More than 20 student publications from across Australia and the Philippines will gather at the University of Sydney this August for the largest student media conference ever held in Australia. Hosted by the University of Sydney's student newspaper, Honi Soit, the four-day event will feature some of the nation’s most high-profile journalists and authors, with all sessions free and open to the public.
There will be a wide range of high-profile speakers in the creative industry at this event, including Max Chalmers, Shankari Chandran, Benjamin Law, Jacqueline Maley, Dominic Knight, Cheng Lei, Nour Haydar, Sophie McNeill, Kate McClymont, Alana Valentine, Melina Marchetta and Cathy Wilcox.
The conference has been organised entirely by students, led by the newspaper Honi Soit and directed by Imogen Sabey, with assistant director Ellie Robertson. It is principally funded by the University of Sydney Students’ Representative Council (SRC), with additional sponsorships with several organisations.
The conference was started in 2024 by the 2024 Honi Soit editorial team, then known as the Student Media Conference. It took place from 27–29 September 2024.
Quotes attributed to Imogen Sabey, Honi Soit editor and Conference Director:
“StuJoCon shines a spotlight on the journalism industry and allows the most promising student reporters to learn from the most skilled journalists in their fields.
“It connects the present and future of the journalism industry to an extent that no other event has done before. In putting the brightest minds in Australian media together, we are helping to secure the future of journalism.”
Quotes attributed to Ellie Robertson, Honi Soit editor and Assistant Director:
"StuJoCon is going to be an amazing event for students across Australia to come together and learn about the journalist field, meet new friends, delve into niche interests, and enjoy social events!"
Quotes attributed to Kayleigh Greig, deputy editor in chief at Grapeshot, the Macquarie University magazine:
“StuJoCon will be a great opportunity to connect with other student journalists from across Australia and beyond. To learn about how other publications are run will help us streamline our own, and as lifelong lover of writing, hearing from expert guest speakers will help to refine my own craft and keep the passion for publishing going.”
Quotes attributed to Riley Bampton, editor at Glass, the Queensland University of Technology magazine:
“It’s important to stay connected in the student media world and this is the place to do it. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Attendance to all events is free and catering will be provided every day. All are welcome to attend.
A complete list of publications is available on the conference website.
Ends
Press images
Image captions:
1. StuJoCon logo
2. StuJoCon speakers
3. Honi Soit editors: Ellie Robertson, Assistant Director; Imogen Sabey, Director, Will Winter, editor
4. student media
5. Honi Soit team
Credit: Imogen Sabey (excepting 3rd and 5th image: credit 3rd to Ellie Robertson and 5th to Will Winter)
Event details
Student Journalism Conference
15–18 August 2025
The University of Sydney
City Rd Camperdown 2006
Australia
Daytime sessions at 10am, 1pm, 3pm. Catering included.
Evening events at 6pm. Catering and bar tab included.
Available for interview:
Imogen Sabey, Conference Director
+61 410 234 267
[email protected]
Media enquiries
Imogen Sabey
Ellie Robertson
