PHOTO: David Rubenstein Forum, 1201 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
Connecting Media & Community
Welcome!
Reframing Purpose, Possibility, and Partnerships.
A One-Day Conference Presented by Public Narrative
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
David Rubenstein Forum, 1201 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
Workshop Descriptions
Morning Breakout Sessions | 11:15 A.M. - 12:15 P.M.
Click each section for details
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Between documentary filmmaking and journalism sits the question: what is our responsibility to subjects and how do we demonstrate integrity in our work? As trust in traditional media sources falters, filmmakers and journalists alike are asked to navigate questions of authorship, consent, and accountability. This panel will bring together leading voices across film and media to unpack the ideals and practicalities behind reporting, filmmaking, and community care.
We’ll explore questions such as:
How do we balance access with empathy?
When does storytelling become extraction?
What frameworks can guide ethical collaboration between storytellers and the communities whose lives are represented?
Presenters: Stacy Robinson, Artisitc Director, Kartemquin Films, Sarah Conway, Investigative Journalist, Invisible Institute, Morgan Elise Johnson, Co-Founder/Publisher, The TRiiBE, Gordon Quinn, Founder/Senior Advisor, Kartemquin Films
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Misinformation now spreads faster than facts, and public trust in institutions, business, government, and the nonprofit sector is more fragile than ever. One wrong message or moment of silence can redefine an organization’s reputation overnight. In this timely session, crisis communications expert and author Bradley Akubuiro joins communications strategist Sarah Rand for a candid conversation about how to lead and communicate effectively in today’s high-stakes environment.
Drawing from his forthcoming book Faster. Messier. Tougher., Akubuiro will share lessons from front-line crisis communications experience and explore what authenticity, transparency, and speed mean in 2025 and beyond. We’ll unpack how organizations rooted in purpose can stay credible, mission-driven, and connected to the communities they serve when navigating controversy or crisis.
This conversation will equip participants with concrete strategies to anticipate reputational risks, build internal alignment, and communicate with clarity and compassion, especially when stakes are high and scrutiny is intense.
Presenters: Sarah Rand, Principal, Sarah Rand Strategies and Bradley Akubuiro, Partner, Bully Pulpit International
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Journalism is a calling that demands truth‑telling, yet the pursuit of truth often takes an unseen toll on those who seek. In an era where nearly a third of reporters report declining mental health and burnout is treated as a rite of passage, this session invites participants to reimagine the newsroom as a sanctuary; a place where rigorous reporting coexists with restorative practices and various healing modalities. We will explore a duty‑of‑care framework that prioritizes healing, mental health and communal accountability. Drawing from healing traditions and trauma‑informed journalism, we’ll show how intentional breathwork, reflective circles and consent-driven interviews can support reporters and communities without sacrificing content. We’ll discuss how unaddressed trauma repeats itself in the body and on the page, and we’ll also discuss how transparent follow up and respectful listening fosters trust building which leads to more truthful stories. Lastly, the purpose of this session is to demonstrate that protecting our storytellers is not a luxury but a necessity for ethical, rigorous journalism. Participants will leave with concrete practices for balancing deadlines with self‑care, and with a renewed sense of journalism as an act of love and cultural preservation, rooted in Black thought, community tradition and respect for all humanity.
Presenter: Pilar Audain, Director, TRHT
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Spanish-language journalism plays an essential role in informing, representing, and empowering Chicago’s Latino communities—yet the landscape is shifting rapidly. This session brings together leading voices to explore the urgency of sustaining and expanding Spanish news coverage at a moment when local outlets are disappearing.
Presenters: Jesús Del Toro, La Raza, Fernando Díaz, Marcela Cartagena
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As AI reshapes how information is created, shared, and trusted, media and communications professionals face new challenges and unprecedented opportunities. The panel will explore recent evolutions in generative and traditional AI, what we know about its risks like environmental and energy impacts, promising applications of the technology, and how AI is influencing content creation. This panel will interest everyone navigating the intersection of technology and storytelling.
Presenters: Carl Hertz, Director, Cyber Security, Elevate, Jon Powell
Afternoon Breakout Sessions I | 2:15 P.M. - 3:15 P.M.
