Students Gain Front-Row Access at Journalism Summit
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 6, 2026) — A live radio taping, dozens of journalists and a rare opportunity for students to engage directly with media leaders will converge at UAlbany on April 10 as the campus hosts the SUNY Institute for Local News Journalism Summit, bringing together faculty, editors and industry voices to examine the future of local journalism.
The event offers students interested in journalism a front-row seat to the field and a chance to connect with the professionals shaping it.
“Through partnerships with outlets including Spotlight News, The Daily Gazette and WAMC, UAlbany students are already contributing to local coverage, producing more than five dozen published stories and earning SUNY-supported internships at regional newsrooms,” said UAlbany Journalism Program Director Elaine Salisbury.
A featured session includes a live recording of WAMC’s “The Media Project,” hosted by David Guistina with panelists including Rex Smith and Barbara Lombardo, giving students a behind-the-scenes look at how experienced journalists analyze the news and navigate the challenges facing the industry. Guistina and Lombardo currently serve as part-time faculty within UAlbany’s journalism program.
“This is about connecting students directly with the work of local journalism,” Salisbury said. “They’re contributing to reporting that serves communities.”
Hear Salisbury discuss the opportunities for UAlbany journalism students in local newsrooms on the Engagement Ring podcast.
Learn more about UAlbany’s journalism program at https://www.albany.edu/undergraduate-bulletin/program-journalism.php.