Shorenstein Center Media and Politics Podcast: Recent Episodes
Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy
The Shorenstein Center Media and Politics Podcast features insight and expertise from leading voices at the intersection of media, politics and public policy. Prominent journalists, editors and academics address topics such as the media industry, campaigns and politics, foreign policy, race and gender, and technology.
"Big, If True" is a webinar series from the Technology and Social Change Research Project at the Shorenstein Center. Hosted by Dr. Joan Donovan, the series focuses on media manipulation, disinformation, and the future of democracy during a pandemic.
In this special episode, Dr. Donovan talks with Jesse Bender, a manager for Steak-umms' Twitter account, about the brand's recent success with viral messaging combating misinformation around the COVID-19 pandemic.
What roles are brand social media accounts playing in today's information ecosystem? How does a sliced frozen meat product become a trusted voice of reason and leader of an online community (and what, exactly, is the Steak-umms community)? Listen in to find out!
Magazines that cover American public affairs, culture, and life have long held an important place in American journalism. But the magazine industry, like the rest of journalism, has struggled in recent years.
This special edition of our podcast is an audio version of Heidi Legg's new Shorenstein Center Paper "Preserving America's Thought Leader Magazines." https://shorensteincenter.org/preserving-americas-thought-leader-magazines
The paper starts with a brief history of the thought leader magazine with an emphasis on how they built trust, which is key to attracting loyal readers. The discussion then turns to brand affinity, as it relates to trust and affects revenue streams. Finally, the paper examines how six leading thought leader magazines – New York Magazine, Mother Jones, Wired, The Information, The Atlantic,andRolling Stone – are all responding to changing public demand and delivery.
Thanks to Harvard College student Andrew Zucker for producing this audio paper.
How does news and truth survive, when trust in what is fact has suffered and people live in bubbles of isolated realities fed by polarized and fragmented media sources? What is the role of narrative storytelling in this new media landscape?
Thomas Patterson is the Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at Harvard Kennedy School, and the author of the recent book "How America Lost Its Mind: The Assault on Reason that is Crippling America." He talks with former Shorenstein Center Fellow and Filmmaker-in-Residence Gabriel London, whose paper titled "Hanging by a Thread: Serialized Narratives in a Post-Factual Era" was just published at ShorensteinCenter.org.
U.S./China relations have seen huge shifts over the past decade. Jane Perlez, former Beijing Bureau Chief for The New York Times, witnessed much of it during her seven years reporting from China. Her new podcast, On the Trail of Xi Jinping, follows the rise of China's current leader, and how the West got him so wrong. From clinking champagne glasses at the State Department to the lowest ebb in US China relations in 40 years, Perlez and a series of expert China watchers explain what's happened.
For a full transcript of this podcast visit https://shorensteincenter.org/transcript:-on-the-trail-of-xi-jinping/
Local journalism is in crisis, off and online. Years of downsizing in the face of digital disruption have weakened regional and local news organizations. But there are a few glimpses of hope in models for local news across the country.
In this special edition of our podcast, Heidi Legg, the Shorenstein Center's Director of Special Projects, reads her new landscape study on local news models across America. This landscape study includes over 40 mini case studies on outlets that are making the shift, starting fresh, or experimenting with new ways to survive and thrive.
To read the full print version of the paper, visit https://shorensteincenter.org/landscape-local-news-models/
Shorenstein Center Spring 2019 Fellow Edward F. O'Keefe served most recently as Senior Vice President of Content Development at CNN, previously worked as a reporter at ABC News and editor in chief of Now This, and is a media industry expert in mobile, short-form video, OTT and streaming content. His research as a Shorenstein Fellow has focused on why news may be the key to winning the streaming video wars, and who is doing news (even if they don't call it that) in the streaming universe to-date.
In this special episode of the Shorenstein Center Media & Politics Podcast, Ed O'Keefe reads his paper "Streaming War Won" in its (very engaging) entirety.
For the original, written, version of this paper visit https://shorensteincenter.org/streaming-war-won/
Shorenstein Center director Nicco Mele speaks to Garrett M. Graff, journalist, historian, and director of the Aspen Institute's Cybersecurity and Technology Program, about the Mueller Investigation: what we know, what we still don't know, and what's next.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded April 2, 2019, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Music ("Skip a Beat" by Intimidation) provided by ExtremeMusic.com.
Reporting from the South Bend Tribune and ProPublica revealed deep flaws and abuses of power in the criminal justice system in Elkhart, Indiana – from new revelations in the wrongful convictions of two men, to the promotions of police supervisors with serious disciplinary records, to the mishandling of police misconduct cases. The investigation led to the resignation of the police chief, criminal charges against two officers and plans for an independent investigation of the department, demonstrating the strong, immediate impact that investigative journalism can have at the local level – and its ability to force critical changes in communities.
Read this excellent example of collaborative journalism here: https://www.southbendtribune.com/elkhartcoverage/
Heidi Legg talked to reporter Christian Sheckler from the south Bend Tribune, and Ken Armstrong from ProPublica, about the deep searches they did through public records to find evidence of misconduct, and the collaborative experience of reporting this story at the South Bend Tribune - a local newspaper with only 12 reporters.
This episode is part of the Shorenstein Center's special series of interviews with the finalists for the 2019 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Journalism. The Goldsmith Prize winner will be announced at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government on March 12, 2019.
Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com
ProPublica obtained and published a secret recording from inside a border patrol detention center that captured the sounds of children, recently separated from their families at the Mexican border, sobbing and begging for their parents. The audio clip was played on the floors of Congress, sparking widespread condemnation and having an almost immediate impact, with President Trump signing an executive order to end the family separation policy within 48 hours of its publication. ProPublica reporters then dug deeper into conditions at the detention centers, detailing abuse and assaults on immigrant children, directly countering the administration’s claims that the shelters were safe havens.
