Journalists from across four states gathered April 5, 2025, in Denver for the SPJ 2025 Region 9 Conference: Fundamentals and the Future, soaking up wisdom from some of the region’s top news professionals. PHOTOS BELOW.
Panels and presentations covered how to get a journalism job, tips on freelancing, photojournalism, the secrets of social media, jumping from reporter to editor, AI ethics, neutrality and beat reporting. And SPJ Region 9 Coordinator McKenzie Romero presented on ways to start a student SPJ chapter.
A packed house of attendees also toasted each others’ achievements at the four-state Top of the Rockies Awards presentation, and cheered as the SPJ Colorado Pro Chapter presented its individual awards to journalism all-stars. CLICK HERE for more on the award winners and a video.
Keynote speaker Kevin Flynn – an award-winning Rocky Mountain News reporter for nearly three decades, author of the book “The Silent Brotherhood” on right-wing domestic terrorists and now a Denver City Council member – delivered a lively keynote address. And Vanessa Otero of presenting sponsor Ad Fontes Media took attendees under the hood of the vaunted Media Bias Chart. VIDEO BELOW.
SPJ Colorado thanks our conference sponsors, whose generosity helped us make the conference free for students:
Presenting: Ad Fontes Media
Platinum: The Denver Gazette
Gold: The Colorado Sun, Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism
Silver: The Arapahoe Pinnacle; The Denver Post; University of Denver Department of Media, Film & Journalism Studies; Wyoming Public Media; Rocky Mountain Student Media; Inside the News in Colorado
Bronze: Ouray County Plaindealer
Don’t miss out on great SPJ Colorado events like this! We’d love to have you as a member. And through April, we’re offering a membership discount. CLICK HERE for details.
PHOTO SHOW: Click on the first image to scroll through the photos. Click any image to enlarge it.
SPJ 2025 Region 9 ConferenceSPJ Colorado board members Deb Hurley Brobst and Molly Miller hand out tagsSPJ Colorado board members Dennis Huspeni and Deb Hurley Brobst open the conferenceVanessa Otero of presenting sponsor Ad Fontes Media presents the Media Bias Chart Denver Councilman (and longtime newsman) Kevin Flynn delivers an entertaining keynote addressCommunity newspaper editors talk shop: Linda Kostaftis (Front Porch), Erin McIntyre (Ouray County Plaindealer), Cara DeGette (Greater Park Hill News)Keynote speaker Kevin Flynn chats with conference attendeesErin McIntyre and SPJ Colorado board member Mark Harden catch upSPJ Colorado board member Marco Cummings leads an audience participation exercise at his panel on social media. Panelists: Axel Rose, Kurt Wagner, Danika WorthingtonSPJ Colorado board member Kara Mason leads a panel on freelancing: Panelists: Isaiah Downing, Stephanie Wolf, Jay BouchardConference attendees absorb wisdomSPJ Colorado board member Corey Hutchins leads a panel on AI newsroom ethics. Panelists: Stacy Feldman, Lee Ann Colacioppo, Forrest SentiConference attendees compare notes between sessionsSPJ Colorado board member Mark Harden leads a panel on transitioning from reporter to editor. Panelists: Lance Benzel, Molly Armbrister, Dennis Huspeni, Thelma Grimes, Ellis ArnoldFormer Colorado Community Media colleagues Thelma Grimes and Ellis Arnold reconveneDenver Post photojournalist Helen Richardson, who led a session with Chancey Bush of the Albuquerque JournalEnjoying nibbles between sessionsSPJ Colorado co-president Doug Bell coaches students on landing a journalism jobSPJ Colorado board member Cara DeGette leads a panel on beat reporting. Panelists: Noelle Phillips, Jeremy Wade Shockley, Michael KarlikSPJ Colorado co-president Deb Hurley Brobst leads a session on journalistic neutrality. Panelists: Monte Whaley, Brian K. Martin, Erin McIntyrePresent and former Denver Post staffers reconvene at the conference: Michelle Fulcher, Mark Harden, John Moore, Helen RichardsonA packed house awaits the SPJ awards presentationMichelle Fulcher receives the SPJ Colorado Keeper of the Flame Award for career achievement. Presenter: Mark HardenSam Tabachnik of The Denver Post receives the SPJ Colorado Journalist of the Year Award. Presenter: Marco CummingsRachael Johnson of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press receives the SPJ Colorado First Amendment Award. Presenter: Corey HutchinsDerigan Silver of the University of Denver receives the SPJ Colorado Educator of the Year Award. Presenter: Marco Cummings, a former student.Doug Bell receives the SPJ Colorado Educator of the Year Award. Presenters: Kenn Bisio and Deb Hurley Brobst. Photographer: Chancey Bush
VIDEO: Watch below.
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