FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, OCT. 24 - 25

ALL EVENTS WILL BE HELD ON THE UNT CAMPUS IN DENTON, TEXAS

Mayborn Conference registrants may check in at the opening reception starting on Friday from 5 - 6 p.m.
 
The opening reception is at 5 p.m., but conference events begin at 12 p.m. See below for details.


FRIDAY EVENTS


FRIDAY - WRITERS’ WORKSHOPS
Sycamore Hall, Second Floor

 
Registration required
 
12 - 12:30  p.m.
Check In
 
12:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Workshop Sessions
 

FRIDAY - PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS
Willis Library, 250H

2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Photography Masterclass with 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winner Stacy Kranitz
Sponsored by Hatch Visuals
Moderated by Kael Alford


FRIDAY - DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWCASE
RTVF & Performing Arts Building, Ground Floor

11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Check In & Red Carpet

12 - 2 p.m.
Feature Film Screening: The Librarians
Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Janique L. Robillard & librarian Audrey Wilson-Youngblood
Moderated by Tania Khalaf

2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Documentary Shorts Block: Three short docs

  • Death by Numbers
  • Sanctuary
  • Sallie’s Ashes

Followed by Q&A with filmmakers Janique L. Robillard, John Haley, Julia Szromba & Brennan Robideaux
Moderated by Brandon Gaesser

5 - 6 p.m.
Mayborn Conference Opening Reception

6 - 8:30 p.m.
Feature Film Screening: The Stringer
Followed by Q&A with Gary Knight and Constance Hale
Moderated by Thorne Anderson

SATURDAY EVENTS

 
9 - 9:30 a.m.
Registration Check In
 
9:30 - 9:45 a.m.

Dean's Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:45 – 11 a.m.
“Going Long: When and how to draw a story out”
Gina Barton, Constance Hale, & Mike Piellucci
Moderated by Gus Bova

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
“Depth of Focus: Biography as lens”
Benjamin Moser & Anna Malaika Tubbs
Moderated by Jeff Whittington

12:30 – 2 p.m.
Lunch on site
Jade Ballroom, Room 333 

1:45 – 2 p.m.
Musical performance by Jeff Whittington
Jade Ballroom, Room 333

2 – 3:15 p.m.
“Light in Dark Places: Immigration stories”
Steve Padilla & Edgar Sandoval
Moderated by Roxanna Asgarian 

3:30 – 4:45 p.m.
“Of Nature and Narrative: Science writing that changes everything”
Wendy Johnson & Jason Roberts
Moderated by Constance Hale

5 – 6 p.m.
“From Concept to Contract: Pitching & promoting your work”
J.K. Nickell & Andrea Pitzer
Moderated by Claire St. Amant

Bruzzy’s Patio, UNT University Union 406

6 – 7 p.m.
Reception and Author Book Signing
Diamond Eagle Suite / Bruzzy’s Patio, Fourth Floor, Room 406

7 - 8:30 p.m.
Keynote Dinner and Presentation Event
Emerald Ballroom, UNT University Union 314

Keynote Speaker: Kavitha Surana of ProPublica with Stacy Kranitz 
Winners of 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
Moderated by Tracy Everbach