Loading…
SABEW26 has ended
arrow_back View All Dates
Thursday, May 7
 

12:00pm EDT

SABEW registration
Thursday May 7, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

Thursday May 7, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Symphony Ballroom Foyer, third level

1:00pm EDT

Welcome/opening remarks/sponsor & exhibitor recognition/announce and recognize fellows
Thursday May 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT

Speakers
avatar for Pia Sarkar

Pia Sarkar

deputy global business editor, The Associated Press
Pia Sarkar is the deputy global business editor for The Associated Press, helping to oversee a department of 40+ people. She also serves on the AP’s stylebook committee and its award-winning race & ethnicity team.

Prior to The AP, Pia was an editor and reporter for several media outlets, including The American Lawyer and the San Francisco Chronicle. She is currently president of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing and a board member of the South Asian Journalists Associati... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Symphony Ballroom, third level

1:30pm EDT

Artificial intelligence in business journalism: Using new tools without losing editorial control
Thursday May 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Artificial intelligence tools are rapidly becoming part of business journalism workflows — from document analysis and earnings call summaries to data exploration and research support. This session examines how business journalists are incorporating AI tools in ways that improve efficiency and insight while preserving accuracy, transparency and editorial independence.

The conversation — grounded in the realities of covering corporations, financial systems and economic power — focuses on where AI can meaningfully support business reporting and where strong ethical guardrails are essential.

This panel is in partnership with RTDNA.
Speakers
avatar for Mike Reilley

Mike Reilley

senior lecturer & founder, University of Illinois-Chicago & founder of JournalistsToolbox.ai
Mike is a senior lecturer at the University of Illinois-Chicago and founder of JournalistsToolbox.ai, a free website featuring AI tools and training videos. He’s the author of two books: “Data + Journalism” (Routledge, 2023) and
“The Journalist’s Toolbox: A Guide to Digi... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Ormandy West, lobby level

1:30pm EDT

Navigating Reddit: An insider's guide on how to get the most of the social media platform
Thursday May 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
With all the noise on the internet, Reddit is emerging as a place to find authentic voices. But how do you navigate it and find the best material? This session will provide a comprehensive overview of Reddit, including how the platform works, what the Reddit audience looks like today, and how Reddit is innovating and building for publishers. Reddit’s News Partnerships Lead will also cover best practices for news organizations looking to dive deeper into the platform.
Speakers
avatar for Gabriel Sands

Gabriel Sands

Head of news partnerships, Reddit
Gabriel Sands is the Head of News & Lifestyle Partnerships on Reddit's Media Business Development team, where he connects media outlets and publishers to Reddit's network of over 100,000 communities. Most recently, he helped introduce Reddit's first-ever suite of tools for publishers... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EDT
Symphony Ballroom, third level

2:25pm EDT

Business of college sports
Thursday May 7, 2026 2:25pm - 3:10pm EDT
There may be few “businesses” less understood these days than the business of college sports. Following the landmark House settlement, college sports are rapidly shifting from an amateur model to a more professionalized landscape, driven in large part by Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights, the transfer portal and revenue sharing between schools and athletes. Hear from leading journalists covering this fast-moving industry as they talk collectives, massive paydays, conference realignments, salary caps, tv rights deals, scholarships, Title IX, the relevance of the NCAA and all the other things business reporters need to understand if they want to cover this multi-billion dollar industry. 

This panel is in partnership with ESPN.
Moderators
avatar for Tisha Thompson

Tisha Thompson

Investigative Reporter, ESPN
Tisha Thompson is an investigative reporter and senior writer at ESPN. She specializes in complex stories exploring the intersection of sports and power, including league and government investigations, high-profile civil and criminal cases, sports betting, fan and stadium security... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Dan Murphy

Dan Murphy

Staff Writer, ESPN
Dan Murphy is a member of ESPN's investigative and enterprise reporting team, where he frequently reports on the business of college sports among other topics. This year his work has led to nominations for an Emmy Award and as the APSE's national beat writer of the year. He studied... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 2:25pm - 3:10pm EDT
Symphony Ballroom, third level

2:25pm EDT

Money in the bank: How to find and understand financial data
Thursday May 7, 2026 2:25pm - 3:10pm EDT
If you want the most reliable gauge of the economy, follow what banks are doing – where are they increasing lending, where are they pulling back, where are they seeing the most defaults? Banking data is often the cipher for understanding what’s happening in our communities at large, but so many of us don’t know where to look to find it. We bring in a veteran business journalist adept at breaking that code and navigating the FDIC website to find engaging stories that analyze and translate lending trends for our readers and help bring home what it all means to them.

