Three days.

Four themes.

One connected experience.

Local News Solutions 2026 brings together the people, ideas and tools helping local news thrive. Our program is built across four integrated themes, not siloed tracks, so you leave with solutions that strengthen every part of your work.

Program themes

Four integrated themes.

Every session connects to the big picture, and to you.

AI & Innovation

Practical applications of AI, newsroom tools, workflow, ethics and smarter ways of working.

Building Sustainable News

Revenue, audience, product, partnerships, philanthropy and organizational sustainability.

Collaborating to Tell Our Story

How we strengthen local news together, communicate our value and learn across roles.

Practical Skills

Longer workshops, hands-on learning and immediately useful techniques you can take home.

Session formats

How the program works.

Different formats. Shared purpose. Real impact.

Keynotes

Big ideas and bold perspectives to frame the conversation.

Lightning Talks & Short Panels

Brief insights that introduce issues, ideas and options.

Deep Dives & Workshops

Longer practical sessions led by practitioners.

Solution Roundtables

Peer-led discussions to solve real newsroom challenges.

AI Sales Games

A hands-on team competition for sales and revenue professionals.

Networking & Awards

Connect, celebrate and build relationships that move news forward.

Featured experience

AI Sales Games

Learn AI by doing.

A collaborative, team-based experience designed for sales and revenue professionals. Compete, experiment and solve real challenges.

Compete.

Experiment.

Solve real challenges.

Learn more →
Three-day overview

Schedule overview.

One connected experience across three days.

A complete schedule grid will be published closer to the convention.

Thursday

Connect & kick things off

Two attendees talking during an evening reception at Local News Solutions.

Opening keynote

Legislative awards

Kickoff reception

Friday

Learn, collaborate, advance

Two attendees talking over coffee in a lounge at Local News Solutions.

Keynotes

Lightning talks & short panels

Workshops & roundtables

AI Sales Games

Young Professionals Reception

Saturday

Go deeper, leave stronger

An attendee taking notes while seated at a conference table.

Keynotes

Morning networking, storytelling & collaboration

Workshops & roundtables

BNC Awards, A-Mark Prize & Hall of Fame

Topics

What you will explore.

Topics that will shape the conversations.

AI in the newsroom

Audience growth

Public trust

Revenue innovation

Local democracy

Community engagement

Leadership & culture

Product & technology

And more

Examples

Sample sessions.

Examples of the kinds of sessions you will find.

AI Workflow Starter Kit for Small Newsrooms

Trust in an AI-Flooded Information Environment

How to Get More People to Read Your News

Community Partnerships for Revenue and Audience

Revenue Partnerships for Ethnic and Community Media

Campaign Finance Data for Election Coverage

Safety Tactics for Reporters in the Field

Who it is for

This program is for you.

No matter your role, you will find ideas, people and solutions to take home.

News Leaders

Publishers, editors and managers guiding organizations forward.

Journalists

Reporters, producers and editors telling communities stories.

Revenue & Audience

Sales, marketing and audience professionals growing reach.

Community & Philanthropy

Funders, nonprofits and civic partners strengthening news.

Students & Emerging Leaders

The next generation of news leaders and changemakers.