Alan K. Stout, executive director of Visit Luzerne County, will be the keynote speaker at Wilkes University’s 25th annual Tom Bigler Journalism & Media Conference. The conference will be held on Friday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Tom Bigler Journalism & Media Conference invites local high school students to explore the ever-changing fields of journalism and media. The conference is sponsored by the Wilkes University Communication and Media Studies Department.
“Alan has had such a varied career in journalism, as well as other areas of the media,” says Kalen Churcher, associate professor of communication and media studies and conference coordinator. “In many ways, he is similar to Tom Bigler. His career spans print journalism, radio, marketing, education and now film.”
Stout’s professional background includes a variety of roles focused on marketing, public relations, journalism and media. In addition to his current role at Visit Luzerne County, he is the host of Music on the Menu with Alan K. Stout on “105 The River”. Stout’s work has been widely awarded, including the Keystone Press Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Steamtown Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce Change-Maker Award and The Luzerne Foundation Community Champion Award. He is also the executive producer, writer and narrator of Agnes, a critically-acclaimed documentary film about the 1972 flood and its impact on the Wyoming Valley. In 2025, Stout was inducted into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame.
“[Stout] is also incredibly active in the community and earnestly believes in making a positive impact in the area. He epitomizes what the conference is all about: helping students recognize the importance of journalism and media and their roles in creating a well-informed public,” says Churcher.
Prior to the conference, students also had a chance to submit portfolio pieces for the Tom Bigler Journalism & Media Competition. The competition recognizes outstanding writing, photography, design and layout and production among student journalists. Winners will be announced at the conclusion of the conference.
Students attending the conference will have the opportunity to attend sessions led by local professionals in the field of broadcast, print, digital marketing, photography and public relations. High schoolers will also get the chance to attend workshops in broadcast production, radio, print and online journalism and public relations.For more information about the conference, contact Churcher at kalen.churcher@wilkes.edu or visit wilkes.edu/bigler.