Coffee and Conversation: Introducing Pillars Bylines
We’re excited to invite you to join us for Coffee and Conversation as we launch our newest program, Pillars Bylines, on Wednesday, April 1 in Chicago.
Join us for a dialogue with Ahmed Ali Akbar, Noreen Nasir (AP), and Maryam Adamu (Acacia Magazine), multimedia and culture journalists whose reporting, storytelling, and editorial leadership are expanding who gets to shape the narratives that define our communities and shape what’s possible for the next generation of journalists. We’ll also be joined by Lauren Pabst, Senior Program Officer for Journalism and Media at the MacArthur Foundation, who will share reflections on the state of the field.
Coffee will be served from Chicago’s own Monday Coffee.
Coffee and Conversation
Introducing the Pillars Bylines, a fellowship for Muslim Culture Journalists
Wednesday, April 1 | 9:00 am
A functioning democracy depends on a vibrant, independent press shaped by a range of voices. Culture journalists— those who work across print, broadcast, podcasts, newsletters, and digital media — serve the public by informing and reflecting communities back to themselves, holding power to account, and helping people participate in civic life.
At home and abroad, journalists are being targeted, and Muslim journalists are leaving the field: by force and by choice. There has always been a clear abundance of talent in the industry, but the conditions of the system within this industry are harming, disempowering, and suppressing that talent for Muslim journalists to thrive. Whether working at major wire services or building independent digital platforms, Muslim journalists remain significantly underrepresented across the media landscape, particularly in positions of editorial influence and investigative authority, as systemic barriers continue to limit access to stable careers and institutional support.
Pillars Bylines exists to support early career culture journalists with financial resources, community, and professional development as they navigate an industry that spans both legacy institutions and emerging digital spaces.
We hope you’ll join us for coffee, conversation, and this first look!