Read, and listen, to their reporting here: https://www.propublica.org/series/zero-tolerance
In this episode, Heidi Legg talks with reporters Ginger Thompson and Mike Grabell about getting the audio recording, and how their reporting unfolded and uncovered more and more layers from there.
This episode is part of the Shorenstein Center's special series of interviews with the finalists for the 2019 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Journalism. The Goldsmith Prize winner will be announced at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government on March 12, 2019.
Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com
In "Toxic City: Sick Schools" The Philadelphia Inquirer revealed unsafe conditions in Philadelphia’s rundown public schools, with children forced to learn in buildings rife with mold, asbestos and flaking and peeling lead paint. By scouring maintenance logs and conducting scientific testing inside 19 elementary schools, and engaging teachers and parents in their reporting, the Inquirer built a comprehensive database of the shocking conditions putting children at risk on a daily basis.
Read the reporting: http://media.philly.com/storage/special_projects/lead-paint-poison-children-asbestos-mold-schools-philadelphia-toxic-city.html
In this episode of the Shorenstein Center podcast, Heidi Legg talks to reporters Wendy Ruderman, Barbara Laker, and Dylan Purcell, along with Investigations Editor Jim Neff, about how they found and analyzed data, tracked an expanding web of problems, and eventually uncovered the vast number of health hazards across the city's school system.
This episode is part of the Shorenstein Center's special series of interviews with the finalists for the 2019 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Journalism. The Goldsmith Prize winner will be announced at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government on March 12, 2019.
Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com
FRONTLINE from PBS and the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism produced an investigative documentary on labor trafficking happening today on U.S. soil. Reporters told the story of unaccompanied minors from Central America who were forced to work against their will at an Ohio egg farm, the criminal network that exploited them, the companies that profited, and how U.S. government policies and practices helped to deliver some of the children directly to their traffickers. The investigation uncovered widespread criminal abuse, and will be used as a Department of Justice Anti-Human Trafficking training tool for thousands of law enforcement officials and prosecutors.
Watch the film: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/trafficked-in-america/
In this episode of the Shorenstein Center podcast, Heidi Legg talks to Daffodil Altan and Adrés Cediel about the shoeleather reporting required to find and get access to people who had been trafficked in the U.S., and the need for cultural competency and language fluency for reporting stories like these.
This episode is part of the Shorenstein Center's special series of interviews with the finalists for the 2019 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Journalism. The Goldsmith Prize winner will be announced at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government on March 12, 2019.
Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com
The Dallas Morning News found that thousands of sick and disabled Texans were being denied life-sustaining drugs and treatments by the private health insurance companies hired by the state to manage their care. While these private contractors made billions of dollars from the corporate management of taxpayer-funded Medicaid, some of the most vulnerable Texans were denied critical services, equipment and treatments, often with profoundly life-altering results. As a result of the investigation the Texas legislature pledged millions of dollars to more closely regulate the system, monitor instances of denials of care, and reform the appeals process.
Read the reporting: https://interactives.dallasnews.com/2018/pain-and-profit/index.html
In this episode of the Shorenstein Center podcast, Heidi Legg talks to reporters David McSwane and Andrew Chavez about tracking down the patients and families affected, how they got to the bottom of why some of the most vulnerable patients were being denied the care they needed, and what's next with this story.
This episode is part of the Shorenstein Center's special series of interviews with the finalists for the 2019 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Journalism. The Goldsmith Prize winner will be announced at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government on March 12, 2019.
Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com
Amid threats to his family’s personal safety, reporter Connor Sheets revealed extensive wrongdoing by an Alabama sheriff, including improper use of millions of dollars’ worth of public funds and the mistreatment of inmates in the county jail he runs. Sheets uncovered a history of misconduct that resulted in the ‘Beach House Sheriff’ losing his reelection bid, the launch of investigations into his conduct at the federal, state and local level, and proposed legislation to prevent Alabama sheriffs from pocketing public funds for personal enrichment.
Read the reporting: https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2018/03/inside_etowah_county_jail_nigh.html
Heidi Legg talks to Connor Sheets about what it's like to investigate a local elected official in a small state, how he broke the story based on a tip from a teenage lawnmower, and the changes that happened as a result of his reporting.
This episode is part of the Shorenstein Center's special series of interviews with the finalists for the 2019 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Journalism. The Goldsmith Prize winner will be announced at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government on March 12, 2019.
Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com
Starting in 2016, a team from the Wall Street Journal, lead by reporters Michael Rothfeld and Joe Palazzolo, uncovered evidence that Donald Trump personally orchestrated a criminal scheme to suppress damaging sexual allegations, despite denials by the president. The coverage sparked a federal criminal investigation into campaign-finance abuses that will soon land the president’s longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen, in prison.
In this episode of the Shorenstein Center podcast, Heidi Legg talks to Michael Rothfeld and Joe Palazzolo about how the found the story, the lengths they went to uncover evidence, and the expected and unexpected outcomes of their ongoing reporting.
This episode is part of the Shorenstein Center's special series of interviews with the finalists for the 2019 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Journalism. The Goldsmith Prize winner will be announced at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government on March 12, 2019.
Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com
Sarah Smarsh, author of the new book "Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth," joined Shorenstein Center director Nicco Mele for a conversation on how the media covers rural America.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 1, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com.
Eugene Scott of The Washington Post joined Shorenstein Center director Nicco Mele for a conversation around identity politics and how they impact various political debates happening now.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded Tuesday, September 25, 2018.
Music provided by ExtremeMusic.com.
Kristen Soltis Anderson, pollster and co-founder of Echelon Insights, author of The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials Are Leading America (And How Republicans Can Keep Up), and co-host of The Pollsters, a bipartisan weekly podcast, joined Nicco Mele to discuss how millennial voters might impact the midterm elections, cultural attitudes towards the Kavanaugh hearings, and how young people view the Republican Party.
