Where
Salt Lake City, Utah, in Little America Hotel. Book your room.
Registration is now open!
Featured keynote speakers
Abby Phillip
Anchor and Senior Political Correspondent, CNN
Abby Phillip is the anchor of NewsNight with Abby Phillip on CNN. She previously was CNN’s senior political correspondent and anchor of Inside Politics Sunday. She joined the network in 2017 to cover President Donald Trump’s first administration and served as a White House Correspondent through 2019. In January 2020, she moderated CNN’s Democratic presidential debate in Iowa. She also anchored special coverage of Election Night in America surrounding the 2020 election. In January 2021, she anchored CNN Special Report: Kamala Harris: Making History about the Harris’ barrier-breaking career and the childhood experiences that helped shape her.
Phillip previously worked at The Washington Post, ABC News and Politico. Throughout her career she has covered multiple presidents, campaign finance, lobbying and several presidential campaigns. Phillip was named to the Time 100 Next list in 2021 and was the recipient of the National Urban League’s Women of Power award. She is a member of the News Literacy Project’s board of directors.
Phillip was raised in Bowie, Maryland, and is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in government. When not on television, she spends time with her husband, daughter and their pup, Booker T.
Sharon McMahon
“America’s Government Teacher”
Sharon McMahon, #1 New York Times bestselling author, educator, and host of the chart-topping podcast “Here’s Where It Gets Interesting,” Sharon McMahon is redefining how we communicate by turning confusion into clarity, inspiring change, and teaching others how to take action by doing the next needed thing.
A former high school government and law teacher, Sharon became known as “America’s Government Teacher” during the 2020 election for her viral efforts to combat political misinformation. Her knack for breaking down complex topics with clarity, humor, and a steadfast commitment to facts has attracted a community of over one and a half a million followers—affectionately called the “Governerds.”
Sharon’s newsletter, The Preamble, is one of the largest publications on Substack, providing historical context and non-partisan insights to help readers navigate today’s political landscape. Her debut book, The Small and the Mighty, has been celebrated as one of 2024’s top reads by Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Goodreads, highlighting the unsung heroes who shaped America.
Beyond education, Sharon leads philanthropic initiatives that have raised over $11 million to address critical needs, from medical debt relief to disaster recovery. She inspires audiences with a message of hope: history shows us that even small actions can create powerful change.
Learn more at SharonMcMahon.com or follow her @SharonSaySo.
John Arthur
2021 Utah Teacher of the Year
John Arthur, a sixth-grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, was named the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year for his dedication to student-led learning and civic engagement. He empowers his diverse students through storytelling, technology and project-based learning, fostering a classroom where every voice matters.
Beyond teaching, Arthur advocates for equitable education and mentors fellow educators. A finalist for National Teacher of the Year, he amplifies student voices on national platforms, inspiring young learners to become leaders in their communities.
Registration rates
Who
District Fellows
Date
January 16-30
Rate
20% off $199 with promo code
Who
Group registration (4 or more)
Rate
10% off groups of 4 or more
Email conference@newslit.org for a special rate.
Who
Early bird
Date
January 16 – February 28
Rate
$199
Who
Standard
Date
March 1 – July 31
Rate
$299
Who
Late & Onsite
Date
August 1 – October 8
Rate
$349
Refund Policy
Early bird rate
This registration rate is offered at a discounted rate and is therefore nonrefundable. Once payment is submitted, no refunds will be issued for this registration rate. You may transfer this registration to another individual in your organization by September 30, 2026. All transfer requests must be submitted in writing to conference@newslit.org.
Cancellations and transfers
If you need to cancel your registration, we must have your request in writing. Written notice of cancellations can be sent to conference@newslit.org.
Cancellation requests received by May 31, 2026, will be refunded the full registration fee, minus a $35 handling fee.
Cancellation requests received between June 1 and September 4, 2026, will receive a 50% refund of registration fees, minus a $35 handling fee.
Cancellations requests received after September 4, 2026, will not be refunded. After that, no refunds will be issued; however, you may transfer registration to another individual in your organization until September 30, 2026.
All cancellations will be processed in the same manner as original payment. If paid by credit card, the refund will be issued in 10 business days. Payments made by check or by purchase order will be refunded as a check and may take up to 15 days after the conference to process.
Request for transfers of registration are allowed and must be submitted in writing to conference@newslit.org. Transfers are free of charge and must be submitted by September 30, 2026. Please include your registration number in the request.
Group registrations
For group registrations of four or more, contact conference@newslit.org for a special rate.
Purchase orders
We can accept purchase orders. You will be able to submit your PO online through the registration process. Please also email your purchase order to conference@newslit.org. Should you choose to register with a purchase order, full payment must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. ET on September 4, 2026.
Purchase orders may not be used on the early bird rate.
Refunds for canceled registrations will be issued in the same form as the original payment when possible.
The News Literacy Project does not award payment credit toward future services, products or events.
No-shows are not eligible for a refund.
The benefits
What can you expect from the National News Literacy Conference?
Presented by the News Literacy Project, the nation’s leader in K-12 news literacy education, the inaugural National News Literacy Conference will bring together educators and school leaders from across the U.S. for three days of professional development, networking and inspiration. Join us to hear from leading experts and gain new perspectives on news literacy education.
FAQs
Presented by the News Literacy Project, the nation’s leader in K-12 news literacy education, the inaugural National News Literacy Conference is for educators and school and district leaders interested in learning how to teach students to confidently navigate news and information online and to decide for themselves what to trust and what to dismiss.
Salt Lake City is easy to get to from many parts of the country, with an international airport served by major airlines. Surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City also is a great homebase for those who want to explore the area’s natural beauty. Easy to navigate and more affordable than many American cities, Salt Lake City is a leading conference destination.
Yes! Nine school districts in Utah are part of the News Literacy Project’s District Fellowship program, leading the way in participation among all states and we expect many local educators to attend.
Each participant will receive a certificate for continuing education credits. While we hope to provide more information in the coming weeks, please note that each state has different CEU requirements.
To keep the cost of registration affordable, hotel rooms and airfare are not included and must be booked separately. However, conference attendees receive a discount on rooms at Little America Hotel. You’ll find the booking link here.
The hotel manages all reservations. Please contact them directly.
We do not offer scholarships but are working to keep the conference accessible to all educators by keeping the cost of attending as affordable as possible. Registration includes access to all conference sessions, keynotes, workshops, (our networking dinner) and all materials. In addition, day passes will be available, including for the keynote session. We also have secured discounted hotel rates to help reduce travel costs.
The inaugural National News Literacy Conference will be offered exclusively as an in-person experience and there is no virtual or remote attendance option. The conference is designed to foster meaningful connection, collaboration and hands-on learning opportunities. We hope you’ll be able to join us in person at our inaugural gathering.
No. The sessions will not be recorded. We encourage you to join us on-site to fully engage with us, the sessions, our speakers and fellow educators!
Thank you for your interest in sponsoring our National News Literacy Conference. We offer a variety of sponsorship tiers. Click here to learn more about sponsorship levels and to connect with our team.
If you need to cancel your registration, please make your request in writing at conference@newslit.org. Our full refund policy can be found here.
Schedule at a glance:
- 7 – 8:30 a.m. Registration
- 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Opening General Session
- 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Breakout Session I
- 10:45 – 11 a.m. Break
- 11:00 a.m. – noon Breakout Session II
- Noon – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
- 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Session III
- 2:45 – 3 p.m. Break
- 3:45 – 4 p.m. Breakout Session IV
- 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Reception & Networking