Join us as the Society of Professional Journalists Colorado Professional Chapter hosts an in-person conversation about how journalists are navigating diversity, equity and inclusion at a moment when the terms themselves have become politically charged, legally contested and frequently misunderstood.

Rather than debating DEI as an abstract concept, this panel will focus on how reporters and editors actually encounter these issues in their work: sourcing, framing, newsroom decision-making, audience trust and internal culture.

Panelists will discuss what has changed in recent years, where tensions are showing up in coverage, and how journalists can approach these questions with clarity, fairness and ethical rigor.

Panelists:

• Nathan Fernando-Frescas — Senior Host, All Things Considered, Colorado Public Radio
• Chandra Thomas Whitfield — Host/Producer, Colorado Matters, Colorado Public Radio
• Paolo Zialcita — Neighborhood Reporter, Denverite
• Yolánda L. Chase, SHRM-SCP, CPM, CM — Founder & CEO, Diversity Way-Maker and Intersect Global Leadership Institute

Moderator: Esteban L. Hernandez, Reporter, Axios Denver

When: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 7 p.m.

Where: The Denver Press Club, 1330 Glenarm Place. Metered parking is on the street, a pay lot is next door, and the free RTD 16th Street shuttle is two blocks away.

Admission: Free, but please RSVP via email to spjcolorado@gmail.com with “DEI on Deadline” in the subject space. Also email us with any questions.

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