This Shorenstein Center Media & Politics Podcast was recorded September 24, 2018.
Setti Warren, new Executive Director of the Shorenstein Center, and former mayor of Newton, MA, joined Nicco Mele to discuss local government, electoral campaigns, the importance of a robust local media, and more.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded September 18, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Siva Vaidhyanathan is the Robertson Professor of Media Studies and director of the Center for Media and Citizenship at the University of Virginia. He joined Shorenstein Center director Nicco Mele to discuss his new book, "Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy".
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded September 11, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Apologies for the poor sound quality of audience questions.
Talia Buford, reporter for ProPublica, discussed environmental justice, the complexities of covering the environment, how environmental policy is changing in the Trump administration, and more in a conversation with Shorenstein Center Director Nicco Mele.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded April 3, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Adam Serwer, senior editor at The Atlantic, discussed the role of race and class in U.S. politics, and its media coverage, during a visit to the Shorenstein Center.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded March 27, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Heather Ann Thompson, a historian at the University of Michigan and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, discussed the Attica Prison uprising of 1971, its media coverage, and its legacy, in a conversation with Khalil G. Muhammad, Professor of History, Race, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded March 20, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Tom Wheeler, Chairman of the FCC from 2013 to 2017 under President Obama, and Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow, discussed technological change, President Trump’s FCC, regulation of social platforms, and more during a talk at the Shorenstein Center.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded February 27, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School.
This podcast features conversations with journalists from three of the six finalists for the 2018 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting: the Miami Herald, The Washington Post, and a collaboration between NPR and ProPublica. You can hear the other three finalists on the previous episode of this podcast, and you can find more information and links to each investigate story by visiting goldsmithawards.org.
Conversations with:
The Washington Post
Ellen Nakashima and Tom Hamburger
Russia
The Washington Post examined Russian interference in the 2016 election, possible links between the Trump campaign and Kremlin agents, and the United States’ response throughout 2017. The Post’s reporting contributed to the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
NPR and ProPublicaNina Martin and Renee Montagne
Lost Mothers
The United States has the highest rate of maternal deaths in the developed world; NPR and ProPublica found at least half could be prevented with better care. This series tracked maternal deaths, saved lives by raising public awareness of complications, and prompted legislation in New Jersey and Texas.
Miami HeraldCarol Marbin Miller, Audra D.S. Burch, Emily Michot, and the Miami Herald digital team
Fight Club: An Investigation into Florida Juvenile Justice
This investigation found widespread beatings and brutality, sexual exploitation, and medical neglect in Florida’s juvenile detention centers. As a result, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice overhauled its hiring practices and created an Office of Youth and Family Advocacy to investigate complaints.
This podcast features conversations with journalists from three of the six finalists for the 2018 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting: the Asbury Park Press, BuzzFeed News, and a collaboration between STAT and the Boston Globe. We’ll hear from the other three finalists later this week, and you can find more information and links to each investigate story by visiting goldsmithawards.org.
Conversations with:
STAT and The Boston GlobeDavid Armstrong and Evan Allen
The Addiction Trade
STAT and The Boston Globe exposed treatment centers, middlemen, and consultants that exploited people seeking addiction treatment, and has led to criminal and congressional probes. Stories ranged from insurance fraud schemes, to poor care at Recovery Centers of America, to patient health put at risk on the TV program Dr. Phil.
BuzzFeed News
Melissa Segura
Broken Justice In Chicago
BuzzFeed News investigated a Chicago detective accused by the community of framing more than 50 people for murder. The findings from the series led to the freeing of an innocent man from prison after 23 years, and authorities reviewed the cases of other prisoners.
Asbury Park Press
Shannon Mullen and Payton Guion
Renter Hell
This investigation exposed the hazardous living conditions of thousands of tenants in New Jersey’s government-supported housing. As a result, the state issued more than 1,800 violations, and two state senators introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at fixing many of the issues brought to light in the series.
Elizabeth Bruenig, Washington Post columnist, discussed the role of Christianity in U.S. politics with Richard Parker, Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded February 20, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Garrett Graff, journalist, author, and director of the Aspen Institute’s cybersecurity and technology program, discussed Robert Mueller’s investigations, election cybersecurity, and threats to U.S. democracy during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. Graff, who has written about Mueller extensively, also discussed Mueller’s background, career, and his leadership at the FBI.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded February 13, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan discussed the challenge of covering President Trump, public trust in media, social media platforms and news, and more during a visit to the Shorenstein Center.
This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded February 6, 2018, at Harvard Kennedy School. Due to the nature of the event venue some of the audience questions are difficult to hear.
A conversation with Claes H. de Vreese, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (fall 2017) and Professor and Chair of Political Communication at the University of Amsterdam, about his new research paper on political journalism in a populist age.
The paper, can be read in full at: https://shorensteincenter.org/political-journalism-populist-age/
In the paper, de Vreese provides an overview of the types and causes of populist movements. He offers 10 tips for how journalists can best cover them. Using scholarly research on populist communication around the globe as a starting point, de Vreese provides guidance to help journalists think about issues such as how much coverage a candidate warrants, covering policy over communication style, and the importance of historical and comparative context.
Edward Morris, Professor of Practice in the Department of Transmedia at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, discussed how art can complement and further the goals of activism during a visit to the Shorenstein Center.
Morris works with photography, video, writing, and installation, in collaboration with his wife Susannah Sayler as Sayler/Morris. In 2006 Sayler/Morris co-founded the Canary Project, a collaborative that produces visual media and artworks that deepen public understanding of climate change and other ecological issues.
Examples of the artwork discussed in the talk can be found at www.shorensteincenter.org/edwardmorris.
