CLOSED: Call for Session Proposals
The Mental Health in Journalism Summit 2025 is dedicated to building collective resilience in times of uncertainty. We invited session proposals from media professionals, mental health and well-being experts, and leaders working to address industry challenges and inspire positive change.
What We Were Looking For
Our goal is for the Summit to be a space for learning, inspiration, and meaningful exchange. The program –one day in Spanish and two days in English– will highlight best practices and explore innovative strategies aimed at fostering a mentally healthy and sustainable journalism industry.
Sessions should ideally be rooted in a spirit of hope and focus on actionable, practical solutions.
We particularly encouraged submissions from individuals and organizations with extensive experience navigating challenging environments, especially those from the Global South. Their insights and experiences can provide invaluable lessons and inspiration for the global journalism community.
We welcomed proposals on a wide variety of topics at the intersection of journalism and mental health in the workplace, such as:
- Navigating Threats in a Changing World
Journalism today faces numerous threats including authoritarian pressures, censorship, misinformation, economic instability, online harassment, and physical danger. We invite sessions that explore strategies and practical responses to these significant threats, including how newsrooms can maintain emotional sustainability and uphold ethical standards in the rapid development of technologies such as AI.
- Building Healthy Journalism Workplaces
Creating a mentally healthy newsroom requires intentional effort and strategic courage. We welcome sessions that highlight successful approaches to empathetic and compassionate leadership, individual well-being practices, and transformative organizational cultures.
- Collective Resilience: Industry-wide Collaboration and Solidarity
Strengthening journalism as a resilient industry involves collaborative efforts and solidarity across organizations. Sessions should showcase cross-organizational initiatives, meaningful research, and share creative approaches aimed at bolstering collective resilience.
- Positive Impact Journalism: Content that Supports Mental Health
The stories we produce and the way we do them can significantly influence both the mental health of journalists and the communities they serve. Proposals should focus on journalism practices that are respectful to their sources and foster constructive narratives. We seek content strategies that bring real value to their audiences and challenge traditional narratives often dominated by negativity and fear.
Type of Sessions
When preparing their session proposals, applicants were asked to consider which of the following categories their idea aligned with best:
- Keynote (20 minutes): Inspiring talk suitable for large audiences, focused on motivation through personal expertise and experiences.
- Panel Discussion (50 minutes): Moderated discussion featuring 3-4 panelists on a relevant topic. Please list panelists in your proposal.
- Case Study (50 minutes): Presentation of practical experiences, successful initiatives, or research outcomes relevant to mental health and journalism.
- Interactive Workshop (50 minutes): Facilitated session involving active participant engagement, providing practical tools and techniques for immediate use.
- Lightning Talk (5 minutes): Concise presentation of an innovative idea.
The call for session proposals is now closed!
Thank you to everyone who submitted! We will contact applicants starting mid-July. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us at summit@theselfinvestigation.com
Please note that speakers will not be remunerated; if selected, participation will be on a pro bono basis.
Watch the info session about the call for Proposals
Organized by:
The Self-Investigation is a nonprofit organization that operates globally to catalyze a healthy work culture in the media industry. Our vision is driven by our belief that to sustain high-quality journalism, we need mentally healthy media professionals.
Co-funded by:
The Fred Foundation was created in 1996 by Fred Matser, a leading Dutch philanthropist, humanitarian and philosopher. The Fred Foundation supports social initiatives dedicated to living life in harmony – harmony with ourselves and each other, and with nature.
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