Get excited about the upcoming awards - see below for last year's schedule to get a sense of programming and conference flow.

2025 Awards Schedule

Unless otherwise indicated, all conference activities take place at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30

Registration 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm   
Commons

Mixing Bowl  4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Real life discussions on various subjects in self-selected small groups. Use our “Ask Me About” tags to identify subjects where you can be a resource\

Opening Worship  5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Worship in Buchanan Chapel with Memorial Moments

Opening Reception  6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Opening Pizza Party at Giordano’s, 730 N. Rush Street, Chicago sponsored by Shanley & Associates. Join in fellowship for salad, pizza, dessert & sodas (alcohol on your own) – ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED

THURSDAY, MAY 1

Opening Prayer 8:30 am – 9:00 am   
Celeste Kennel-Shank will lead opening prayer in Buchanan Chapel.

Training & Discussion tracks—Session 1
9:15 am —10:30 am Workshops and roundtable discussions led by industry experts, on a variety of topics. 

Content
Covering Natural Disasters
How can journalists cover natural disasters without exploiting the tragedy? Are there practical tips for going to disaster-affected sites and producing quality pieces?
Bobby Ross, Jr., Editor-In-Chief, Christian Chronicle

People
What does your audience want? How can you use surveys, analytics and other data tools to better understand what your audience wants?
Heidi Thompson, Shanley & Associates. See more about Heidi Thompson.

Management
Rightsizing your organization
How can organizations discern the right mix of roles, staff and scope to achieve their missions?
Jennifer Rodia, United Methodist Communications & Lisa Drew, Lisa Drew Consulting 

Take a BREAK
10:30 am —10:45 am  Connect with others in Borwell Dining Room

General Session: Changing social media: Platforms, ethics & algorithms
10:45 am —noon  Understand what is changing in social media. With the potential shuttering of TikTok, the advent of BlueSky and changes to Meta’s fact-checking policies, how can journalists reach audiences ethically and easily?
Kevin Berrier, MDDC Press Association

Lunch with Keynote Speaker
Noon – 1:30 pm Lunch with Keynote Speaker Adelle Banks, who will discuss her new book “Becoming a Future-Ready Church: 8 Shifts to Encourage and Empower the Next Generation of Leaders”
Adelle Banks

Take a BREAK
1:30 pm —1:45 pm  Connect with others.

Training & Discussion tracks—Session 2
1:45 pm —3:00 pm  Workshops and roundtable discussions led by industry experts, on a variety of topics. 

Revenue Generation

Making the case for support
Tactical advice that will help you tell the story of your organization and need. This session works in tandem with Friday’s session on Making the Ask, but can be used as a standalone.
Askala Harris Calhoun, The Focus Group

Workflow

Using AI ethically
How can organizations take advantage of AI – ethically?
Florence Chee, Loyola University Chicago

Take a BREAK
3:00 pm —3:30 pm  Connect with others.

ACP Business Meeting
3:30 pm —4:00 pm  Annual meeting of ACP with a review of our work in 2024 and a look towards the future.

Explore and Dinner
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm  Free time to explore the city. Dinner is freestyle.

Fellowship: Second City Mainstage Outing
8:00 pm SHOWTIME. Gather at hotel for communal Ubers at 7:15 pm or meet the group at the Mainstage (1616 Wells Street). Join ACP at Chicago’s famed Second City Improv review. Tickets are general seating ($40 each).  Tickets are limited, so please reserve yours asap!

FRIDAY, MAY 2

Opening Prayer 8:30 am – 9:00 am   
Julian Davis Reid will share Notes of Rest as the Opening Prayer in Buchanan Chapel.

Training & Discussion tracks—Session 1
9:15 am —10:30 am  Workshops and roundtable discussions led by industry experts, on a variety of topics. 

Design/Multimedia

Maximizing your resources
Lee will facilitate a conversation about how organizations can maximize the tools and talents available to them to carry their message and mission. Bring your ideas and questions about what has worked for you.
Lee Catoe, Editor, Unbound

New Media

Podcast Doctor
Have questions about a podcast you’re conceptualizing or working on? Get expert advice about how to make a successful podcast from the host of “Rock that Doesn’t Roll: The Story of Christian Music” and story editor for “Red State Religions”, Andrew Gill. Bring your ailments to the Podcast Doctor!
Andrew Gill, Podcast & Story Editor, andrewgill.biz and Rebecca Snyder, ACP Executive Director

Revenue Generation

Best Practices: New Revenue Streams

Bring your best ideas and discuss the new revenue streams that are showing promise – this is an interactive, facilitated discussion. Sponsored emails, extra copy sales, webinars can all contribute to the bottom line.
Rose Schrott Taylor, Heidi Thompson – Facilitator

Take a BREAK

10:30 am —10:45 am  Connect with others in Borwell Dining Room.

Training & Discussion tracks—Session 2

10:45 am —noon  Workshops and roundtable discussions led by industry experts, on a variety of topics. 

Audience

Get Curious before Furious
Meeting audiences where they are, inspired by “Get Curious before Furious”, the intercultural development module at North Park Theological Seminary.
Cheryl Lynn Cain, North Park Theological Seminary

Innovation

Reaching new audiences through non-traditional forums
How can journalists meet new audiences in different ways and spaces? Learn from Julian Davis Reid’s experience founding Notes of Rest.
Julian Davis Reid, Artist-Theologian, Founder of Notes of Rest

Revenue Generation

Making the ask
Inviting prospective donors to the work and setting up a relational ask in four stages.
Askala Harris Calhoun, The Focus Group

Lunch with Keynote Speaker
Noon – 1:30 pm Lunch with Keynote Speaker

Bringing the Community into the work
City Bureau Chicago is an innovative journalism lab reimagining local media. Through their civic reporting programs, Documenters Network and Public Newsroom, they equip people with the skills and resources to engage in critical public conversations and produce information that directly addresses people’s needs. Drawing from their work in Chicago, City Bureau aims to equip every community with the tools it needs to eliminate information inequity to further liberation, justice and self-determination.
Ariel Cheung, Editorial Director, City Bureau Chicago

Explore the city
1:30 pm —5:30 pm  FREE TIME.

Reception
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm  Pre-dinner Reception

Awards Dinner & Program
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Winners of the 2024 awards will be honored.

2025 Awards Photos