Alexandra Petri, author of The Washington Post’s ComPost blog, brought laughs and her observations about comedy to the Shorenstein Center. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded November 7, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Marvin Kalb, distinguished journalist, author, and the founding director of the Shorenstein Center, discussed President Vladimir Putin and his relationship with President Donald Trump, Russian involvement in the U.S. election, and more during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. Kalb also shared some of his experiences living and working in Russia following Stalin’s death in his new book, The Year I Was Peter the Great: 1956—Khruschev, Stalin’s Ghost, and a Young American in Russia, in a conversation with Shorenstein Center Director Nicco Mele. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded November 7, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Author Michael Pollan discussed the Farm Bill’s far-reaching impact on the U.S. food system and the environment, how journalists can better cover food policy, and more during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 31, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Nancy Scola, senior technology reporter for Politico, discussed the regulation of tech platforms, their role in the 2016 election, cyber security, and more in a conversation with Nicco Mele, Shorenstein Center Director. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 24, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Jackie Calmes, White House editor for the Los Angeles TimesWashington bureau, discussed the evolution of conservative media and its relationship with the GOP, and the challenges of covering the White House, during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. Calmes also discussed the historical roots of conservative media, its messaging about race, funding and advertising for conservative outlets, and more. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 17, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Bob Schieffer, CBS News contributor, former Face the Nation host, and 2015-2016 Walter Shorenstein Media & Democracy Fellow, discussed his new book, Overload: Finding the Truth in Today’s Deluge of News, during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. He also shared his thoughts on the 2016 election, media coverage of the White House, and the future of news in a conversation with Nicco Mele, Shorenstein Center director. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 10, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Gary Liu, CEO of the South China Morning Post, discussed the Hong-Kong-based news outlet and its audience, and how he thinks about organizational transformation. Prior to joining SCMP, Liu was the CEO of Digg, where he led the startup’s transformation from aggregator to news platform. Previously, he was head of Spotify Labs, where he managed strategy for global markets. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 3, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Nancy Youssef, national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, discussed the relations between the U.S. and a number of countries, including North Korea, as well as press access and President Trump’s approach to foreign policy, during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded September 26, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Apologies for some audio quality issues during the audience Q&A.
Vann R. Newkirk II, staff writer for The Atlantic, discussed Charlottesville, Jemele Hill’s remarks about President Trump, and the media’s shortcomings in its coverage of racial issues, among other topics, during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. He also discussed healthcare policy, Black Lives Matter, reporting on the working class, voter turnout, and more, in a conversation with Shorenstein Center Director Nicco Mele. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded September 19, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
E.J. Dionne, Jr., political writer for The Washington Post, and William H. Bloomberg Visiting Professor, discussed his forthcoming book, One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported, co-authored by Norman J. Ornstein and Thomas E. Mann. During his talk at the Shorenstein Center, Dionne also covered the media’s performance during the 2016 election, divides in American society, and how the media and progressives can move forward. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded September 12, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
A conversation with Derrick Z. Jackson, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (fall 2016), Boston Globe essayist, and a climate and energy writer for the Union of Concerned Scientists, about his new research paper examining the failure of national media outlets to respond to the Flint water crisis in an urgent manner, as well as biases in coverage.
Jackson asks what catastrophes might have been averted had national media outlets stepped in sooner—and why it took so long for the Flint water crisis to become a story worthy of national attention. He points to a lack of newsroom diversity, a history of national media paying little attention to environmental justice in communities of color, and the tendency to act only after harm has been verified by doctors and scientists—rather than in response to widespread citizen concern.
Full paper: https://shorensteincenter.org/environmental-justice-unjust-coverage-of-the-flint-water-crisis/
A conversation with Zack Exley, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (spring 2017), organizer and author, about his new research paper which dives into a little-known part of the alt-right media landscape, revealing its influence and worldview. In the paper, which can be read in full at shorensteincenter.org, Exley writes that political channels on YouTube are currently dominated by the right wing. Although often overlooked by mainstream society, these channels receive millions of views, espousing recycled National Socialist and white nationalist ideologies with a modern twist. The alt-right uses these channels to build influence and spread its ideas among its audience, much as right-wing talk radio has for decades. Exley examines the content of one of these channels, "Black Pigeon Speaks," uncovering the worldview put forth by the channel’s host.
Full paper: https://shorensteincenter.org/anatomy-of-alt-right-youtuber
A conversation with Meighan Stone, Entrepreneurship Fellow (spring 2017) and former president of the Malala Fund, about her new research paper which argues that the predominantly negative coverage of Muslims and refugees on U.S. TV news contributes to negative public opinion of Muslims, and in turn, policies such as President Trump's "Muslim Ban." The paper, which you can read in full at shorensteincenter.org, analyses the major newscasts of three outlets—CBS, Fox, and NBC—and finds that during a two-year period from 2015-2017, there was not a single month where positive stories about Muslims outnumbered negative stories. War and terrorist activities were the major focus of news reports, with ISIS serving as protagonist 75 percent of the time, while positive coverage, such as human interest stories or those depicting Muslims as productive members of society, were overlooked.
Full paper: https://shorensteincenter.org/media-coverage-muslims-refugee-policy/
Yeganeh Rezaian, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (fall 2016) and Iranian journalist, talks about her new paper, "How Women Journalists Are Silenced in a Man's World: The Double-Edged Sword of Reporting from Muslim Countries," available to read in full at shorensteincenter.org. The paper shines a light on the difficulties women reporters face while working in Muslim countries, as well as the importance of the stories they tell. Rezaian, who formerly worked for Bloomberg News and The National, was imprisoned in Tehran along with her husband Jason Rezaian of The Washington Post. She shares her own stories of being silenced and harassed, as well as those of other women reporters. In addition to imprisonment, women journalists in Muslim countries can experience online harassment and blackmail, defamation of character, unwanted advances in exchange for access, and the expectation to ask softball questions of officials, among other problems. Despite these challenges, women reporters continue to work to tell important stories in the region. Rezaian’s access as a woman has allowed her to cover topics that a newsroom may otherwise ignore, or that a man could not cover in a conservative religious setting. Rezaian writes that now that she is free from the restrictions of the Islamic Republic, she has a responsibility to her fellow journalists—who may not have the freedom to speak out—to raise awareness of these issues.
