SEJ2026 Session Pitch Guide

SEJ invites members to shape programming for our 2026 conference (April 15-18) with proposals that reflect the depth and diversity of the field of environmental journalism, spanning the media ecosystems of our host city Chicago, from the Great Lakes to around the globe. 

Submit a well-developed proposal that clearly defines your session’s focus, learning outcomes and the expertise your speakers will bring to the room. Whether you are a seasoned reporter, editor, educator, researcher or just starting out, we want to highlight the stories, skills and solutions that will shape the future of environmental journalism and SEJ’s community.

Learn more about the tracks and session formats, below, before submitting your session. We’re excited to see what you’ll bring to SEJ2026!

Submitting a tour idea? Use this link.

Page Sections
Tracks
Session Types
Form Preview & Details
Selection Process
Key Dates
FAQ
Submission Link

 

Tracks
Session proposals should align with one of the following beat tracks, each reflecting key priorities in environmental journalism and regional relevance. If your idea crosses more than one track, note this in your description.

• Agriculture & Food Systems
• Clean Energy, Renewables & Green Tech
• Climate, Science & Extreme Weather
• Conservation, Land & Indigenous Stewardship
• Water, Oceans & Great Lakes
• Public Health & Environmental Justice

Track guides are here to help, as subject matter experts appointed to review submissions, offer feedback and help curate sessions for SEJ2026 that are timely, inclusive and reflective of environmental journalism’s most compelling issues and solutions. They read and score submissions, and where proposals overlap, they may recommend combining or refining sessions to sharpen a session’s focus and avoid duplication.

 

Session Types
Panel: Presentations from two to three speakers led by a moderator

• Description: A moderated discussion that brings together journalists, researchers, community voices and/or industry experts. Panels should focus on a clear theme or question, with room for different viewpoints or case studies. The moderator is responsible for guiding the conversation and engaging the audience in Q&A.
• Best For: Diverse perspectives on a shared topic or issue.

Mini-Workshop: Hands-on, interactive session led by one or more facilitators

• Description: Mini-workshops are designed for active learning and participation. Attendees should leave with new skills, resources or frameworks they can immediately apply to their work. Think of it as a team working session, not a lecture.
• Best For: Skill-building, tool training or collaborative solutions seeking.

 

Form Preview & Details
To preview the questions on the submission form, please log into your SEJ account.

Session Coordinator: Serves as the primary organizer of the session as the main point of contact with the Track Guide. They are responsible for submitting the proposal and ensuring all elements are completed by the deadline. If the session is accepted, the Session Coordinator manages communication between the conference team and speakers, ensures speakers complete registration and coordinates session logistics and updates. 

The Session Coordinator may serve as the session’s moderator, but this is not required. If someone else will serve in that role, please note this clearly in your proposal. All speaking roles should be listed separately. Only one person should be designated as the Session Coordinator.

Track: Choose the content track(s) that most closely aligns with your session topic. Tracks help attendees filter and find sessions that match their professional interests or coverage areas. If your proposal doesn’t clearly fit into an existing track, select the closest match and feel free to briefly explain in the session description.

Session Type: Choose the session format that best supports your topic and presentation goals. Please reference the Session Types section of this guide for explanation of each format. Session format impacts room setup and speaker limit. You may be asked to adjust your format during the selection process.

Session Title: Your session title is often the first thing attendees see, so aim to make it clear, concise and compelling. Choose a title that communicates the essence of the session topic and encourages attendees to learn more. Avoid jargon, puns that may not translate or language that is too vague or technical.

Session Description: Use this section to provide a full picture of your session proposal. What is the central focus or question? Why is it important right now? What makes your session different from others on this topic? Your description should help reviewers understand the scope and relevance of the session and why it matters to the journalism community.

Please do not include names of speakers or organizations here, as they will be submitted separately. If selected, this description may be edited for clarity and length.

Moderator & Speakers: Provide the names, titles and affiliations of the suggested speakers you’re proposing for your session. Each session should have no more than four speakers. At the submission stage, speakers do not need to be confirmed, but we encourage you to suggest a well-rounded lineup that reflects:

• Subject-matter expertise, including lived experience
• Diversity of perspectives, identities and geographies
• Representation across experience levels or sectors

Speakers play a critical role in the selection process. Proposals with thoughtful, balanced speaker suggestions are more likely to be successful. Please keep in mind that moderators count toward speaker limits. Moderators guide the conversation and ensure a balanced discussion.

Subcategories: Include three to five keywords or short phrases that reflect the key themes or topics of your session. These help with categorization, searchability and placement within the conference schedule.

