WASHINGTON (HUNS) — Renowned educators, long-time professionals and eager students filled a ballroom at the Grand Hyatt last weekend to discuss the current state and future of journalism at this year’s MediaFest25, the largest news media convention in the country.
A central question at the keynote session was how journalists can respond to the growing hostility to the press, highlighting the legal pressures particularly facing independent news organizations.
“These smaller outlets can’t defend themselves,” said Dean Baquet, the first Black journalist to serve as executive editor at the New York Times.
Baquet, who now runs the Times’ Local Investigations Fellowship, was critical of large news companies like CBS that cave into legal pressure from the Trump administration. “Settling these lawsuits hurts all of us,” he said.
The keynote session was one of the highlights of MediaFest25, hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association.
The three-day event featured numerous workshops, networking opportunities and panel discussions, spanning a wide range of relevant topics. Some sessions focused on media literacy, censorship, religion, AI, audience building and even included a few “how to’s” on improving storytelling skills.

MediaFest25 also featured three keynote sessions, such as the one with Baquet; Kat Tenbarge, founder of Spitfire News; and Valeria Fernandez, an independent journalist who specializes in immigration. SPJ also inducted the three journalists as Fellows of the Society for extraordinary contribution to the profession – the organization’s highest honor.
SPJ national president Emily Bloch led their keynote, “Journalism Today and Tomorrow: Perspectives and Predictions From SPJ’s 2025 Fellows.” The session began with a surprise visit from Jim Rodenbush, who earlier that week was fired from his advising job at Indiana University’s student newspaper for refusing to block news stories for the paper’s homecoming issue. Event organizers flew him out to MediaFest25 where he was met with a standing ovation.

During the keynote, Tenbarge stressed the importance of solidarity and awareness within the journalism community. “We need to be more mindful about who our fellows are,” she said, urging journalists to recognize the shared challenges they face and to unite in defending the free press.
Lastly, Fernandez emphasized the importance of independent news media outlets and the critical role they play in amplifying local voices. “Our communities rely on us to tell their stories; we must prioritize engagement,” she said.
The speakers altogether called for a renewed commitment to collaboration and trust-building as essential pillars for the future of journalism.
As journalism continues to navigate suppression, hostility and change, MediaFest 2025 served as a rallying point for a more mindful, collaborative and community-focused future for the press.
Kevin Vaughn Jr. is a reporter for HUNewsService.com. He also covers environmental, energy and transportation stories.