EVENT
MediaStrong 2026 Agenda
WHEN: 13 July 2026
Explore the agenda of the MediaStrong 2026 Symposium for journalists, focused on improving mental health supports in newsrooms.
14:00
Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Isa Soares, Anchor CNN
- Mathew Green, Former Foreign Correspondent, Reuters & Financial Times
- Prof. Karen Fowler-Watt, Head of Department of Journalism, City St George’s, University of London
- Leona O’Neill, Founder, MediaStrong
- James Scurry, Co-founder, Safely Held Spaces; Senior Producer, Sky News
- Kristian Porter, CEO, Public Media Alliance
14:25
Keynote
Caroline Wyatt, BBC Radio 4 presenter, veteran foreign correspondent
A personal and professional reflection on reporting from the frontline in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo and how she managed the trauma she experienced.
14:40
Learning from Other Professions
David Davis, Chief Clinical Information Officer, London Ambulance Service, NHS
15:00
Leadership Panel: Changing newsroom mindsets and cultures from top down
Senior newsroom leaders discuss the challenges of leading teams through unprecedented change, increasing workload and exposure to trauma.
Moderator: Kristian Porter, CEO, Public Media Alliance
Panelists:
- Aya Ibrahim, Head of Current Affairs, Deutsche Welle
- Tim Singleton, Former Head of International News, Sky News & Former Deputy Editor & Director of Newsgathering, ITV News
- Laura Wilshaw, Editor, ITV News
15:35
Break
15:50
Research Spotlight: Online Harrassment
Presentation of current research into online harassment and its impact on journalists.
- Lea Hellmueller, Reader/Associate Professor in Journalism, Associate Dean (Research and Innovation)
- Professor Julie Posetti, Chair of the Centre for Journalism and Democracy & Professor of Journalism
16:05
Online Harassment – Notes from the coalface
Rebecca Whittington, Online Safety Editor, Reach
16:10
Panel Discussion: Online Frontline – Virtual Hostile Environments
What journalists are facing, exploring practical approaches to protecting journalists and how we can support those targeted by abuse.
Moderator: Rebecca Whittington, Online Safety Editor, Reach
Panellists:
- Katrina Chivler, Editor, Reach
- Aurélie Didier, Deputy Director of News and Sport, RTBF
- Elisabet Cantenys, Executive Director, ACOS Alliance
16:45
Trauma, Storytelling and Journalism
- James Scurry, Co-founder, Safely Held Spaces, Senior Producer, Sky New
Safely Held Spaces trauma-informed newsroom programmes, how to report on mental health stories and trauma accurately and impartially, and the missed opportunities during the Valdo Calocane coverage - Jo Healy, CEO, Talkwith
How trauma impacts our storytelling and ability to connect with sources.
17:05
Keynote
Robert Nisbet, Former Sky News and BBC Correspondent
Reflecting on his deployments to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake; being detained in Aleppo while secretly filming as the Syrian Civil War unfolded (cited by Hillary Clinton as the first prima facie evidence that the civil war was spreading beyond Damascus); and going undercover at the Westboro Baptist Church — as a gay man infiltrating an anti-gay church with very little support on the ground.
17:25
Closing Remarks & Call to Action
What happens next for MediaStrong and how attendees can help drive change across the industry.