Poynter’s 2024 Beat Academy

From Poynter, Beat Academy delivers the latest knowledge that journalists need to cover critical topics of deep importance to their communities. Through engaging webinars that feature the nation’s leading journalists, experts and thinkers, this webinar series equips journalists with beat expertise, data know-how and excellent local and national sources.

In a series of expert-led and resource-packed webinars, Beat Academy will enhance journalists’ understanding on topics critical to American life in 2024. You’ll leave Beat Academy with tools, sources and resources that will empower your storytelling and enable you to better serve your communities.

For just $75, individual journalists gain access to the entire series of eight topics. Each topic will include one or two 90-minute webinars, where you’ll hear renowned journalists share the particulars of covering these emerging beats, including their reporting strategies. Alongside them will be experts focused on the changing dynamics in each topic area. Every subject will include valuable roadmaps that will connect reporters to the hard data that matters in their market area, as well as story ideas to take back to their newsrooms.

Attend the webinars for as many topics as you like, or only those that directly impact your work. Newsrooms can also buy seats in bulk for a significant discount — purchases of five or more spots are just $50 each. All sessions are recorded for enrollees.

Upcoming sessions include:
Extremist Politics: How to report on powerful undercurrents in the 2024 elections (Feb. 1, 15)
Auditing ARPA and IRA: How to report on Biden’s promise to communities (Feb. 29)
Immigration in Focus: How domestic labor demand and politically-driven immigrant busing expose flaws in the system (March 14; El Paso workshop June 5-7)
Economic Realities: Understanding your local economy and telling compelling stories centered on people and families. (March 28, writing session June 13)
Transgender Coverage: Avoiding rhetoric to deliver meaningful journalism (April 18, May 2)
New Healthcare Dynamics: What medical AI and the lack of long-term care choices mean for your communities (May 30, Sept. 26)
Vote Watch 2024: What’s on the line for your state’s voting system?
Climate Change: Finding the angle in any beat (Sept. 12)

Two sessions include reporting grant opportunities.
Session enrollees in extremism can compete for one of three $10,000 reporting grants, and/or one of 25 spots in a free master class in the Great Lakes region from April 10-12. (Slight preference for both will be given to reporters in the Great Lake states: Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.)
Immigration enrollees can compete for one of 25 spots on a trip to El Paso, Texas. The field reporting experience is set for June 4-7, with room, board, and a travel stipend included.