Austin (Texas, USA), September 17: The 27th International Symposium on Journalism (ISOJ 2026) has commenced at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) in Texas, United States. Held at the Shirley Bird Perry Ballroom on September 17–18, 2026, this two-day global gathering brings together editors, media executives, researchers, and technology leaders from around the world to discuss the future of journalism.

Representing Indian media on this international stage, Mr. Rajendra Kumar Gautam, Managing Editor/Senior Journalist of the Lucknow-based national Hindi daily Nishpaksh Divya Sandesh, and Mr. Gyan Prakash Tripathi, Senior Journalist of Tizarat, have been invited as keynote speakers.

Day 1: Focus on Democracy and Public Trust

The opening day centers on the theme “Journalism, Democracy and Community Trust”. The inaugural session opened with remarks by ISOJ Founder and Director Prof. Rosental Calmon Alves alongside Prof. Tom Rosenstiel from the University of Maryland. This was followed by a keynote address from Elizabeth Green, Founder and CEO of Civic News Company.

Throughout Day 1 technical sessions, prominent industry figures—including Sarah Adler Hartman (CEO, The Texas Tribune), Melissa Bell (CEO, Chicago Public Media), and Richard Gingras (Board Chair, Village Media)—will address independent journalism, creator economies, and restoring public trust. A dedicated panel on reporting the U.S. midterms features bureau chiefs and reporters from CNN, The Washington Post, and The Associated Press (AP). The first day will conclude with a reception hosted by the Moody College of Communication, ‘The Moody Party’.

Day 2 Agenda: AI and the Future of Digital News

The second day (September 18) will explore “AI, Innovation and the Future of News”. Proceedings will open with a keynote by Jonathan Greenberger, Global Editor-in-Chief of POLITICO. Key sessions will also feature Zach Seward (Editorial Director of AI Initiatives, The New York Times), Nathalie Malinarich (Executive News Editor for Digital Development and AI, BBC), and Taj Corinaldi (VP of Product, Yahoo News) on how agentic AI is transforming news ecosystems.

In the concluding segment, Janine Warner, Executive Director of SembraMedia, will present research on global trends in digital news sustainability in the age of AI. Following this, Allison Murphy, COO of Axios, and Neil Chase, CEO of CalMatters, will hold a fireside chat on the forces shaping the next chapter of journalism, platforms, and AI.

At this global forum, Mr. Rajendra Kumar Gautam will address community trust and grassroots journalism, while Mr. Gyan Prakash Tripathi will present perspectives on AI and the evolving news landscape from an Indian standpoint.

(ISOJ 2026)

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E-paper:  Divya Sandesh