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If there’s one certainty in messaging strategy, it’s that a crisis is always a matter of when, not if. In early 2025, Illinois Humanities lost nearly one-third of its funding due to federal cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Using this real-world example as its core case study, the session explores the fundamentals of crisis communications, from navigating today’s fast-moving media landscape to identifying and addressing misinformation. It also covers how to craft narratives that build trust and establish certainty with your audiences. Attendees will gain practical tools to sharpen their messaging strategy and respond effectively when a crisis hits. Whether you're preparing for the unexpected or already navigating turbulent situations, this session will equip you to communicate with clarity, build trust, and reinforce your organization’s values.
Presenters: Diego Villegas, Manager of Marketing and Communications, Illinois Humanities
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Using techniques from the Civic Actor Studio, participants will get to know one another through storytelling. Designed to spark curiosity and build new relationships between journalists and non-profit leaders, this workshop will leave participants feeling seen, heard and celebrated.
Presenters: Joanie Friedman, Executive Director of Civic Leadership, Office of Civic Engagement, University of Chicago, Derrick Fleming
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The historic adage, “all news is local,” comes into question in today’s media environment. A recent Medill study finds that 50 million Americans lack local news access.
Yet, neighbors remain hungry for trustworthy information. They want to know what’s happening, who’s leading what -- and why – in the community where they live, where they have a voice, and where they can act.
Can print still work then at the local level? How and why might it yet succeed? This session will explore this and share the benefits and challenges of today's community news ecosystem.
Presenters: Jane Lawicki, Reporter, Inside Publications; Principal JFT LOFT | Strategic Communications, Jesús Del Toro, Director & General Manager / La Raza Newspaper, Chicago Editorial Director / La Opinión de la Bahía, San Francisco, Ron Roenigk, Editor and Publisher, Inside Publications, Malik Jackson, Executive Director, South Side Weekly
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With the influx of federal immigration agents and troops in Chicago, it has become more important than ever for journalists, especially those who are immigrants, to understand their rights when reporting. Recently, Chicago Headline Club and a coalition of media organizations sued the federal government, seeking an injunction to bar federal agents from, among other things, indiscriminately using chemical weapons against journalists. The events giving rise to this lawsuit—as well as agents’ subsequent failure to follow the resulting court order—highlight the extraordinary challenges facing journalists in Chicago.
This bilingual workshop will provide an overview of your rights as an immigrant journalist in the United States, exploring the unique intersection between the First Amendment and immigration laws. First Amendment and immigration attorneys with ProJourn will share practical tips and resources to help protect citizen and noncitizen journalists in the U.S. while reporting on the ground, including during protests. Additionally, we will share free resources available to newsrooms when requesting records from immigration and other federal agencies.
Please note that this session will provide general guidance, not legal advice.
Presenters: Audrey Tanenbaum of Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Julia Darcy, Alejandra Cancino
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In a time of deep division and shifting narratives, understanding what communities truly think, feel, and need is more critical than ever. This session explores how quarterly data collection efforts—led by researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago using the ChicagoSpeaks probability-based survey panel—are uncovering powerful trends about Chicagoans and offering a new lens for media, nonprofits, and civic leaders to engage with the public.
We’ll share emerging findings from recent surveys, discuss what they reveal about underrepresented voices, and explore how accessible, community-centered data can inform storytelling, strengthen media literacy, and guide mission-driven programming. The presentation will highlight how data can be used not just for analysis, but as a tool for connection, trust-building, and impact.
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to tap into local insights, use data to elevate authentic narratives, and build sustainable partnerships across sectors. This session is ideal for those seeking to bridge the gap between media and community, and to reframe how we listen, respond, and collaborate in service of a more informed and empowered Chicago.
Presenters: Ashani Johnson-Turbes, Vice President, NORC at the University of Chicago, Jacob Stolmeier, Vince Welch
Afternoon Breakout Sessions II | 3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
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In an era of digital overload and misinformation, facts alone often struggle to capture audience attention. This workshop explores how journalists can ethically and powerfully connect with communities on an emotional level to deepen trust, strengthen audience engagement, strengthen revenue models, and sustain journalism's civic role.
