Career Day helps journalists, media professionals with practical skills needed for job search

Kris Seavers, program coordinator, National Press Club Journalism Institute

March 24, 2026

Three months into another year shaken by journalism job layoffs and media business shutterings, job seekers heard from industry leaders and learned practical skills to boost their opportunities at the National Press Club’s third annual Career Day.

Nearly 200 journalists and media professionals registered for the third annual Career Day. Photo by Joseph Luchok

Nearly 200 journalists and media professionals registered for the professional development event held on Friday, March 20, which featured five trainings and workshops, a pop-up professional headshot studio, and a hall of media recruiters offering information on job openings in their newsrooms.

"Career Day has quickly become a signature National Press Club event," said Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. "This year's sessions offered practical advice and helped journalists and communicators develop useful skills to navigate a challenging job market. Whether participants were seeking a new position after being laid off, striving to ascend to a more senior role or trying to launch their careers, they joined a supportive community at the Club."

For the last three years, the National Press Club Journalism Institute has partnered with the Club to produce the daylong conference as a service to members and to the wider journalism community. The Institute, which is the Club’s nonprofit affiliate, delivers dozens of virtual and in-person trainings annually that emphasize practical, actionable takeaways.

"Career Day offers us the rare opportunity to meet job seekers at a pivotal point in their careers," NPCJI Training Manager Elliot C. Williams said.

Andrew Seaman, editor-at-large at LinkedIn, discussed staying motivated during a job search. Photo by Daniel Woolfolk

"The professional journalists, communicators, and students who take time to show up in person are often looking for a gentle nudge or jolt of motivation to help them land their next opportunity,” he said. “It was an honor to provide that support this year through our wonderful lineup of speakers, pop-up resume reviews, and networking opportunities."

Career Day’s lineup of events included a cover letter workshop hosted by NPCJI Executive Director Beth Francesco, a job-hunting strategy session with LinkedIn career development expert Andrew Seaman, and a panel with hiring managers from Bloomberg Industry Group, USA Today Co., and American City Business Journals.

“At a time of rapid change in journalism, our career conference is about helping talented, experienced professionals stay in the field, adapt, and continue doing the work communities depend on,” Francesco said. “Journalists are resilient by nature. Career Day is about equipping them with the tools, connections, and confidence to navigate change and seize new opportunities.”

Several did, she said. One recruiter shared they’d made three job offers to Career Day attendees, and several participants said they’d landed interviews in the coming weeks. Job seekers also had the opportunity to receive support and feedback on their resumes from National Press Club volunteers.

“Even though I've been in the field for over 25 years, and now working through a job loss, I still gained a ton of knowledge about cover letters, staying agile, and pivoting,” one attendee wrote in the post-event survey.

Aundrea Cline-Thomas, founder The Rewrite newsletter, gave advice on entrepreneurship. Photo by Joe Luchok

Professional photographers Melissa Lyttle and Lexey Swall took headshots onsite, rounding out a day designed around supporting journalists in a volatile job market. In the survey shared with attendees who answered anonymously after the event, the headshots stood out as a favorite of the day.

The program offerings also addressed journalists who may be considering a pivot away from traditional reporting. Aundrea Cline-Thomas, an Emmy award-winning news anchor and founder of Mountain Court Media and The Rewrite newsletter, shared her advice on expanding one’s career into entrepreneurship and media strategy.