This year’s panel discussion - "Is Journalism Broken?” - is focused on the challenges confronting journalism. Reporters and editors have been forced to adapt as news stories evolve instantly on social media and tech giants continue to dominate news distribution and ad revenues. As traditional media companies continue to struggle financially and compete to be heard amid the clutter of “fake news,” polls show the public’s trust in journalists is eroding. What’s the future of journalism as we know it? Amid all that’s changing in a tweet-centric culture, how do we ensure the fundamentals of news gathering: investigative reporting, journalist integrity and giving a voice to the voiceless?

The Jim Hayes Symposium is a forum where media leaders talk of courage, truth and enduring values. Its goal is to inspire a new generation of journalists, content providers and storytellers to act with integrity. It is named for a beloved Cal Poly journalism professor, chair of the journalism department and founding director of the Brock Center for Agricultural Communication, who was a staunch advocate for fact checking, integrity and ethics.