Full paper: https://shorensteincenter.org/women-journalists-muslim-countries-yeganeh-rezaian/
A conversation with Helen Boaden, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (spring 2017) and former BBC News and BBC Radio director, about her new research paper comparing the BBC’s value of impartiality to the American value of objectivity in journalism, and the pressures placed on both in their respective environments. Boaden explains how although the BBC receives funding from a license fee and is not subject to the commercial pressures that American news outlets face, political pressures can still affect its survival and independence. Beyond money and politics, the nature of the modern news cycle can subvert journalists’ values. The full paper, which can be read at shorensteincenter.org, reviews election coverage in the US, touches on the BBC’s coverage during the Brexit referendum, and looks at the challenges arising from the spread of disinformation and fake news.
Full paper: https://shorensteincenter.org/unbiased-reporting-brexit-trump-uk
Tom Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at Harvard Kennedy School, and Nicco Mele, director of the Shorenstein Center, discuss Professor Patterson's new study on media coverage of Donald Trump's first 100 days as President. The study is based on an analysis of news reports in the print editions of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, the main newscasts of CBS, CNN, and Fox News, and three European news outlets (The UK’s Financial Times and BBC, and Germany’s ARD). The study found that President Trump dominated media coverage in the outlets and programs analyzed, with Trump being the topic of 41 percent of all news stories—three times the amount of coverage received by previous presidents. He was also the featured speaker in nearly two-thirds of his coverage. This Shorenstein Center Media and Politics Podcast episode was recorded May 16, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Sarah Smarsh, a reporter on socioeconomic class, politics, and policy for The New Yorker, The Guardian, Harper’s online, and other publications, discussed media coverage of class in the U.S. in a conversation with Shorenstein Center director Nicco Mele. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded April 18, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Yochai Benkler, professor at Harvard Law School and co-director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard, discussed his recent study on conservative media and the 2016 election, which analyzed more than 1.25 million stories published online between April 1, 2015 and Election Day, 2016. This Shorenstein Center event was recorded April 5, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Bhaskar Sunkara, editor and publisher of Jacobin magazine, discussed his views on leftist politics in the United States during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. Sunkara also discussed the intersection of race and class, work and automation, the decline of unions, and other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded April 4, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Masha Gessen, author and New York Times contributing opinion writer, shared her views on Presidents Trump and Putin, and words of caution for journalists covering the Trump administration’s alleged connections to Russia, during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. Gessen also discussed her forthcoming book, The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia, quality of life and recent protests in Russia, and other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded March 28, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Doug Elmendorf, Dean of Harvard Kennedy School and former director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) from 2009-2015, discussed why the CBO exists, how it works, and how the media reports on its findings, in a conversation at the Shorenstein Center. Dean Elmendorf also discussed how the CBO makes its forecasts compared to those of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the dynamic scoring process, and other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded March 22, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Jorge Ramos delivers the keynote speech at the 2017 Goldsmith Awards for Political Journalism, after receiving the Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism. Ramos spoke about being an immigrant and journalist in the age of President Trump.This audio from the Goldsmith Awards Ceremony was recorded March 2, 2017, in the JFK Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School.
Farai Chideya, Joan Shorenstein Fellow and senior writer at FiveThirtyEight, and Zack Exley, Joan Shorenstein Fellow and senior advisor to Bernie Sanders’ campaign, discussed the role of race and class in the 2016 presidential election. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded March 7, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Helen Boaden, spring 2017 Joan Shorenstein Fellow and director of BBC Radio, and Ann Marie Lipinski, curator for the Nieman Foundation for Journalism, discussed the role of the press and social media in the Brexit referendum and the US presidential election. This Herbert C. Kelman Seminar on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution was recorded February 27, 2017, at Harvard University.
Rick Stengel, Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow, discussed the differences between working in media and government, the Trump administration’s relationship with the press and how terrorist groups use social media, among other topics at the Shorenstein Center. Stengel served as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs from 2014-2016, and is former managing editor for Time magazine. He is currently an advisor to Snapchat. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded February 28, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Dafna Linzer, managing editor of politics for NBC News and MSNBC, shared insights about covering the 2016 campaign and the Trump administration. The discussion included President Trump’s media viewing habits, why the President’s tweets are newsworthy, and how the press corps will have to adapt. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded February 21, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
David Fahrenthold, a political reporter for The Washington Post, discussed his investigations of President Trump’s charitable giving during the 2016 campaign season, and provided insight about how to cover the president and his administration during a visit to the Shorenstein Center. Fahrenthold recently won acclaim for his coverage of the 2016 United States presidential election, particularly his investigations of Donald Trump’s charitable foundation and philanthropic giving. Fahrenthold also discusses some of the humorous details about how he tracked down information for his investigations, why he became a journalist, how to measure and increase the impact of investigative political reporting, Jeff Bezos’ impact on The Washington Post, and what he would change about 2016 election coverage. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on February 7, 2017, at Harvard Kennedy School.
A panel discussion about the 2016 election and news coverage featuring: Bob Schieffer, Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow, political contributor to CBS News, and former moderator of “Face the Nation”; Nancy Kaffer, columnist for Detroit Free Press and winner of the 2016 David Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism; Derrick Z. Jackson, Joan Shorenstein Fellow and Boston Globe essayist; and Michael Tomasky, special correspondent for The Daily Beast. Moderated by Nicco Mele, director, Shorenstein Center, and recorded on November 16, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
The 2016 Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics was delivered by Larry Wilmore, comedian, producer and writer, and former host of Comedy Central's "The Nightly Show". He discussed the aftermath of the 2016 election, the role of comedy in politics and much more in a hilarious self-interview recorded at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School on November 15, 2016.
