Age Boom Academy

The unprecedented increase in average life expectancy known as the longevity revolution means that a baby boomer turns 50 every 7.6 seconds. From Botox to Social Security, more stories on every beat have to account for the perils and promises of aging societies. The Age Boom Academy is an intensive week-long seminar designed to deepen journalists' understanding of how the aging of the world's population is affecting politics, the economy, and just about every other aspect of their beats.

The Academy Program

Age Boom Academy sessions are held annually at the ILC-USA's headquarters in New York City and over 120 journalists have attended the institute since its founding in 2000. The weeklong discussions are led by Dr. Robert Butler, ILC-USA President and CEO. Other "professors" have included experts in biology, medicine, longevity science, aging and the future of medicine, media, religion, the economics of aging, and aging in societies around the world.

Journalists from media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, MSNBC, NPR, and The New York Times have participated during the first nine years of the program. In addition to attending presentations from leading experts, journalists also travel to related sites in the metropolitan area, tour The New York Times building and attend an Academy dinner at the Harvard Club in Manhattan.

The Academy is invitation only (see application instructions below). Travel and accommodations are provided to the participating journalists.  

Academy Partners

The program is supported with a seed money grant from the New York Times Company Foundation. The foundation encourages the fellows who attend to be designated as “New York Times Fellows,” a much sought after designation for journalists. The reputation is directly related to the high caliber coverage of a wide range of aging and longevity topics across public affairs, economic, health and other realms of journalism.

The 2009 Academy is being held in cooperation with the American Federation for Aging Research with additional support from The Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and MetLife Foundation.

2009 Age Boom Academy

May 31 - June 5, 2009: A New Deal for Longevity

The 10th Annual Age Boom Academy will be held in early June. As the Obama administration sets its agenda, the Academy will take a closer look at the issues facing the aging Boomers.  Themed “A New Deal for Longevity”, special emphasis will be placed on entitlement programs, health care reform, retirement savings, science & technology and caregiving issues. Confirmed presentations include:

The Demographic Perspective on Longevity
S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D., Professor, School of Public Health, University of Illinois-Chicago 

What Can Animals Teach Us About Aging?
Steven Austad, Ph.D., Professor, Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center

Longevity and the City
Linda Gibbs, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, New York City 

Technology & the Future of Living Independently
Jeremy Nobel, M.D., M.P.H, Faculty, Dept. of Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health

Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America
Jack Rowe, M.D., Faculty, Professor, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University 

The Reality of the Older Worker 
Sara Rix, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst, AARP Public Policy Institute

Application Process

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 Age Boom Academy in New York City May 31- June 5. Applications will be accepted until April 10. To apply, please send a letter of interest, an updated resume and three recent samples of your work. Please send the information to:

Journalists interested in more information may contact Megan McIntyre at meganm@ilcusa.org or 212-606-3380.

Academy Alumni Testimonials

“At a time that longevity has become a huge national issue, the Age Boom Academy is the world’s best crash course on aging issues for journalists”
--Bill Neikirk, Chicago Tribune

“The Age Boom Academy provides a guided tour of the next frontier of science, a place where the answers are changing, but so are the questions.”
--Pat Duggan, KING-TV, NBC

“The ABA is an unparalleled opportunity to engage newsmakers and researchers looking into some of the most pressing issues related to the quality and duration of human life”
--Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer

“Being there is like getting a master’s degree in aging—in less than a week!”-
--Kay Harvey, St. Paul Pioneer Press

“A rich opportunity to learn from leaders in the field, to question them (and yourself) and to meet and share ideas with peers.”
--Jim Toedtman. AARP Bulletin

“...an enriching, intellectually stimulating week that will deepen and broaden my coverage of aging issues.”
--Marilyn Gardner, Christian Science Monitor