On May 8-9, 2015, the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard hosted a joint conference in Chicago for journalists reporting on the 2016 presidential election.

The conference was made possible with generous support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

To take a deeper look at how technology and money are changing elections, and explore other key elements of the 2016 presidential race, this conference convened some of the nation’s top political strategists, party leaders, and campaign consultants – and the journalists who cover them. Discussions explored topics such as the changes in the 2016 party nomination process, the latest advancements in voter targeting, and how journalists can follow the record-setting amounts of money flowing into the race.

 Conference Schedule

Over two days, the event provided access, background, context, and training for political reporters, editors, and producers aiming to get beyond the horse race and produce insightful coverage of the election.

Conference participants tweeted about sessions using the hashtag #Covering2016. Watch videos of Saturday’s sessions.