Last week, nearly 200 Report for America corps members gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the 2026 National Gathering. Representing 161 newsrooms, and 45 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, the event convened current corps members, speakers, trainers, newsroom partners, alumni and staff for two days of programming centered around strengthening journalistic skills and building community.
Reflecting on Report for America’s beginnings and rapid growth, Rachel Rohr, vice president of program operations, delivered the opening remarks.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished as a program,” she said. “We launched with three reporters in Appalachia in 2018. And to date, we have supported more than 800 corps members. It’s amazing the impact that this program has had, and you’re all part of that.”
Keynote speakers Dean Baquet of The New York Times, who is a board member, and Terry Baquet of Verite News, kicked off Day 1 with a conversation that ranged from their journalistic roots in New Orleans, to the unique role of Report for America in kickstarting local news careers, to the critical urgency of delivering local news to devastated communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
On Day 2, keynote speaker Tonya Mosley, co-host of NPR’s “Fresh Air,” encouraged journalists to consider their critical role as leaders in the future of local news.
“We need a new generation of qualified builders to create new models because that is also the task ahead,” she said. “And many of you are already part of those new models, and the more you know outside of the craft of journalism, the more that you will be able to help our industry build what is coming next.”
Also present was Report for America alumna Ginny Monk, of the Connecticut Mirror, who won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting for exposing how the state’s towing laws favored companies that overcharged residents. Her coverage led to swift bipartisan consensus and meaningful consumer protection reforms. In a conversation guided by Report for America regional manager Catie Talarski, Monk reflected on what the “On the Hook” series taught her about community-engaged reporting.
“We launched a really big community engagement effort,” she said. “We printed out flyers in English and Spanish and spent several Saturdays and evenings door-knocking, going around to zip codes where we knew there was a lot of towing happening. We ended up talking to 120 people for this story who would have their vehicles towed.”
The days were shaped by workshops and beat-specific sessions led by industry experts, and covered topics like writing for radio, trauma-informed coverage in the aftermath of disasters, protecting against doxxing, AI usage and more.
The event also featured an alumni panel, “Life After RFA,” moderated by regional manager Maria Elena Fernandez, where former corps members gave candid advice on navigating newsroom culture, leveraging existing resources and strengthening career trajectories.
Five corps members were elected to serve in the corps member advisory council, the group that advises Report for America’s leadership on behalf of the corps: Dina Weinstein (Henrico Citizen), Estefanía Pinto Ruiz (Enlace Latino NC), Fernando Figueroa (The Ithaca Voice), Lyric Aquino (Underscore Native News) and Macy Lipkin (KUER). They join the ranks of six corps members who are continuing to serve on the Council.
As she wrapped up her remarks, Mosley left corps members with some reflections.
“What are the stories you want to have access to, to understand the cities and the towns that you’re covering and how they arrived at where they are in that moment in history? Our stories are never-ending,” she said. “They are a continuation built upon the previous generations. Think of it this way, that the party is not over, a new one is starting. And you’re the ones who are setting up the room.”