Local News Summit 2026

Local News in a Digital World: Navigating the New Information Era

The New Mexico Local News Fund invites you to join us for the 2026 NMLNF Summit, a two-day national gathering focused on the future of local news and information. While rooted in New Mexico’s unique communities, this summit is designed to welcome participants from across the United States who care about how local news works—and how it can work better.

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In today’s rapidly shifting information landscape, the stakes have never been higher. Local news is under pressure from shrinking resources, misinformation, and the challenges of digital transformation. At the same time, communities everywhere are innovating, creating new pathways for truth, trust, and civic connection. This summit is about bringing those efforts together—across states, sectors, and experiences—to build a stronger information ecosystem for us all.

Topics we’ll explore include:

• AI + Cybersecurity in journalism and nonprofit communications
• Funding Models + Sustainability for local and rural news
• Civic Engagement through community-led storytelling
• Bilingual/Multilingual Media and expanding access to information
• Student Media + Emerging Voices shaping the next generation
• Philanthropy’s Role in building equitable information systems
• Tech + Storytelling Tools that are practical and people-centered
• Creative and Nontraditional Formats—from performance art to zines and beyond

Whether you are reporting from a rural town, experimenting with bilingual coverage, researching technology’s impact, or funding media innovation, this summit is designed to create space for collaboration and action.