Newsapalooza 2026: Day 2

Two days, one big theme: Local News Lives Here Join us for the third annual Newsapalooza at Point Park University! As always, at this two-day festival celebrating the future of local journalism, you’ll learn from and connect with the next generation of journalists, national and local industry experts, creators, and community members and leaders. And this year, we’ll celebrate a decade of innovation, as the Center for Media Innovation turns 10 years old! Day 2: Learn from national and local industry experts The day begins with a keynote conversation featuring Heidi Przybyla, an award-winning investigative journalist, president and founder of Get Real News, and former correspondent for NBC News, POLITICO and USA TODAY. Przybyla will be joined by Lexi Belculfine, assistant vice president and managing director of the Center for Media Innovation, for a discussion about the evolving media landscape and the future of journalism. Then, we’ll host conversations and opportunities to connect with fellow journalism and community leaders on topics including: Who Pays for News: Journalism costs money, and the old business model isn’t coming back. Nonprofit newsrooms are leaning on donors and foundations. Legacy papers are rethinking print, subscriptions, and advertising. Independent outlets are piecing together revenue. This panel brings together leaders from different corners of the industry to talk frankly about how they are working to sustain local news. Jess deRivera, associate director of programs, LION PublishersCindy Lash, vice president of news, 90.5 WESATammy Schuey, publisher/general manager, Butler EagleTowns With No News: What happens to a community when no one is covering it anymore? In towns across Southwestern Pennsylvania, local papers are shrinking or closing. This panel will talk about what a news desert looks like from the inside — and what it takes to bring reliable local information back to a place that has lost it. Rob Amen, managing editor, TribLiv