This panel is in partnership with the American City Business Journals.
Speakers
avatar for Alan Kline

Alan Kline

Senior Editor, Washington Business Journal
I've come full circle at American City Business Journals. I started my reporting career at Baltimore Business Journal in the mid-1990s and joined Washington Business Journal in 2022 as a senior editor. In between, I was with American Banker for nearly 25 years in various capacities... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 2:25pm - 3:10pm EDT
Ormandy East, lobby level

2:25pm EDT

Seeing the story in the numbers: Data visualization tools and techniques for business journalism
Thursday May 7, 2026 2:25pm - 3:10pm EDT
Business journalism relies heavily on data, but the way that data is visualized can clarify or distort the story. We’ll focus on how business journalists are using data visualization software and techniques to illuminate trends, expose disparities and explain complex financial information to audiences without misleading or oversimplifying.

The discussion emphasizes visualization as a reporting and editorial decision — not just a design exercise — meant to enhance accuracy, context and audience understanding.

This panel is in partnership with RTDNA.
Speakers
avatar for Mike Reilley

Mike Reilley

senior lecturer & founder, University of Illinois-Chicago & founder of JournalistsToolbox.ai
Mike is a senior lecturer at the University of Illinois-Chicago and founder of JournalistsToolbox.ai, a free website featuring AI tools and training videos. He’s the author of two books: “Data + Journalism” (Routledge, 2023) and
“The Journalist’s Toolbox: A Guide to Digi... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 2:25pm - 3:10pm EDT
Ormandy West, lobby level

3:15pm EDT

Connection Exchange
Thursday May 7, 2026 3:15pm - 3:55pm EDT
The Connection Exchange is an engaging networking event created to help you connect with organizations, partners, and communities that match your interests.

Instead of structured rotations, this experience gives you the flexibility to choose who you want to meet and how you spend your time.

Tables will be labeled to help you quickly find conversations/topics that match your interest.

Confirmed organizations, partners and communities:

AAJA-NY
American City Business Journals
B2B
Early career
Freelance/laid-off journalists
Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)
Learn more about serving on a SABEW Committee
NABJ Business Journalism Task Force
NAHJ Business Journalism Task Force
Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA)
Students
Thursday May 7, 2026 3:15pm - 3:55pm EDT
Ormandy West, lobby level

4:00pm EDT

Building blocks of a better team
Thursday May 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Is your team clicking together like a perfectly built structure or clunking along like mismatched pieces? Strong collaboration and communication are the foundation of any high-performing team, and in this interactive session, you’ll discover how to strengthen both through the power of play.

Using building blocks as both metaphor and hands-on tool, we’ll explore what it takes to build trust, align around shared goals and adapt to change. You’ll gain fresh insights into team dynamics, leadership styles and the invisible structures that support effective teamwork. Come ready to build, reflect and leave with practical strategies for assembling a more connected, resilient team: one brick at a time.

This panel is in partnership with RTDNA.
Speakers
avatar for Tara Puckey

Tara Puckey

President and CEO, Radio Television Digital News Association
Tara Puckey, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CMP is the President and CEO of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and the RTDNA Foundation, where she leads strategic initiatives that advance the future of journalism and strengthen the impact of news organizations across the country... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Ormandy East, lobby level

4:00pm EDT

Making financial stories personal
Thursday May 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
From investing and economics to taxes and health care costs, finance can feel abstract until you hear it through a real person’s experience. Panelists who regularly speak with consumers for their pieces will discuss how they earn trust, encourage openness, and turn personal stories into powerful reporting.
Moderators
avatar for Geoff Rogow

Geoff Rogow

Executive Editor, BBC Studios

Speakers
avatar for Hugh Son

Hugh Son

Reporter, CNBC
Hugh Son has covered banking for CNBC since 2018, breaking news on the intersection of finance and technology at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Uber, Amazon, Apple, Binance and other companies. Before that, he covered finance at Bloomberg News since 2006, where he broke much... Read More →
avatar for Rachel Wolfe

Rachel Wolfe

Economics Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
Rachel Wolfe is a reporter covering personal economics for The Wall Street Journal. Her stories focus on the ways American consumers shape the economy and how the economy shapes people’s lives. She writes frequently about changing demographics, spending behavior and societal shifts... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Ormandy West, lobby level

4:00pm EDT

Sourcing up: How to build trust with reluctant sources
Thursday May 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Journalism depends on people coming forward and being brave enough to share their stories, often at great risk to their careers, families and lives. And yet trust in the media continues to plummet. Hear how some of the top journalists in the country built trust with reluctant sources to tell some of the most pressing stories in America.
Moderators
avatar for Charlotte Sutton