This session is designed for journalists, editors, and media professionals seeking to protect and advance the future of journalism. Attendees will gain practical tools to emotionally engage audiences while maintaining ethical standards, ultimately contributing to more robust and sustainable news organizations.
Presenter: Rob Golub, Founder and Editor, Successful Journalism for Communities / SuccessfulJournalism.com
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From Zohran Mamdani and Vice President Kamala Harris to Amb. Nikki Haley and Second Lady Usha Vance, South Asian Americans are increasingly prominent members of our society. Illinois’ South Asian population has doubled in the last 25 years and now represents 44 per cent of Illinois’ Asian American population.
Despite this prominence, journalists often poorly understand the complexities of South Asian Americans that are united and divided across identity markers including national origin, language, gender, caste, faith, political ideology, sexual orientation, sector and beyond.
Recent complex developments in the community have challenged local media outlets, including:
- Steve Bannon being announced as Co-Chair of the Carol Stream, Illinois based Republican Hindu Coalition;
- The burning of the holy Quran in Naperville, Illinois allegedly by a South Asian American teenager;
- Northwestern University and others adding caste as a protected category to combat discrimination within the South Asian American community;
- Local legislation including a failed Chicago City Council Resolution and amended bill to establish a South Asian American Advisory Council to the Governor;
- The U.S. Department of Justice charging a foreign government employee with plotting the assassination of Sikh Americans;
And beyond.
In an era marked by increasing disinformation propagated via social media, foreign governments and media, and the outsized influence of wealthy private interests, independent media and community members must equip themselves to better understand the South Asian American community in order to ensure fact-based reporting and safeguard their reputations.
Join this panel of journalists and community leaders for a timely and engaging discussion that will help you better understand our growing South Asian American community.
Presenters: Rummana Hussain, Columnist and Opinion Pages Editor, Chicago Sun-Times, Pushkar Sharma, Executive Director, SACRED (South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy), Ankur Singh, Freelance Journalist, Adora Namigadde, Religion News Service & Interfaith America Religion Journalism Fellowship
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This one-hour session offers a transparent, in-progress look at how the AP Fund for Journalism is building a new model to strengthen local news through shared tools, resources and innovation. Thanks to philanthropic support, the Local News Pilot currently connects about 50 nonprofit news organizations with free access to AP content and services that help local outlets expand their coverage and capacity. The program has plans to expand in 2026.
Participants will get an inside view of how the pilot works: what tools and offerings are available, what’s being developed next, and what we’re learning along the way. Attendees can also find out how to express interest in participating.
Designed for journalists and community groups that support them, the session also invites input on what resources, tools or collaborations would make the greatest impact in their local context. The goal is to share not just what’s being built, but to open a dialogue on how this kind of collaborative infrastructure could evolve to better meet the needs of small and community-rooted newsrooms.
Presenters: Rachel Aretakis, Associated Press Fund for Journalism, Kim Johnson Flodin, Associated Press
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Immigration coverage is more necessary than ever. A group of journalists and community leaders will discuss recent partnerships to increase immigration reporting and get resources and information to impacted communities.
Presenters: Taylor Moore, Program Specialist, Press Forward Chicago, Kimbriell Kelly, Editor-in-Chief, Chicago Public Media, Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, April Alonso, Digital Editor, Cicero Independiente, Francia Garcia Hernandez, Reporter, Block Club Chicago
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Partnership and collaboration are more than trendy buzzwords. With uncertainty, limited time, and shrinking resources, working together is essential. This workshop presents solutions for meeting your mission, with new ideas, the strength of expanded creativity, and the efficiency of pooled resources. We’ll also provide tips on how organizational culture can drive adverse outcomes or increase real, lasting, and meaningful collaboration.
The panel will share perspectives from a small business book owner and community anchor, a performer and writer, a university-affiliated center for the arts, a veteran publisher
And a consultant specializing in supporting the arts and nonprofits moderated by Sylvia Ewing a former journalist and communications strategist with experience in coalitions, events, and organizational change.
Presenters: Brian Hieggelke, Newcity, Juana Guzman, I Juana Know, Emily Hooper-Lansana, University of Chicago, Jurema Gorham, Burst into Books, Sylvia Ewing, VP of Journalism and Media Engagement, Public Narrative
