The Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) will convene its annual symposium for a cohort of 30 community-centered journalists on May 7 and 8, 2027, at its facility in Columbia, Missouri. This gathering is designed for practitioners who wish to engage in sustained, critical dialogue about the role of journalism in community service, and who seek to build collaborative solutions across newsrooms, roles, teams, and organizations. The symposium operates under Chatham House rules, ensuring an off-the-record environment where participants may freely exchange ideas and later apply insights without attribution unless express permission is granted. This is not a traditional conference with passive attendance; it is a working symposium where selected journalists will brainstorm, build, and collaborate on ideas and solutions that can benefit the broader field. The curatorial vision emphasizes thoughtful, actionable approaches to community-centered journalism, prioritizing honesty and critical reflection over promotional or superficial discourse. Participants are expected to contribute actively to conversations that challenge and refine their own practices in service to their communities. Those accepted into the symposium will receive further details upon selection, as outlined by RJI. The institute’s institutional scope—rooted in the Missouri School of Journalism and dedicated to advancing journalism’s practice and study—lends the symposium a rigorous, practice-oriented ethos. There is no submission fee, and the deadline for applications is October 17, 2026.