Taking the Next Step
iMEdD is launching an ambitious new initiative: a global, nonprofit, video-first newsroom, employing young journalists from around the world.
The National Association of Broadcasters’ annual trade show in Las Vegas was where the first HDTV broadcast took place in 1996, and where AI was on everyone’s lips earlier this month. Yet, despite the glory of its history and the tens of thousands of attendees gathered at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the show has shrunk by half over the past decade.
Transitioning from old to new appeared to be the overarching theme at NAB 2025. Network executives holding critical negotiations with major broadcast technology vendors were frequently interrupted by cheers from crowds gathered to meet popular YouTube stars showcasing startup technologies of the iPhone era. Everywhere, one thing was clear: broadcast journalism is already seeking a new path forward.
That was precisely the path our team was exploring, researching innovative technology solutions for iMEdD’s bold new video-first newsroom initiative, YOJO (Young Journalists). YOJO has already opened applications for reporters who will begin working in a state-of-the-art newsroom in Athens in January 2026.
Meeting a group of University of Oregon students at NAB reinforced our belief that young voices, given the right tools, mentorship and opportunities, can lead the way into the future. They were showcasing their investigation into the Eagle Creek wildfire through XR glasses.
