In January 2025, Southern California faced devastating wildfires that resulted in at least 29 fatalities, the destruction of thousands of structures, and widespread evacuations and power outages across the Greater Los Angeles area. The Palisades Fire, which ignited in January, consumed over 23,000 acres and severely impacted surrounding communities.

Meanwhile, President Donald J. Trump, who began his second term on January 20, 2025, has launched a political offensive in both domestic and international politics − escalating efforts to centralise executive power, challenging academic institutions and the media, and reigniting tensions with traditional U.S. allies while engaging in talks with authoritarian regimes.

For the fourth edition, the Harbingers’ Magazine Newsroom annual conference moves from Oxford to Los Angeles. During the 10-day workshop, students will engage in News Reporting, Opinion writing and Feature writing, combined with podcast recording and work with a video camera to provide coverage of the state of affairs from California half a year into Donald Trump’s second term in the White House.

Programme

For ten days participants will work with professional journalists from Harbingers’ Academy. Depending on their progress in Harbingers’ Magazine [link to career ladder], they will select up to three modules:

• Reporting focuses on gathering facts, verifying information, and presenting news in a clear, objective, and engaging manner.
• Time-Sensitive Reporting challenges students to cover unfolding events under time constraints, emphasizing accuracy and clarity.
• Opinion writing teaches students how to express well-argued perspectives, balancing personal insight with journalistic integrity.
• Feature Writing (Explainer) involves breaking down complex topics into accessible, well-structured narratives that inform and educate the reader.
• Feature Writing (Analysis) enables students to explore trends and developments in-depth, connecting facts with broader societal implications.
• Feature Writing (Interview) teaches students how to conduct insightful interviews, extract compelling quotes, and construct engaging narratives around their subjects.

Written journalism forms will be supported with multimedia techniques: Podcasting and Video Reporting.

Articles will be driven by participants’ interests, knowledge, and further educational plans, ensuring their reporting contributes to their academic future. By the end of the conference, the participant will have produced a portfolio of up to three stories reflecting their unique perspective.

All articles and audiovisual materials will be published in Harbingers’ Magazine.

Daily Schedule

July 21 (Monday) – Arrival

• All day: Arrivals and check-in at The LINE Hotel LA (double ensuite rooms, single occupancy)
• 18:00 – 19:30: Welcome & Inauguration Dinner
• 19:30 – 20:30: Introduction session: Lecture and workshop with Stas Skarzynski, the founder and Director of the Harbinger Media project.

July 22-31 – Los Angeles Newsroom

• 08:00 – 09:30: Breakfast
• 10:00 – 12:00: Journalism Workshop – Session 1
• 12:00 – 13:00: Lunch
• 13:00 – 15:00: Journalism Workshop – Session 2
• 15:30 – 18:00: Sports, sightseeing, and cultural activities
• 18:00 – 20:00: Dinner

August 1 (Friday) – Departure

• 08:00 – 12:00: Breakfast & Departures

FAQ:

Age & Language Requirements:

• The Harbingers’ Magazine Los Angeles Newsroom conference is limited to eight students in pre-university education.
• Advised age is 15 and above.
• The conference is held in English. While participants are not required to provide official certification, a reasonable guideline for proficiency is IELTS 6.5 or above to ensure students can fully engage in workshops, discussions, and assignments.
• Students must have a phone and bring a laptop or tablet with a full keyboard.

Instructors & Guest Speakers:

• The Harbingers’ Academy instructors and supervisors are professional journalists and media workers, ensuring students receive high-quality mentorship throughout the programme.
• All instructors and supervisors have undergone comprehensive background checks and safeguarding training to provide a safe and supportive learning environment.
• The intended instructor-to-student ratio is 1:2, allowing for personalized guidance, direct feedback, and close engagement with each participant.
• In addition to the core journalism workshops, the conference will feature three special lectures delivered by experienced professionals. These sessions will provide deeper insights into critical media, journalism, and storytelling topics, enriching students’ understanding of the field and expanding their perspectives.

Logistics & Travel:

• Participants will stay in single-occupancy ensuite rooms, ensuring privacy and comfort throughout the conference. The newsroom’s conference rooms are in the same hotels where attendees will be accommodated.
• The conference officially begins on July 22 in Los Angeles.
• At the end of the conference, we can assist with travel arrangements from Nagasaki, whether participants need transportation back to Tokyo via bullet train or flights from Nagasaki Airport.

Conference Fee:

• The conference fee covers: Participation fee (including all workshops and lectures), full-board accommodation (single-occupancy ensuite rooms), conference space and facilities, all travel during the conference, expenses related to journalism assignments (e.g., research materials, access fees), cultural activities (sports, sightseeing, and excursions)
• The fee does not cover: Travel and medical insurance (participants must arrange their coverage), transportation to and from Los Angeles, discretionary spending (personal expenses, souvenirs, additional activities outside the program).