Charlotte Sutton

Managing Editor, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Charlotte Sutton has been managing editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer for the past four years. She joined the Inquirer in 2015 as health editor after leaving a similar role at the Tampa Bay Times, and later supervised business and health coverage during the COVID 19 pandemic. As... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Hannah Natanson

Hannah Natanson

Narrative Enterprise Reporter, The Washington Post
Hannah Natanson is a narrative enterprise reporter for The Washington Post. Her coverage of the Trump administration’s transformation of government won the 2026 Toner Prize. She previously reported on education, winning a 2024 Peabody Award for a podcast on school gun violence... Read More →
avatar for Khadeeja Safdar

Khadeeja Safdar

Enterprise Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
Khadeeja Safdar is a reporter at The Wall Street Journal focusing on investigations and high-impact scoops. She was part of the team that won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for a series on the political and personal evolution of Elon Musk, and a finalist for the 2020... Read More →
avatar for Matt Sedensky

Matt Sedensky

National Writer, The Associated Press
Matt Sedensky is a national writer for The Associated Press focused on deeply reported, character-rich narratives and investigations. His reporting uncovered a future pope’s mishandling of abuse cases, a governor’s coverup of COVID deaths, and widespread sexual assaults by police... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Symphony Ballroom, third level

4:00pm EDT

The DEI Pullback: How to uncover revealing and important stories as companies scale back the hiring and promotion of women and minorities
Thursday May 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
As companies retreat from DEI commitments, the biggest stories may be found not in official statements, but in the quieter shifts that follow: who gets hired, who gets promoted, which programs disappear, and how opportunity changes for women and marginalized groups inside major institutions. This session will explore how reporters can uncover those stories, spot the gap between rhetoric and reality, and track the long-term consequences for workforce equity, leadership pipelines, and corporate power.
Moderators
avatar for Ruth Umoh

Ruth Umoh

Executive Editor, Fortune
Ruth Umoh is an editor at Fortune, where she oversees coverage of executive leadership, management, and the ideas reshaping modern business. Previously, she was editor-in-chief of The Filament, a leading publication for DEI leaders in tech, and earlier served as an editor at Forbes... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Julian Mark

Julian Mark

Supreme Court Reporter, The Washington Post
Julian covers the Supreme Court for the Washington Post. Before that, he covered the retreat of DEI and affirmative action programs after the high court in 2023 overturned race-conscious admissions at the nation's top universities. 
avatar for Taylor Nicole Rogers

Taylor Nicole Rogers

Reporter, Bloomberg News
Taylor Nicole Rogers is an Equality Reporter at Bloomberg News, where she reports on how power and money shape our workdays and our career opportunities. Based in New York City, she previously reported for Financial Times and Business Insider. She holds a degree in Journalism and... Read More →
avatar for Lauren Weber

Lauren Weber

Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
Lauren Weber writes about workplace issues and employment for The Wall Street Journal. Her stories often explore topics such as workforce development and skills, legal issues at work, and the intersection between economic trends and the on-the-ground practices of employers. A former... Read More →
Thursday May 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Concerto, third level

5:15pm EDT

Off-site opening reception and A Conversation with Matt Strauss, Chairman, NBCUniversal Media Group (Sponsored by Comcast)
Thursday May 7, 2026 5:15pm - 7:30pm EDT
Don't miss the SABEW opening reception and A Conversation with Matt Strauss, Chairman, NBCUniversal Media Group, on Thursday, May 7, at the Comcast Technology Center. The evening will include a fireside chat, food, drinks and networking with other attendees. Please see below for some important event details.

Event location
Comcast Technology Center
1800 Arch St
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Arrivals
Please enter the Comcast Technology Center via the 18th Street entrance and take the escalators up to the Upper Lobby. Our staff will be there to greet you and escort you to event. 

Badges
Please ensure you have your 2026 SABEW Conference name badge and valid photo ID for expedited entry to the event.
Moderators
avatar for Caleb Silver

Caleb Silver

Chief Business Editor & Editor in Chief, People Inc. and Investopedia

Speakers
avatar for Matt Strauss

Matt Strauss

Chairman, NBCUniversal Media Group
As part of a more than 20-year career as a leader within Comcast NBCUniversal, Matt Strauss was named Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group in November 2024. In this role, Strauss leads business operations, strategy and platforms for NBC, Bravo and Peacock, and oversees key areas including... Read More →
Sponsors
Thursday May 7, 2026 5:15pm - 7:30pm EDT
 
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link

Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.
Filtered by Date -