9 AM to 6 PM Friday, Oct. 23
Pocahontas Greadington Learning & Creativity Center (Lower Level 2)
Tulsa Central Library, 400 Civic Center, Tulsa
9:00-9:10 AM – Opening & Welcome (light breakfast served)
Setting the stage: 250 years of press freedom and what’s at stake for Oklahoma today. Emceed by Brenna Rose, anchor at KTUL.
9:15-10:00 AM – “Modern Iran’s Quest for Freedom/How Is the U.S. Shaping That Future?” Yeganeh “June” Torbati, Iran correspondent from the New York Times via Zoom from Turkey, moderated by Ellen Knickmeyer, award-winning foreign policy and national security reporter for The Associated Press.
10:05-11:00 AM – “Are We Truly Free 250 Years Later? The Ramifications of AI and Polarization on Our First Amendment Freedoms.” Panel moderated by Griffin Media’s Scott Mitchell: Leslie Briggs, the Oklahoma attorney for Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; Wendy Suares, evening anchor and investigative journalist at KOKH Fox 25; and Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association.
11:30 AM-1 PM – Keynote Luncheon – “From Tulsa to the Washington Post: David Fallis on How Investigative Journalism Serves the Public’s Right to Know,” introduced by Ziva Branstetter, CEO of the Tulsa Flyer.
AFTERNOON TRAINING SESSIONS, PANELS, WORKSHOPS 1:15-3:30 PM
Emceed by Griffin Media’s Bianca Harris, president of the National Association of Black Journalists-Tulsa.
1:15-2:10 PM – First Concurrent Journalism Training Sessions
Session A: “So You Want To Be A Reporter” – Boot camp training for rookie and early-year storytellers led by consultant Jason Collington, former Tulsa World editor, with business reporter Ismael Lele with the Tulsa Flyer, reporter Ashton Slaughter with the Tulsa World and KOKH Fox 25 evening anchor and investigative journalist Wendy Suares, introduced by Jerry Goodwin, associate professor of mass communication at Tulsa Community College and TCC Connection faculty adviser.
Session B in Aaronson Auditorium (Lower Level 1): “New Engagement in Our Digital Future,” with Missouri School of Journalism Associate Professor Joy Jenkins, co-author of the U.S. page of the annual Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism Digital News Report and incoming research director at Reynolds Journalism Institute, and Yvette Walker, opinion editor of The Kansas City Star, explaining the latest research findings and new community engagement strategies.
2:30-3:30 PM – Second Concurrent Journalism Sessions
Session C: “Tips for Developing Sources for Government Coverage” – Training with seasoned journalists, including KOSU state government reporter Lionel Ramos, Clifton Adcock, investigative reporter for The Frontier, Paul Monies, reporter covering state agencies and public health at Oklahoma Watch, and Janelle Stecklein, editor of Oklahoma Voice, introduced by Earl Johnson, vice president of recruitment and alumni engagement at Report for America.
Session D in Aaronson Auditorium (Lower Level 1): Working Group: “Newsrooms Implementing Ethical Policies” – Working group of multimedia journalists will hold a roundtable discussion on AI newsroom policies. Participants will review newsroom policies, hear research findings and discuss common standards. The session will use an academic researcher, notetaker and moderator. The goal is to produce three to five useful policy recommendations for Oklahoma newsrooms.
3:30-4:00 PM – Networking (Beverages served)
4:00-6:00 PM – FOI, OMC, SPJ Joint Awards Ceremony (heavy hors d’oeuvres and alcohol served)
A festive celebration honoring Oklahoma journalism excellence with FOI Oklahoma, SPJ Oklahoma Pro Chapter and Oklahoma Media Center presenting awards jointly. Coordinated by SPJ, FOI Okla. and OMC.
NOTE: We’re selling tiered sponsorships and sponsored tickets to allow journalism students/faculty/professionals to attend the event FREE OF CHARGE. Support the Summit by donating to OMC now, or contact Executive Director Rob Collins for more information at rob@oklahomamediacenter.com.