The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), in partnership with Freedom Forum and Vanderbilt University, convened 50 U.S. and international journalists, college faculty and students, foundation and media leaders to address a critical gap in educating young Americans on the role of a free press in democratic societies. We explored how the perspectives of international journalists - especially those working in authoritarian or closing spaces - can enhance the appreciation of independent journalism and First Amendment freedoms on college campuses and their local communities in the U.S. This roundtable was supported by the Lumina Foundation.
Programming: In two days of dynamic programming we fostered open discussion and collaboration.
The goal: to design a new, national initiative to improve understanding of freedom of expression and the role of a free press on university campuses by engaging an international perspective.
Topics included:
- Press Freedom
- Why do freedom of expression and a free press matter?
- What is the impact of free and independent media on society?
- What can U.S. media and young audiences learn from international journalists?
- U.S. College Students and the Media
- How do U.S. college students define journalism?
- In the age of social media and podcasts, how do U.S. students interact with journalism?
- How can the media gain student trust in a polluted information landscape?
- Challenges, Innovations and Support for Press Freedom
- What can we learn from journalists operating in challenging and often threatening environments?
- What does AI mean for journalism and press freedom?
- What's the role of philanthropy, colleges, and the news media in educating young Americans about the role of a free press? How do their roles differ in the U.S. and globally?
At the end of the convening, we created a working group to identify ways we can launch a new initiative that addresses these pressing issues based on the recommendations made at the roundtable.
Invitees: ICFJ, Freedom Forum and Vanderbilt University curated a list of 50 individuals who brought diverse perspectives to the conversation and helped develop solutions and strategies to address the challenges. The event engaged a myriad of stakeholders, including U.S. and international journalists, freedom of expression advocates, students and faculty, foundation leaders, and many others.
Participants engaged in group discussions and working groups where they exchanged ideas and discussed solutions.
Location:
Freedom Forum
610 Water St. SW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20024
Participation was by invitation only.
We exposed corruption and human rights abuses working in a cross-border network supported by ICFJ.
— Lisseth Boon, Venezuela