The Future of Press Freedom in an Era of Democratic Backsliding

Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University

A panel of legal experts and journalists discuss how to protect press freedom and support journalists to safeguard democracy.

Joseph D. Jamail Lecture Hall

Press freedom, already under threat from technological and economic disruptions and eroding public trust, has become even more vulnerable in President Trump’s second term. Lawsuits aimed at silencing critical journalism and punitive measures against press outlets perceived as anti-Trump are accompanied by a daily drumbeat of vitriol against the media from top public officials.Building upon a new book <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/future-of-press-freedom/842C61CE63FEC39BB762FCFD421EE33B" title="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/future-of-press-freedom/842C61CE63FEC39BB762FCFD421EE33B" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Future of Press Freedom</a>, a panel of legal experts and journalists will consider how to protect the crucial role of the press in our democracy and support journalists in these dangerous times.Speakers include<ul><li><a href="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/r-Jones" title="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/r-Jones" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">RonNell Andersen Jones</a>, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law</li><li><a href="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/nora-benavidez" title="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/nora-benavidez" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Nora Benavidez</a>, Free Press</li><li><a href="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/azmat-khan" title="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/azmat-khan" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Azmat Khan</a>, Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism at Columbia University</li><li><a href="https://knightcolumbia.org/authors/joel-simon" title="https://knightcolumbia.org/authors/joel-simon" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Joel Simon</a>, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY</li><li><a href="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/margaret-sullivan" title="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/margaret-sullivan" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Margaret Sullivan</a>, Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia University</li><li><a href="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/sonja-west" title="https://knightcolumbia.org/bios/view/sonja-west" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Sonja R. West</a>, University of Georgia School of Law</li></ul>Co-sponsored by the Knight First Amendment Institute, the <a href="https://journalism.columbia.edu/craig-newmark-center-journalism-ethics-and-security" title="https://journalism.columbia.edu/craig-newmark-center-journalism-ethics-and-security" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security</a>, and the <a href="https://journalism.columbia.edu/li-center" title="https://journalism.columbia.edu/li-center" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism</a> at Columbia University.Lunch will be served.Registration is required to attend. You must register before 5 pm ET on Monday, November 3, in order to access Columbia University campus.For more information, visit our <a href="https://knightcolumbia.org/events/the-future-of-press-freedom-in-an-era-of-democratic-backsliding" title="https://knightcolumbia.org/events/the-future-of-press-freedom-in-an-era-of-democratic-backsliding" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">site</a>.Illustration by Lincoln Agnew.