members.

Democrat Joseph Kennedy III of Massachusetts, served eight years in the House and subsequently was appointed U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland. He is one of the founders of the  Groundwork Project, which does advocacy work in Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

Other speakers and panelists scheduled for the April 17 conference include: Brian Stelter, CNN’s chief media analyst; Chris R. Vaccaro, the national president of the Society of Journalists; Clayton Weimers, executive director of RSF USA; Rufus Friday, executive director of the Center for Integrity in News Reporting and the former publisher of the Lexington Herald-Leader; Graeme Joffee, investigative sports journalist; Professor Kathy Kiely of the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri; Ellen McCarthy, the founder/CEO of the Trust in Media Cooperative and a former U.S. assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research; André Natta, executive director of the Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism; Wesley Muller, a staff writer at the Louisiana Illuminator and a former U.S. Army paratrooper; Vivian Walker, co-president of the Public Diplomacy Council of America, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and former executive director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy.

Designed for journalists, students, educators, policymakers, civic leaders and engaged citizens, this event invites all who care about the future of news and its impact on our nation.

The full list of panel times and speakers can be found on our website.