2026 Career Day at the National Press Club

Join us from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET for a high-impact day designed for journalists and communicators navigating one of the most challenging job markets our industry has seen in years. Career Day is built to help you adapt, reposition, and move forward with confidence.

This year’s programming includes specialized training on staying strategic and motivated after job loss — plus practical, hands-on workshops to help you compete in today’s market. Along with visiting news recruiters who are hiring, you’ll refresh your résumé, design or elevate your portfolio website, sharpen your professional pitch, and connect directly with peers and mentors who can help you get to your next step. Schedule details will be posted here soon.

Whether you attend for the full program or drop in for a focused session, you’ll leave with tangible skills, actionable next steps, and something just as important: renewed momentum and community during a time of uncertainty.

Who should attend:

• Mid-career professionals looking to move up — or pivot into new roles or sectors
• Journalists and media professionals recently laid off and ready to regroup and relaunch
• Early-career professionals searching for their next newsroom or communications opportunity
• Journalism and communications students preparing to enter a competitive field

Get your ticket early. Our popular pop-up headshot studio returns with a limited number of professional photography appointments. Reserve your headshot with the purchase of your ticket — first come, first served. (Once sold out, you’ll be added to the waitlist.)

Bonus: Career Day ticket holders can make the National Press Club their office for the day, with exclusive access to the Career Day lounge and workroom — a built-in networking hub for collaboration, connection, and opportunity.

In a shifting media landscape, standing still isn’t an option. Join us, build your strategy, and take your next step forward.

Check back for more details.

Newsrooms: Hiring now, or building your pipeline? Click here to learn how to reserve a recruiter booth, or contact Executive Director Beth Francesco at bfrancesco@press.org.

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members from nearly every leading news organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes First Amendment values by equipping journalists in Washington, D.C., and nationwide with the skills, knowledge, standards, resources, and networks to empower and inform the public. NPCJI is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club.