LARC's Food Journalism Summit

Join the Los Angeles Reporting Collective and LA's top journalists and creators to learn about the food coverage that moves the needle.
About this Event

Welcome to LARC's Food Journalism Summit!

Los Angeles Reporting Collective invites you to join us for a day-long summit on food journalism! We’re bringing together reporters, editors, creators and curious Angelenos from across the region to explore how food stories reveal the people, systems and cultures shaping everyday life.

This summit will include a pitch workshop, one-on-one interviews with the most interesting people in food, and big picture discussions about how journalists and creators talk about food in 2026.

And, of course, there's food! (Lunch is included with your ticket)

Participants include:

Robert J. Lopez (James Beard Media Award Nominee), Laurie Ochoa (LA Times), Javier Cabral (LA TACO), Frank Shyong (Lunch Box), Erick Galindo (The LA Local), Fernando Hurtado (In the Hyphen), Oscar Garza (USC) and more.

Presented by:


In Partnership with:

Interested in sponsoring? Please email us at [email protected].

Media Partners:

Agenda
Opening Talk: Food Stories Hiding in Plain Sight

Info: A dynamic look at what counts as a “food story,” featuring rapid-fire examples that reveal how food intersects with immigration, environment, housing, religion, health, climate, technology, and more.

Panel: What Editors Actually Want

Info: Editors from leading LA outlets share real examples of strong pitches, common mistakes, and what makes a story stand out in today’s media landscape.

Interactive Workshop: Developing Food Story Pitches

Info: Breakout sessions led by panelists where participants work through guided exercises to generate and refine story ideas, focusing on key questions and angles.

Panel: Food on Camera

Info: A conversation with LA-based creators and video storytellers on how they choose stories, build trust with audiences, and bring food culture to life through visual media.

One-on-One Conversations: People Shaping LA’s Food Landscape

Info: Small group conversations led by moderators, offering a more intimate setting to engage directly with journalists, creators, and others working across LA’s food systems.