The 2025 World Press Institute fellows are halfway through their nine-week journey across the United States, and already, it’s been a powerful exploration of journalism, democracy, and human connection.
The program began on September 5 in Minneapolis–St. Paul, where fellows spent their first week immersed in orientation sessions, meetings with Minnesota journalists and public officials, and cultural exchanges hosted by local families. It was a fitting introduction to American civic life and set the tone for the weeks ahead.
From there, the cohort headed north to Grand Marais on the edge of Lake Superior. There, they met local reporters, tribal leaders, educators, and community members who shared what storytelling looks like in rural communities—where every voice matters and every story is personal.
In Muscatine, Iowa, a public forum at the Stanley Center for Peace and Security sparked thoughtful discussion on media trust and audience connection. The fellows also took part in classroom visits, where they fielded questions from high school students and engaged in candid conversations about the challenges of journalism today.
In Chicago, they examined media innovation from the ground up—meeting civic leaders working to address gun violence and journalists striving to rebuild trust in local news. Sessions explored what “solutions journalism” looks like in practice and how urban media outlets are adapting to meet the moment.
On the West Coast, the journey turned toward the future. In San Francisco and Silicon Valley, fellows engaged with leaders working at the intersection of AI, democracy, and ethics. From there, they crossed the desert to Phoenix and onward to the U.S.–Mexico border, where they witnessed firsthand the complexities of immigration and border policy.
Now in Anchorage, Alaska—a first for the program—the fellows are exploring journalism at another frontier. From climate reporting and Indigenous storytelling to another public forum hosted by the Alaska World Affairs Council, they are engaging with voices and issues that rarely get global attention but resonate far beyond state lines.
From local newsrooms to national outlets, from small-town editors to big-city innovators, the 2025 fellows are gaining a deeper understanding of journalism’s purpose in a changing world—and how the profession keeps a public in conversation with itself. Along the way, they are also discovering more about America’s people, its politics, and its culture.
We’re proud of their journey and deeply grateful to the hosts, speakers, alumni, and supporters who make this experience possible.
Onwards to DC, New York, Texas, before returning back to Minnesota to close out the program!
