Register now to attend the 2026 Military Reporters & Editors Conference
WASHINGTON, November 10, 2026 – Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and CNN anchor and correspondent Brianna Keilar will headline the Military Reporters & Editors (MRE) annual conference Friday, Nov. 13, bringing together leading journalists, military officials and national security experts for discussions on global conflicts, press freedom and the future of military reporting.
Moore, an Army combat veteran who served in Afghanistan, will participate in a fireside chat exploring national security, military service and state leadership, including Maryland’s growing defense industrial base and challenges facing military families and veterans. Keilar will offer her insight into the challenges of covering the military and the importance of independent journalism.
The conference will also feature Ukrainian Chargé d’Affaires Denys Sienik discussing Russia’s war in Ukraine, along with former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and former under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, Robert Wilkie, examining the conflict with Iran and its implications for future warfare. Journalists from The Washington Post, NBC News, NPR and other outlets will lead conversations on war zone reporting, threats to independent military journalism and the use of open-source intelligence to investigate modern conflicts.
The conference will take place at Northwestern University’s Medill Washington newsroom in The Washington Post building on K Street in Washington, D.C., beginning at 8:30 a.m. The day will conclude with MRE’s annual journalism awards presentation and networking opportunities. Links to the agenda and registration are available below.
About Military Reporters & Editors / MRE
Military Reporters & Editors is a professional association dedicated to advancing excellence in military and national security journalism. MRE supports journalists through professional development, education, networking and recognition of outstanding reporting.