Sissela Bok, writer, philosopher, and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, provided a nuanced view on how lies and secrets in politics have impacted public trust and the 2016 election. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on November 1, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Tim Wu, author of The Master Switch and professor at Columbia Law School, discussed his new book, The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads, during a conversation at the Shorenstein Center with Erie Meyer, Joan Shorenstein Fellow. Wu, whose past work also includes the FTC, Google, and Free Press, discussed the historical origins of the attention economy, how people are fighting back against the encroachment of advertising, and considerations for media and technology companies. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 25, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Jeffrey Rosen, President & CEO of the National Constitution Center, Professor of Law at The George Washington University Law School, and a Contributing Editor of The Atlantic, delivered the ninth annual Salant Lecture on Freedom of the Press at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on October 13, 2016. Rosen argues that Twitter, Facebook, and Google are facing increased pressure to moderate content in a way that is inconsistent with First Amendment protections—in the name of promoting civility rather than democracy. He discusses the controversy around Facebook’s removal of a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of a naked child from the Vietnam War, problems regarding transparency in content moderation, the EU’s right to be forgotten ruling, and the challenges of online mobs and hate speech, among other topics.
Peter D. Hart, chairman of Hart Research Associates, a public opinion research firm that provides polls for NBC News and The Wall Street Journal, discussed the driving forces behind the 2016 presidential election, and the influence of voter demographics and public opinion on the race. Hart also discussed down-ballot races, polling, and what to expect after Election Day, among other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 19, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Amy Walter, national editor of The Cook Political Report, discussed possible outcomes of the 2016 presidential and down-ballot races, and what may lie ahead after Election Day. Walter, who appears on NBC’s "Meet the Press" and "PBS NewsHour," also discussed the role of voter turnout, Senate races in Missouri and North Carolina, her approach to political analysis, and what to expect during the lame-duck session of Congress, among many other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 18, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Joy-Ann Reid, host of MSNBC’s "AM Joy" discussed the role of race within the Republican and Democratic parties, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the need for the U.S. to reckon with its history, in a discussion with Shorenstein Center Director Nicco Mele. Reid, who is the author of the 2015 book, Fracture: Barack Obama, the Clintons, and the Racial Divide, and former managing editor of theGrio.com, also discussed why demographics favor a Clinton win and what to expect from a Clinton presidency, the generational divide among African Americans, and conflicts within both parties, among many other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 11, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Zeynep Tufekci, a New York Times opinion writer who focuses on the social impact of technology, discussed the advantages and shortcomings of the use of technology in protest movements. Tufekci, who is also an associate professor in the School of Information and Library Science at UNC, and a faculty associate at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard, has studied protests and social movements around the world to observe their culture, decision-making processes, and the role of the internet and social media. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 4, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Cathy O’Neil, data scientist and author of the new book Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy, discussed how some algorithms can have an invisible, but important and destructive impact on people’s lives. Decisions about employment, criminal sentencing, and many other areas are now influenced by algorithms and big data. This is a serious problem, argues O’Neil, as there is little transparency about how these systems are constructed or used. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded October 4, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Patrick Ruffini, co-founder and partner of Echelon Insights, a political research and analytics firm, discussed the September 26 presidential debate and the challenges facing the Republican Party in a conversation with Shorenstein Center director Nicco Mele. Ruffini, who was a digital strategist for George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign and the RNC in 2006, also discussed polling, the resiliency of the Republican Party in other races, voter expectations of Donald Trump, the effect of grassroots movements on political parties, and many other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on September 27, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
A conversation on the state of the 2016 presidential campaign and its coverage in the media, with Bob Schieffer, former CBS News anchor and host of “Face the Nation,” and current Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow; and Ann Compton, former ABC News White House correspondent and current fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics. They discuss the upcoming presidential debates, the role of social media in the 2016 election, and share stories from the campaign trail. Moderated by Nicco Mele, director of the Shorenstein Center. Recorded on September 20, 2016, in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School.
Molly Ball, political writer for The Atlantic, discussed the 2016 presidential race, the role of the media, and the prospects for both parties in a conversation with Shorenstein Center director Nicco Mele. She also discusses her new article about political consulting and her journalism career. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on September 13, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Johanna Dunaway, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (spring 2016) and associate professor of communication at Texas A&M University, examines how mobile technology – despite expanding internet access – is also contributing to a digital divide in news consumption. You can read Johanna Dunaway's full research paper on the topic by visiting shorensteincenter.org and clicking on 'Research'.
Joanna Jolly, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (spring 2016) and BBC South Asia editor, introduces her new research paper examining the increased coverage of rape in India’s English-language newspapers following the infamous 2012 gang rape in Delhi, and whether this coverage led to policy changes.
- Listeners are advised this podcast contains discussion of sexual assault.
Paul Wood, Fall 2015 Joan Shorenstein Fellow and BBC world affairs correspondent, discusses his new research paper, "The Pen and the Sword: Reporting ISIS". The paper, which can be read in full at shorensteincenter.org, tells the harrowing story of a journalist held hostage by ISIS, and examines the ethical dilemmas that arise when reporting on terrorist organizations.
Dan Kennedy, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (spring 2016) and associate professor in the School of Journalism at Northeastern University, discusses his new research paper providing insight into The Washington Post’s digital strategy and business model following its acquisition by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.
Marilyn Thompson, a Spring 2016 Joan Shorenstein Fellow and former deputy editor at POLITICO, discusses her new research paper exploring the Presidential Election Campaign Fund, and whether the fund could still provide a viable way to address citizen frustration with the campaign finance system.
