Miami (February 11, 2026) – The Latin American Council for Accreditation of Journalism Education (CLAEP) will hold its 14th Annual Meeting of Accredited Universities from May 13 to 15 at Universidad del Norte, in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia. The gathering will bring together higher education institutions from across the region whose journalism programs are accredited by CLAEP, a program of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA).
CLAEP is dedicated to fostering and promoting excellence in professional journalism education in the Americas. It is based on the premise that students pursuing journalism degrees are better prepared when their institutions adhere to international quality standards.
It also recognizes that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are indispensable pillars of a free society, and that professional training must encourage dissent, inquiry, critical thinking, and the full exercise of freedom of expression.
The meeting will take place as part of the 60th anniversary of Universidad del Norte and will be titled “Journalism, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Democracy.” The agenda proposes a rigorous and multidisciplinary academic reflection on the professional, educational, regulatory, and technological challenges currently facing journalism and communication education in a context marked by digital transformation and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
The event will feature prominent academics, journalists, and communication experts from across the Americas and will be held at a time of particular regional relevance, coinciding with Colombia’s presidential election scheduled for May 31, providing a privileged framework for analyzing the relationship between journalism, public opinion, and democracy.
Working sessions and presentations will address, among others, the following thematic areas:
As part of the academic agenda, a new edition of the CLAEP Challenge will be held, a training space in which students from accredited universities will work collaboratively to solve a challenge using case analysis methodologies, strategic thinking, and teamwork throughout the meeting.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.