Target Audience: Who is this session designed for? Be as specific as possible about the intended audience. This could include roles (e.g., editors, students, freelancers), experience levels (early-career, veteran journalists), beats (environment, health, politics) or organizational types (newsrooms, nonprofits, academia).

Why this session?: Write a compelling, public-facing pitch for your session. Keep in mind that this is not a summary of the session structure — focus on the value to attendees. This response may be used in conference promotional materials.

 

Selection Process

1. Pitch Collection: Submissions are open October 20 through November 30 via Submittable (link below), collecting information for the session.
2. Review & Shortlist: Track Guides review all pitches for the specific track and select standout proposals for the conference. 
3. Draft Program Development: Conference Subcommittee (composed of local and regional journalists, editors and academics in the Great Lakes area) with the support of SEJ’s Programs Committee will finalize selections.
4. Speaker Notification & Session Confirmation: Speakers are confirmed and a preliminary schedule will be published on the conference website.
5. Final Program Release: The final agenda will be published with additional program details, such as Beat Dinners.

Relevance & Originality
This considers how well the proposed session aligns with the themes of SEJ2026 and connects with one or more of the established beat tracks. Strong proposals should offer timely, fresh insights that bring new perspectives to persistent environmental challenges or highlight emerging trends, helping advance the conversation within the journalism community.

Inclusive & Interconnected
This area evaluates how well the session incorporates diverse voices, cross-disciplinary perspectives and intersections across beat tracks within the conference themes. Strong proposals demonstrate thoughtful and complex storytelling, encompassing a global perspective. The best sessions connect dots between issues, communities and journalism practices, offering relevance to a wide range of attendees, especially those centering impacted people.

Purpose & Takeaways
Track Guides will look at how clearly the proposal articulates its goals and intended outcomes. Strong proposals have a focused purpose, whether it’s introducing a new dialogue, sharing valuable tools or frameworks or building reporting skills. Proposals should clearly state what attendees will learn, gain or be equipped to act on as a result of participating.

Team Composition
This category assesses the composition of the session team, including moderators and speakers. Strong proposals feature moderators and speakers with subject matter expertise and diverse lived and professional experiences. Teams that reflect a mix of representation of news organizations (size and sector), geographies and identities are especially encouraged.

 

Key Dates

• Call for Session Proposals Opens: October 20, 2025
• Submission Deadline: November 30 extended to December 14
• Track Guides Review & Select Submissions: December 1 - 19, 2025
• Notification to Selected Sessions: December 19, 2025 - January 30, 2026

 

FAQ

What are the different session types I can propose?
You can choose from the following session formats:

• Panel: A moderated discussion with two to three speakers, ideal for diverse perspectives on a common theme.
• Mini-Workshop: A hands-on, interactive session focused on skill-building or tool-sharing.

Who can submit a session proposal?
Only SEJ members can submit session proposals. Join SEJ here. SEJ values fresh voices and diverse perspectives. If you are not eligible to join, there are other ways to get involved — as a volunteer, mentor or sponsor. 

Do I need to confirm speakers before submission?
No. You may submit proposals without confirmed speakers, but please indicate who you plan to invite. As coordinator of the session, you will be responsible for confirming and communicating with speakers once it is accepted.

How are session proposals reviewed and selected?
Proposals will be reviewed by Track Guides, who are volunteer subject matter experts in each of the SEJ2026 beat tracks. They will evaluate submissions based on:

• Relevance & Originality
• Inclusive & Interconnected
• Purpose & Takeaways
• Team Composition

Track Guides then recommend selected sessions in their track to the Conference Subcommittee, who will help finalize the conference program.

Can I submit a proposal that covers multiple tracks?
Yes, feel free to indicate if your session spans more than one track. Choose up to the two best tracks that reflect your session.

If my proposal is accepted, what does SEJ pay for? 
Accepted coordinators and speakers receive complimentary registration for the day of their session. They may purchase full four-day registration at a deep discount of $90. A limited pool of travel support is available for speakers with demonstrated need.

What makes a strong proposal?
Reviewers are looking for timely sessions with a defined audience, strong takeaways and a balance of voices and expertise. Include a working title, learning outcomes and concise session goals focusing on the value to attendees.

I have expertise in one of the #SEJ2026 tracks. How can I apply to be a Track Guide?
Track Guides are selected by the Programs Committee. If you’re interested in being considered for this volunteer role, contact conference@sej.org. 

When will I hear back?
Notifications will go out between December 19, 2025 and January 30, 2026. 

When and how can I submit a proposal for an all-day workshop or tour?
Proposals for all-day workshops or tours follow a separate process from concurrent session submissions. Use this link to submit a tour idea.

 

Submission Link
Ready to submit your session proposal? Please log into your SEJ account to access the submission link.

Not an SEJ member? Join our community here.