2025 Symposium - California Press Foundation

The California Journalism Symposium
Each year, the California Press Foundation hosts an annual event for seasoned and early-career journalists, educators and newsroom leaders who are shaping the future of news to explore the state of the industry. Cal Press also announces its annual awards for exemplary service to former and legendary California news executives during the event.
The 148th Annual Symposium was held in person on Dec. 4, 2025, in Monterey, California and focused on AI, Innovation and The Power of Collaboration.
We hope you'll join us next year!
The future of news depends on collaboration and quality journalism education.
At the 2025 California Journalism Symposium, journalists, students, educators and nonprofit leaders came together to explore AI, journalism education and new models for strengthening local news.
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2025 Program
9:00 a.m. — Check In
Fuel up for the day and grab a cup of coffee and a pastry.
9:15 a.m. — Welcome

Greetings from Cal Press Foundation Chair, Eric Johnston and Executive Director, Danielle McKinney.
Keynote
9:30 a.m.
Speaker: Benjamin Mullin, Media Reporter, The New York Times
Morning Sessions
10:30 a.m. — Panel: AI
Moderator: Eric Johnston, Chair, California Press Foundation
Focused discussion with guests:
Kat Rowlands — Owner and Publisher, Bay City News
Ethan Toven-Lindsey — Editor in Chief, KQED
Yumi Wilson — Journalism Educator, California State University, San Francisco & UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism
11:30 a.m. — Panel: Seeing Through the Noise: Media Literacy in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
Moderator: Jim Boren, Director, Institute for Media & Public Trust at Fresno State
Focused discussion with guests:
Susan Meister, Founder, Monterey Media Literacy Coalition
Julia Satterthwaite, President, Journalism Education Association of Northern California & 2025 National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year
Dave Kellogg, Managing Editor, Monterey Herald
12:20-1:00 p.m. — Lunch Break
Afternoon Sessions
1:10-1:30 p.m. — Industry Awards
1:40 p.m. — JOUR•Ed Collaborative
Update on our education initiative, including 2025 survey results and more.
Featured speaker:
Linda Bowen, Journalism Educator, California State University, Northridge

2:30 p.m. — Session: Investing in Scholastic Journalism
Featuring representatives from:
Bruce Koon, Program Coordinator, Contra Costa Youth Journalism
Sharon Noguchi, Executive Director, MOSAIC Journalism
Victoria Mejicanos, 2025 CPF Internship Grant Recipient & recent graduate, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

3:30 p.m. —Panel: Collaboration & Community News
Moderator: Priscilla Enriquez, President/CEO, James B. McClatchy Foundation
Focused discussion with guests:
Joe Kieta, Executive Editor, Central Valley Journalism Collaborative
Ryan Lillis, Associate General Manager, Abridged
Lucy Flores, President & Co-Founder, Latino Media Consortium
Keiona Williamson, Journalism Sustainability Director, James B. McClatchy Foundation
4:30-5:00 p.m. — Industry Awards
Post-Event Reception
Networking and refreshments until 6:00 p.m.
Gallery
Photos from the 2025 California Journalism Symposium

The California Journalism Symposium

The future of news depends on collaboration and quality journalism education.

At the 2025 California Journalism Symposium, journalists, students, educators and nonprofit leaders came together to explore AI, journalism education and new models for strengthening local news.

2025 Program

9:00 a.m. — Check In Fuel up for the day and grab a cup of coffee and a pastry. 9:15 a.m. — Welcome Greetings from Cal Press Foundation Chair, Eric Johnston and Executive Director, Danielle McKinney.

Keynote

Morning Sessions

Afternoon Sessions

Post-Event Reception

Gallery

Photos from the 2025 California Journalism Symposium

9:00 a.m. — Check In
Fuel up for the day and grab a cup of coffee and a pastry.
9:15 a.m. — Welcome

Greetings from Cal Press Foundation Chair, Eric Johnston and Executive Director, Danielle McKinney.