We have an update to share for the 2026 IIJ freelance conference: unfortunately, Karen Attiah had to cancel her live appearance due to a family emergency. We wish her well and will work to bring a conversation with her to you—even if it’s weeks from now.

Fortunately, award-winning education reporter Kavitha Cardoza stepped up to deliver the keynote at our 2026 conference!

Kavitha has spent more than two decades covering children, education, health, and poverty, with bylines in NPR, the Washington Post, the Guardian, the 19th, Christian Science Monitor, BBC World News, and the Hechinger Report. A recipient of the 2026 American Mosaic Journalism Prize® and the Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship at Columbia University, Kavitha brings a global lens and deep reporting experience to this moment. She’ll be in conversation with Valeria Fernández, founder and executive director of Altavoz Lab, about accountability journalism, community-rooted reporting, and what it takes to sustain this work long term. We can’t wait for you to hear from her on March 5.

The IIJ Freelance Conference, hosted on SoundPath, is built specifically for independent journalists and creator-solopreneurs who want both strategy and community. Join us March 5 and 6 for 12 live virtual sessions on ethical AI tools, pitching stories that make an impact, securing fellowships, revenue diversification, and building a sustainable freelance business. You’ll meet editors from outlets including The New York Times, Business Insider, Eater, Education Week, The Hechinger Report, Defector, and more, and connect during informal networking sessions designed to help you find your people. Every registration also includes a bonus bundle of pitch guides for more than 20 publications, over 10 hours of recorded Q&A’s with editors, and a freelance toolbox filled with sample budgets, contracts, and other practical resources. All this for just $89 if you register before 11:59 p.m. ET this Friday, Feb. 27.