Student Summit – Chicago 2025
April 26 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm CDT
Join us for an exciting opportunity to develop essential skills, connect with industry leaders, and take the next step in your journalism career. The NAHJ Student Summit – Chicago 2025, hosted by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), is designed to help you unlock your potential, market yourself effectively, and gain valuable insights to secure internships or job opportunities.
This one-day, interactive summit will feature engaging panel discussions, inspiring keynote speakers, and a dynamic career fair tailored specifically for students. Best of all, it’s completely free and open to high school and college students from across the region.
Date: April 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM CST
Location: Northwestern University Medill School, 303 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL.
Registration link: nahj.memberclicks.net/2025studentsummit
AGENDA
| TIME | ACTIVITY | LOCATION |
| 08:30 AM – 9:30 AM | Registration/Continental Breakfast | TBD |
| 09:15 AM | Plenary Session | TBD |
| 09:30 AM | Landing That First Job Speakers: Lourdes Duarte, WGN Anchor | Sabrina Aponte, Newsnation | Jesus J. Montero, Freelance Sports Photographer | Adriana Perez, Chicago Tribune | Laura Rodriguez, Chicago Tribune |
TBD |
| 10:00 AM | From Resume to Offer-Mastering the Job Search Game-Landing your dream job in journalism starts long before the interview. Speakers: Enrique Rodriquez, Univision | Aaron Franco, NBC Network NewsNews | Anabel Monge, Freelance | Carolina Garibay, WBBM | Sandra Torres, NBC Chicago |
Room 1 |
| 10:00 AM | Fighting for Truth in the Face of Lies – How You Can Use AI in Your Journalism Career and Reporting Speaker: Erika Slife, a senior content editor at the Tribune | Natalie Martinez, NBC Chicago | Joe Germuska, Chief Nerd, Knight Lab | Jorge Desantiago, Telemundo Chicago |
Room 2 |
| 10:00 AM | Latinos in the Sports World Speaker: Hugo Balta, The Fulcrum | Miguel Lemus, Chicago Bears | Gabe Ramirez, Chicago Fire | Sinhue Mendoza, Chicago Sports Consultant |
Room 3 |
| 11:00 AM | Is Grad School with It: Calculating the Cost of Journalism Education Speaker: Manuel Venegas, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago | Elio Leturia, Columbia College Chicago | Jessica Villagomez, Solutions Journalism Lecturer | Tatyana Rodriguez, Associate Director, Office of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid | Melody Mercado, Block Club Chicago |
Room 1 |
| 11:00 AM | What if I don’t want to do News? Speakers: Paulina Roe, IHeartMedia | Omar Ramos, Univision Radio | Jaime Munoz, Tik Tok | Nudia Hernandez, Chicago Public Media | Alfonso, News Anchor, Telemundo Chicago |
Room 2 |
| 11:00 AM | Beyond the Border: Ethical and Impactful Immigration Reporting Speakers: Araceli Gomez-Aldana, WBEZ | Eliva Malagon, Chicago Sun-Times | Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune | Daniela Sirtori, Bloomberg | Erika Slife, Chicago Tribune |
Room 2 |
| 12:00 PM | Plenary Session – A Discussion with News Directors and Media Managers Speakers: Luis Godinez, VP, News, Univision | Kevin Cross, NBC General Manager | Gilbert Bailon, WBEZ Executive Editor | Jesus Del Toro, La Raza Newspaper, Chicago |
Room 3 |
| 1:30 PM | Personal Branding and Communication Powered by Bloomberg The presentation will discuss how each student can develop their personal/professional brand and how best to convey that to employers during a job search. We will also speak about different communications styles and methods which can be impactful during a job search and professional career. Speakers: Alexis Polanco, Diversity Recruiter | Robert Boehm, Talent Acquisition |
TBD |
| 1:00 PM-4:00 PM | Career Fair | TBD |
| 4:00 PM | Wrap-up | TBD |