About this Event
Join us for a special evening of programming and a community conversation about the state of journalism and a free press in the United States.
Two hundred fifty years ago, the founders of our country believed that a free press was essential to building and keeping a successful democracy. Freedom of the press, along with freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the freedom to peacefully assemble and to petition the government, are rights protected by the First Amendment.
Yet today, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding, Americans are watching struggles between the government and the press over exactly what a free press means. Citizens are concerned about court rulings, lawsuits, Justice Department investigations, governmental banning of reporters from news coverage, anti-press statements from government officials, and attacks against journalists. On international surveys, America’s ranking as a country with a free press has dropped significantly.
Citizens are left wondering who qualifies as “the press.” Who can citizens trust? What does the future of a free press in America look like in these times?
This event brings together an experienced group of journalists to offer insight into these questions. As our keynote speaker, Terry Moran will address these issues head-on. Moran is a veteran American journalist who spent nearly 28 years at ABC News, where he served as Chief White House Correspondent, Chief Foreign Correspondent, co-anchor of Nightline, ABC News Live anchor, and covered the Supreme Court for the network. He is the founder of Real Patriotism, an independent media platform where he currently explores stories about the struggle to find and report truth in the American Democracy.
Our panelists for this event include:
- Ian Cameron – Former Executive Producer for ABC News and the CBC; currently involved as a leader in the free press movement, organizing veteran journalists to take action in support of the First Amendment.
- Dr. Yanik Lamb – Distinguished journalist, educator, and author, who has worked for The New York Times and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, among other print media organizations. She has chaired the Department of Media, Journalism and Film at Howard University and currently is an associate professor there.
- Lisa Stark – Former network news correspondent who reported for ABC News, Al Jazeera America, and the PBS NewsHour; current documentarian and a leading activist organizing veteran journalists in the free press movement.
Cameron and Stark have been leading current efforts to mobilize veteran journalists to speak out in defense of the First Amendment, and to start a national dialogue about these times of unprecedented threats to a free press in America.
Agenda
🕑: 05:00 PM
Exhibition Viewing & Hands-On Activities
Info: Attendees will have the opportunity to see the Revolutionary Maryland: Freedom of the Press Then and Now traveling exhibition, learn about living history interpretation, discover archaeology that supported the research for this exhibition, and participate in hands-on activities.
🕑: 07:00 PM
Keynote Presentation & Panel
Event venue & nearby stays
Maryland Hall, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis, United States
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