Applications are open for the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, June 21-26, 2026, in Washington, D.C. One student from each state and the District of Columbia will be selected for the skill-building, networking-growing, and all-expenses-paid trip.
Now in its 25th year, the annual conference, established to honor Al Neuharth, founder of Freedom Forum and USA TODAY, is designed to inspire and encourage high school juniors to pursue careers in journalism, multimedia storytelling, and the media industry.
Students will:
- Go behind the scenes in some of D.C.’s top newsrooms
- Hear from leading journalists about their work, learn from Free Spirit alumni, and be inspired by honorees at Freedom Forum’s Free Expression Awards
- Receive a $1,000 college scholarship
- Tour the sites of the nation’s capital
- Make connections with students from around the country who are passionate about journalism and multimedia storytelling
- Join the Free Spirit Scholar community, which includes a network of over 1,700 alumni who have gone on to work for organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, ESPN, network-affiliated TV stations, the “This American Life” podcast, entrepreneurial media outlets like The Juggernaut, and more.
The application deadline is March 15, 2026.