The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is a free, five-day conference taking place in Washington D.C. this summer. This opportunity helps students with skill-building and networking through an experience that can give accepted applicants a head start on their future careers. The conference accepts one high school student journalist from each state, and all selected students receive many benefits! The application deadline is Sunday, March 23.
Conference Benefits for 51 Selected Students:
- Advice from leading journalists.
- A $1,000 college scholarship.
- A free five-day trip to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., June 22-27, 2025, with hotel, airfare and meal expenses paid.
- Lifelong connections to 50 fellow students from across the country and professionals who share your passions.
- Ongoing support from a community of more than 1,500 program alumni who work at organizations including Apple, ABC News, Amazon, the “Today” show, the U.S. State Department, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY and start-ups such as digital news site The Juggernaut.
The D.C. Experience Includes:
- Tours of city sites such as the D.C. memorials and monuments at night, Capitol Hill, Smithsonian museums and a Potomac River dinner cruise.
- Group dinners and a competitive game night.
- Conference panels and on-site visits.
- Networking with alumni journalists and entrepreneurs at the Free Spirit Alumni and 2025 Class dinner.
- Connecting with thought leaders, influencers, policymakers and journalists at the Free Expression Awards ceremony honoring champions of the First Amendment. Past winners have included Evan Gershkovich, John Lewis, Eric Church, Montana youth climate advocates, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Ava DuVernay.
- Behind-the-scenes tours of D.C. newsrooms. Past visits have included The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, Fox News and C-SPAN.
- Class commencement ceremony.
More than 1,500 Free Spirit Scholars have gone on to work for prestigious organizations including The New York Times and The Washington Post. This is such an excellent learning and growing opportunity for eligible students. For more information about the application process, click here.