Bob Schieffer, Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow, veteran CBS reporter, and former moderator of “Face the Nation,” discussed the media’s performance in covering the 2016 election and Donald Trump’s campaign, and looked ahead to the general election. Schieffer also discussed money in politics, the divide in the Republican Party between its leaders and base, the possibility of an indictment for Hillary Clinton, Obama’s legacy, and more. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on April 20, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
The Shorenstein Center hosted a conversation with its Spring 2016 Joan Shorenstein Fellows:Johanna Dunaway, associate professor of communication, Texas A&M University; Joanna Jolly, South Asia editor and feature writer, BBC; Dan Kennedy, associate professor of journalism, Northeastern University; and Marilyn Thompson, deputy editor, Politico. Each fellow gave a preview of the work they conducted at the Shorenstein Center, and answered audience questions. Also featuring contributions from Bob Schieffer, the Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow. This Speaker Series event was recorded on April 19, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Shira T. Center, political editor for The Boston Globe, discussed media coverage of Donald Trump, as well as the relationship between Trump supporters and the press. Center described several factors that contributed to the media’s paradoxical coverage of Trump – characterized by an initial reluctance to view him as a serious candidate, while still providing seemingly constant coverage of him. Center also discussed The Boston Globe’s New Hampshire primary coverage, public reaction to the Globe’s fake front page about President Trump, the inner workings of Trump’s campaign and more.
Jo Becker, a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter for The New York Times, discussed Hillary Clinton’s role in the U.S. intervention in Libya, which she argues, ultimately contributed to destabilization in the region. Becker spoke about her recent New York Times series, focusing on Clinton’s decision-making process regarding intervention in Libya, an issue where her influence was "pivotal." Evaluating Clinton’s role as secretary of state is important since “it can tell you a little bit about how she would act as president,” said Becker. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on April 5, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Sarah Kliff, deputy managing editor for visuals at Vox, discussed media coverage of the Affordable Care Act, what’s next for health care policy, and Vox’s approach to covering policy. Kliff, whose work has included coverage for Vox, The Washington Post, Politico, and Newsweek, also discussed access to women’s health care and contraception at the state level, the challenges of implementing a single-payer system, improving the efficiency and outcomes of health care spending, and her tips for aspiring policy reporters, among other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on March 29, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Linda Greenhouse, columnist and former Supreme Court reporter for the New York Times, and lecturer at Yale Law School, discussed the current polarization of the court, the nomination of Merrick Garland, and the legacy of the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Greenhouse also discussed the process of deciding cases, the purpose and effect of oral arguments, gender balance and diversity on the court, the court’s decision in the 2000 presidential election, and Citizens United, among other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on March 22, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
In this keynote address from the 2016 Goldsmith Awards in Political Journalism ceremony, Walter Isaacson, former chairman of CNN, former editor of TIME, and president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, spoke about the relationship between technology and journalism, and the potential business models for news media organizations in the future. To watch video of the full Goldsmith Awards ceremony, including the presentation of the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, visit shorensteincenter.org. This Shorenstein Center lecture was recorded on March 3, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Philip Bennett, former managing editor for The Washington Post and PBS's FRONTLINE, explored how the promise of the digital revolution has fallen short for some aspects of media and civic engagement, and why news outlets should have an interest in improving the situation. Bennett, who is currently the Patterson Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke University, identified the "missing pieces that weaken the news media’s ability to contribute to democracy." Bennett also discussed fact checking, campaign coverage, overcoming "compassion fatigue" and audience indifference toward humanitarian crisis stories, and media coverage leading up to the start of the Iraq War. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on March 8, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
As states across the nation voted in the Super Tuesday Primaries, Nancy Gibbs, editor of TIME, visited the Shorenstein Center to discuss the parallels between the disruption of the media industry and the upheaval of politics during the 2016 presidential campaign. In this election cycle, the "traditional entities" – the political parties, the media and the donor class – have been “cut out” as middlemen, said Gibbs. Outsider candidates - particularly Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders - have been able to "build an audience, deliver a message, and create a platform, all of their own construction." Gibbs also discussed technology in government, journalism business models, media bias, money in politics, coverage of Donald Trump, and voter turnout. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on March 1, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
E.J. Dionne, Jr., Washington Post op-ed columnist, discussed his new book, Why the Right Went Wrong: Conservatism from Goldwater to the Tea Party and Beyond, and the role of the media in the 2016 election. Dionne also discussed Republican voters' attraction to the candidacy of Donald Trump, Nixon’s Southern strategy, the Young Americans for Freedom movement of the 1960s, and the use of humor in political discourse, among other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on February 23, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Nicco Mele, author, digital strategist and Wallis Annenberg Chair in Journalism at the USC Annenberg School of Journalism, discussed the future and feasibility of various news outlet business models. Mele, who is also a former senior vice president and deputy publisher of the Los Angeles Times, and a Shorenstein Center board member, said that while the production and distribution of digital journalism are well understood, "what's not well understood is how we make money or fund journalism in the digital age." Mele also discussed his time at the Los Angeles Times, opportunities for longform journalism, crowdfunding, microfunding, verticals for niche audiences, hyperlocal journalism, the role of social media in the 2016 election and more. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on February 18, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Jill Abramson, lecturer at Harvard and former executive editor of The New York Times,discussed the 2016 election and its coverage in the media – both problematic and promising. Abramson discussed the line between analysis and opinion, political polarization and social media, and the competition between The New York Times and The Washington Post, among other topics. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on February 17, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Sam Feist, who leads the production of CNN’s campaign coverage and debates as Washington bureau chief and senior vice president, discussed the network’s coverage of the 2016 election. Feist also discussed the composition of CNN’s panelists, the selection of candidates for the early Republican debates, editorial decisions on covering candidate rallies, and fact-checking. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on February 16, 2016 at Harvard Kennedy School.
