Event Description

Journalism plays a vital role in a democracy—a free press is among the first institutions to be gutted in an autocracy—and a thriving press is a sign of civic health. But dramatically falling revenue, the decimation of smaller newspapers, and an increasing reliance on the whims of a few social media companies for reach has thrown the industry into turmoil.

Worse, public trust in journalists has become deeply polarized. According to a 2017 Gallup poll, 72% of Democrats say they have a “great deal or fair amount” of trust in the media. Republicans? 14%.

Are journalists simply neutral fact-finders, or is there good reason for this mistrust? Does the media lean liberal? Are the struggles journalists face just growing pains as they adjust to a new digital age, or signs of a slow death? How seriously should we take some of President Trump’s threats to journalists? Should we fear censorship or First Amendment curtailments?

Join us as we examine the state of the news, featuring: government editor of the Spokesman-Review, Jonathan Brunt; journalist and Gonzaga University professor, Tracy Simmons; and professor and chair of Gonzaga University’s Integrated Media Department, Susan English.

Event is free and open to the public. Register here.

This event is part of our fall statewide series, “Moment of Truth: Journalism and Democracy in an Age of Misinformation.” Click here for more information.

Humanities Washington would like to thank the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Selinger-Shone Foundation for their support of this initiative, and the Pulitzer Prizes for their partnership.