Journalists must sift through fact and fiction, truth and hyperbole, to accurately tell compelling stories that inform and educate the public.

For 2020, we'll offer a wide range of journalists and authors who have been on the frontlines of reporting and writing narratives about how government agencies and private companies have tried their best to obfuscate the truth and mislead the public.

The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is a forum for journalists, writers, readers, students, educators and the general public to listen to, be inspired by and practice their craft at the highest possible level.

Every year, the Mayborn Conference gathers some of the most talented storytellers in the country to share their stories, life-changing experiences and expertise with aspiring writers through three days of lectures, panels, one-on-one sessions, student classes and keynotes. Aspiring and established storytellers, reporters, photographers and narrative nonfiction writers from all walks of life come together to learn, engage and network with the nation's best authors, journalists, editors and agents.

In addition, the conference includes a variety of writing contests for anyone from high school students to Pulitzer prize winning professionals. More than $26,000 in cash prizes and trophies are awarded across several competitions. Winners in our reported narrative and personal essay contests also have their work published in the Mayborn's journal, Ten Spurs. Winners in our longform narrative contest for previously published newspaper works are included in our anthology, Best American Newspaper Narratives.