Walter V. Robinson, editor at large for The Boston Globe, discussed the Globe’s investigation into the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, the Oscar-nominated film "Spotlight," and the future of investigative reporting. Robinson, played by Michael Keaton in the film, discussed the Spotlight Team’s investigation and how it evolved, and which details of the "Spotlight" film are most accurate – and which took liberties. Robinson also discussed the cover up of sexual abuse by the Catholic Church, and the collusion between the Catholic Church and state governments that prevented the prosecution of priests. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on February 9, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Bob Schieffer, Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow, veteran CBS reporter, and former moderator of "Face the Nation," discussed this week’s Iowa Caucuses, and looked ahead to the upcoming primaries and general election. Schieffer also discussed the impact of the race on the Senate, Clinton’s email controversy, media coverage of Trump, Michael Bloomberg’s potential bid, and the questions he would like to ask the presidential candidates. This Shorenstein Center Campaign Series event was recorded on February 3, 2016, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Marie Sanz, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (fall 2015) and senior correspondent for Agence France Presse, introduces her new research paper examining The New York Times' editorials on U.S.-Cuba relations over the past five decades, and the role of the press in the restoration of relations between the two countries. Since 1961, The New York Times editorial board consistently opposed the break in U.S.-Cuba relations, and used major historical events such as the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Mariel boatlift, and the Elian Gonzalez standoff to argue for the restoration of relations. Sanz also covers Fidel Castro’s relationship with the media, how U.S. public opinion toward Cuba changed over time, and the secret talks between the U.S. and Cuba that led to the announcement that relations would be normalized on December 17, 2014. Sanz's full paper can be read at shorensteincenter.org.
David Ensor, Joan Shorenstein Fellow (fall 2015) and former director of Voice of America (VOA), introduces his new research paper making the case for strengthening VOA in order to grow U.S. soft power through the production and spread of journalism. VOA’s news programming, which is funded by the U.S. government but remains editorially independent, reaches almost 188 million people in more than 45 languages through a variety of platforms. Building upon Joseph Nye’s concept of soft power, Ensor argues that VOA is one of the U.S.’s most valuable national security assets, and as such, needs more resources than it currently receives. Ensor's full paper can be read at shorensteincenter.org.
A conversation on international media and politics with the fall 2015 Joan Shorenstein Fellows: David Ensor, former director of Voice of America, Marie Sanz, Lima, Peru bureau chief, AFP, and Paul Wood, foreign correspondent, BBC. The panel discussion focused on the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, as well the fellows’ work at the Center. The fellows discussed the media’s role in using soft power to counter extremism, and the accuracy of common media narratives about ISIS. There was also discussion of the international refugee crisis, and U.S.-Cuba relations. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on November 17, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Former fellow and TV news producer Richard N. Kaplan returned to the Shorenstein Center to discuss the 2016 election, including the debates and the role of the media, and the need for serious journalism. Kaplan has worked for CBS, ABC, CNN and MSNBC, and served as executive producer for Walter Cronkite, Peter Jennings, Ted Koppel, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, and Christiane Amanpour. He recently served as creative consultant on Aaron Sorkin’s HBO show "The Newsroom." Kaplan also discussed Brian Williams’ reentry into the news, presidential candidates' appearances on "Saturday Night Live," news values and ethics, international reporting, and his involvement as a consultant to "The Newsroom." This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on November 10, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Marvin Kalb, Shorenstein Center founding director and former moderator of "Meet the Press," discussed the current relationship between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S., placing the situation within a larger historical context. Kalb also spoke more about U.S. diplomacy and military actions, Russia-China relations, Putin’s advisors, and sanctions. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on November 4, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Maria Sacchetti, who covers immigration for The Boston Globe, shared her experience reporting on the international refugee crisis in Europe, and discussed the importance of local coverage of international stories. Sacchetti traveled to the Greek island of Lesbos to report on the refugees as they arrived onshore. She gives an account of her travels north to Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, and Germany, following the path of refugees and telling their stories in a recent Boston Globe series. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on November 3, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Bob Schieffer, Walter Shorenstein Media and Democracy Fellow, veteran CBS reporter, and former moderator of “Face the Nation,” discussed the nature of the presidential debates, the current field of presidential candidates, and political media in the second event in a series focusing on the 2016 election. Schieffer reflected on his moderation of past presidential debates, including Obama & McCain in 2008, and Obama and Romney in 2012. He also gave his thoughts on the debate performances of 2016 candidates and their current standing in the polls, including Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson and Donald Trump. This Shorenstein Center Campaign Series event was recorded on October 28, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Garance Franke-Ruta, editor in chief of Yahoo Politics and former Shorenstein Center Fellow, discussed the current state of women in politics and political media. For the 2016 election cycle, “the picture is mixed” on the campaign trail, said Franke-Ruta. More women are covering political races than ever before, and women are running for office – yet the media still struggles with presenting women’s voices. Franke-Ruta also discusses Hillary Clinton’s campaign and legislative record, the role of appearance and character in political coverage, Yahoo’s campaign coverage strategy, and more, in this Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event recorded on October 20, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Nadine Strossen, John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law at New York Law School and former ACLU president, delivered the eighth annual Richard S. Salant Lecture on Freedom of the Press, where she expressed her concerns that the over-regulation of sexual expression on college campuses is having a chilling effect on academic freedom. Strossen also discussed trigger warnings, hate speech, and the FCC in this event presented by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy and recorded on October 7, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Nikole Hannah-Jones, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, discussed her investigative reporting on segregation and discrimination in education and housing, as well as the media’s broader coverage of racial issues. Hannah-Jones also discussed the creation of and reaction to her recent “This American Life” story, the role of the media in the Civil Rights Movement, objectivity and emotional expression in journalism, and the intersection of class and race in school segregation. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 13, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.