The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference, among the nation’s most prestigious youth journalism conferences, offers one high school junior per state the opportunity to learn from leading media professionals, engage in invaluable networking and receive alumni support from journalists working for The New York Times, The Washington Post and more. The annual conference, created as a tribute to USA Today and the Freedom Forum founder, Al Neuharth, promotes young reporters who “dream, dare and do,” in Neuharth’s words. This summer, The Tower’s own incoming Print Editor-in-Chief (EIC) Jude O’Meara ’27 will represent Michigan in Washington, D.C.
The extensive application process requires at least one letter of recommendation, two essays, three journalistic samples and an embodiment of “free spirit.” The leadership and risk-taking values that made O’Meara selected are rooted directly in his family, with his mom, Ann Mullen O’Meara, being an experienced reporter for the Detroit Metro Times, Channel 7 ABC and her current role as communications director for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan. She cites their shared love for writing and covering local issues as having developed him as a journalist, but credits her son alone for becoming the leader he is now.
“Jude‘s passion for storytelling, strong work ethic, ambition and his people skills [make him a strong reporter], which help with his ability to know how to ask questions,” Mullen O’Meara said. “He said that I have influenced him with my passion for storytelling and excitement about telling stories that make a difference in people’s lives.”
Her advice to him is to follow his dreams despite fear, and that came full circle when he was chosen for the conference.
“I was very happy for him. Hearing him scream with excitement about being chosen, it was very gratifying,” Mullen O’Meara said. “You like to see your kids thrive. I’m proud of him for just applying.”
A major part of O’Meara’s reporting has involved his coverage of the Grosse Pointe Public School’s Board of Education, which he took over from former Tower EIC Julia Roeder ’25 this year. Roeder, who attended the conference two years ago, says the experience was one of the highlights of her high school career.
“I met so many great student journalists from across the country and professional journalists whom I still look up to,” Roeder said. “Getting to hear from the super accomplished speakers not only made me learn more about journalism as a craft, but made me see what I would want to do for a possible career.”
Roeder, who now writes for The State News at Michigan State University, still keeps in touch with O’Meara, offering advice on his coverage of the polarizing board. She personally chose O’Meara to take over her reporting and motivated him to apply to the conference.
“I saw this drive in him (O’Meara) early on, and seeing his similar interests to me in local politics made me want to have him carry on the watchdog school board coverage,” Roeder said. “He’s a great guy, and I see him doing great things in the future, both in journalism and whatever career path he chooses.”
In his application essays, O’Meara wrote about his experiences on The Tower, his student film-making and how his “free spirit” has shaped his work. He says his passion comes through in his community work on the school board as one of the few local journalists covering local politics, and that it was likely why he was chosen.
“I really didn’t think I was going to be accepted; it came as a really big shock,” O’Meara said. “When I saw the letter, I started jumping around and screaming and ran up to my mom immediately.”
Going into his senior year, O’Meara hopes the conference will help develop his leadership skills as an EIC, and looks to see if it will confirm that professional journalism is a potential route for him, as it did for Roeder.
“I am most excited to meet all the people that they have coming in, like the higher-ups for The Washington Post, The New York Times and other news outlets, who are actually alumni of this program,” O’Meara said. “I can’t wait to see D.C., build connections and see what it’s really like to be a journalist and if that’s something I want to do for the rest of my life.”
