From June 17 to 22, the Newseum will host 51 of the nation's top high school journalists for the 2017 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. The Free Spirit conference, an initiative of the Newseum Institute, is an annual academic and scholarship program designed to inspire and equip some of the nation's best and brightest students to pursue journalism and media careers. The program began in 1999 to honor Al Neuharth, the founder of USA TODAY, the Newseum and the Freedom Forum.
Through presentations, meetings and experiences at the Newseum and elsewhere in Washington, the students will learn about the First Amendment as a cornerstone of democracy and the vital role of a free and responsible press. Students will study the three branches of government and how journalists cover them.