Montana State University will host the Montana Free Press Fest from September 16 to 18, offering a three-day conference centered on public affairs and journalism in Montana. The event, organized by Montana Free Press—a nonprofit digital news outlet—will take place in the Strand Union Building on the university’s campus.
The conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required through montanafreepress.org/montana-free-press-fest-2025/registration/. The festival aims to engage policy experts, authors, independent journalists, staff writers, and residents interested in Montana’s media environment.
Programming for this year’s fest includes keynote addresses from former U.S. Senator Jon Tester and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Tim Weiner. Breakout sessions will address issues such as land conservation, media industry changes, and technology’s role in politics.
“Free Press Fest is designed to promote civic engagement, celebrate Montana’s rich culture and empower attendees to actively participate in shaping the future of our state,” said John Adams, founder and executive director of Montana Free Press. “We are excited to collaborate with MSU to make this programming available to anyone interested in taking part in these conversations.”
The schedule begins Tuesday evening with an opening keynote titled “The Politics of Truth: Intelligence, Oversight and the Fight for Credibility,” featuring Tim Weiner and Jon Tester. Additional events include discussions on topics like wealth shifts in the West, youth involvement in journalism, public lands management, challenges facing local newsrooms, defending journalism under pressure, wildfire-resistant communities (including a live podcast recording), and a closing keynote on press influence highlighting Barry Beach’s story.
A complete program listing is available at freepressfest.org.
