The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is a forum for journalists, writers, readers, students, educators and the general public to listen to, be inspired by and practice their craft at the highest possible level.

The Mayborn conference serves to enhance the quality of nonfiction writing, encourage innovation, and create a community of factual storytellers who maintain an unflinching faith in the narrative craft. Every year, tsome of the most talented storytellers in the country are brought together to share their stories, life-changing experiences and expertise with conference attendees.

The Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism organized the conference in 2005 under the direction of George Getschow, then writer-in-residence at the University of North Texas, along with Mitch Land, founding dean of the Mayborn School of Journalism. Both take great pride in how the conference has achieved national prominence.

Today, the conference continues with its mission under the oversight of Neil Foote and Michael J. Mooney, who serve as conference co-directors, and Dorothy Bland, who serves as the dean of the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism and director of the Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism.