May 2026 Event Calendar: Journalist Events You Shouldn’t Miss
May journalist events will cover freelancing, news deserts, journalist safety, newsletters and more.
Black News 
Welcome to Blogger Events, a monthly column of upcoming blogger and journalist events that we think you should know about. Plan even further ahead and bookmark our page with upcoming events for the entire year.
May is a busy month for journalist-focused events. Event topics this month range from how to manage burnout to the state of news deserts, AI in the newsroom, journalist safety, podcast SEO and more.
Check out the calendar below to find an event perfect for your needs.
May (TBD): Evaluating the impact of research
This will be the fourth and final session of Lenfest Institute’s “Mastering qualitative audience insights” series. It will build on the lessons from the first three sessions (designing research, extracting insights, and building an understanding of the research) and teach attendees how to “track the impact of audience insights on organizational understanding of your audiences and performance of your products.”
May 5: Beyond stress: What journalists should know about burnout
This hour-long webinar, hosted by the American Press Institute, has been held every year since 2023 to mark Mental Health Awareness Month. Attendees will contribute anonymously to a series of prompts to come away with a better understanding of their stress levels, a clearer idea of what’s in (and out) of their control, and practical actions to combat their own unique burnout.
May 6-27: AP Stylebook Workshop 101: Master the Mechanics
One of two AP Stylebook workshops this year, this one will focus on the fundamentals, including punctuation, capitalization, abbreviation, dates and times, numerals, and industry-specific rule adaptations. Attend the live Zoom sessions (2-3 p.m. Eastern on Wednesdays) or watch the recordings. Attendees will get access to the AP Stylebook Online and AP Stylebook Study Guides.
May 7-9: SABEW Annual Conference
The annual conference for the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW) will be held in Philadelphia. “Whether you are a newsroom leader, early/mid-career journalist, academic, student, or PR pro, SABEW’s annual conference is an excellent opportunity to take home new ideas to use in your stories, newsrooms, or classrooms,” the site explains.
May 7: Inside the news desert: A conversation with Nick Mathews
Sign up now for this free virtual session from the Lenfest Communities of Practice. Author Nick Mathews will discuss “what happens when local news disappears, and what that means for the journalists still doing the work.” Learn about changing dynamics in local news, including the journalist-resident relationship and widening gaps in community trust.
May 7: How to use social media to find freelance work
Tim Herrera, author and former The New York Times editor, and freelancer Kaitlyn Arford will lead this 90-minute virtual workshop. Learn how to use social media to find freelance work and build a sustainable business.
May 12: From Creators to Newsrooms: How Young Audiences Are Engaging With News
Join Reuters for this live session that will dive into key findings from the new report, Understanding Young News Audiences at a Time of Rapid Change. “The presentation will explore how young people aged 18–24 engage with news, how their habits and expectations are evolving, and what these shifts mean for journalism today.” A panel will reflect on the findings from the perspectives of traditional newsrooms and creators.
May 12-14: Hacks/Hackers AI x Journalism Summit 2026
The second annual AI x Journalism Summit will welcome 300 participants in Baltimore, Maryland. Over two days, they will explore “how AI supports stronger reporting, smarter workflows and new forms of storytelling.” The hands-on workshops and real-world case studies will provide practical skills and insights for reporters, designers, editors and newsroom product managers.
May 14: How to start and grow a newsletter
Tim Herrera will be joined for this session by Parker Molloy of The Present Age. Attendees will learn about the best newsletter publishing platforms, tips for finding their target audience and promoting their work, and more.
May 14: Journalist Safety Training
The International Women’s Media Foundation will lead this half-day, in-person training at the annual Collaborative Journalism Summit (see below). Develop core skills in personal security, learn to recognize and mitigate risks while covering protests and civil unrest, and receive guidance on personal protection equipment and digital safety. Christina Paia from the Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press will lead a legal know-your-rights session.
May 14-15: Collaborative Journalism Summit
The Collaborative Journalism Summit is celebrating its 10th year of “proving that journalism is stronger when we collaborate.” This year’s event takes place in Philadelphia and features keynotes, lightning talks, breakout sessions, networking opportunities and an award ceremony. The schedule includes sessions like “Fundraising for collaboratives in a tricky media environment,” “Assessing the landscape for creators in the U.S.” and “How advisory panels can drive local news.”
May 15: IWMF Newsroom Safety Across America – Pittsburgh
Following its May 14 safety training in Philadelphia, IWMF will head to Pittsburgh for another session. The workshop will include “customized instruction and live-action training covering risk assessment, personal security, legal protection, mental health care, and more.”
May 15: The Newsletter Conference
The conference for newsletter professionals will feature speakers from The Atlantic, Punchbowl News, Status, Inbox Collective, Morning Brew, Axios and other newsletter experts. Topics will include deliverability, audience engagement, subscriptions, monetization and more. The event will be held at The Times Center in New York City.
May 18-20: 2026 Lenfest News Philanthropy Summit
Hundreds of local news fundraising professionals from around the world will head to Philadelphia for this year’s summit. The event “offers journalism development professionals the chance to connect with peers, participate in hands-on workshops to sharpen their fundraising skills, and gain insights from inspiring keynote speakers.” The full program and schedule will be released soon.
May 20: Podcast SEO Community Call
This virtual session from WTF is SEO? will feature expert insights from SEO, AI visibility and content strategy consultant Steven Wilson-Beales. Learn how to use SEO to boost the visibility and discoverability of your podcast and cover topics like keyword research, meta tags, captions and transcripts.
Coming in June
June 2-5: 79th EWA National Seminar
The annual event from the Education Writers Association (EWA) will be held in Baltimore, Maryland. EWA will “help members understand how stakeholders are affected amid major shifts in federal oversight and funding while also providing training and offering solutions on how to best cover persistent education issues” like declining enrollment and a growing use of AI in the classroom.
