Shorenstein Center Media and Politics Podcast

Hosts: Erica Licht and Nikhil Raghuveera Featuring: Mari Halbutta (Chickasaw Nation) and Talia Landry (Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe)  The Untying Knots Podcast explores how people and organizations are untying knots of systems of oppression and working towards a more equitable future. In this episode of Untying Knots, Erica Licht and Nikhil Raguveera focus on Native land rights and sovereignty. Through interviews with key members of the Chickasaw Nation and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, we explore how two Tribes are fighting in the US legal system for their land and rightful recognition. Mari Halbutta and Talia Landry put into perspective recent litigation amidst a broader history of political oppression and violence. The cases reveal renewed attempts at erasure and termination of Native people, and in turn, unwavering Native organizing and resistance. Untying Knots is supported by the Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center, the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project, and the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center. Thanks to Mari Halbutta, Talia Landry, and Eric Henson.   Learn More: Chickasaw Nation: https://chickasaw.net/ Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe: https://mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/ Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ She Gives Me by Moby courtesy of mobygratis.com

Hosts: Erica Licht and Nikhil Raghuveera Featuring: Christopher Bruce (ACLU of Georgia) and Nse Ufot (New Georgia Project)    The Untying Knots Podcast explores how people and organizations are untying knots of systems of oppression and working towards a more equitable future. In this episode of Untying Knots, Erica Licht and Nikhil Raguveera take a closer look at the history of institutional racism in US voting, as well as its specific iterations in the state of Georgia. Their conversations with key staff at the ACLU of Georgia and the New Georgia Project reveal how the two organizations are amplifying the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color voters, and striving to eliminate racist barriers in current and future elections.   Untying Knots is supported by the Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center and the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project. Thanks to Christopher Bruce, Nse Ufot, LaTosha Brown, Sanhitha Raghuveeera, and Dr. Megan Ming Francis. Learn More: ACLU of Georgia: https://www.acluga.org/ New Georgia Project: https://newgeorgiaproject.org/   Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hosts: Nikhil Raghuveera and Erica Licht Featuring: Karla Nicholson (Haymarket People’s Fund) and Lucas Turner-Owens (Boston Ujima Project) Hundreds of years of racist institutional policies have denied wealth to Black, Indigenous, and communities of color. In this current period of uprising, resistance, and crisis on racial injustice, organizational leaders are asking: what does it look like to make structural change for racial justice? Two organizations in Boston, the Haymarket People’s Fund and the Boston Ujima Project, provide a critical model for applying an anti-racist lens to operations, mission, ongoing learning, and accountability. In the first episode of Untying Knots, recent Harvard Kennedy School MPA graduates and hosts Nikhil Raghuveera and Erica Licht (of the IARA Project Team at the Shorenstein Center) take a closer look at the history of institutional racism in lending, and efforts locally to re-think radical redistribution of power and resources. Interviews with key staff at both organizations reveal how they translate their mission to anti-racist funding mechanisms. Haymarket’s story demonstrates a twenty year organizational journey of working towards anti-racist change, and Ujima provides a model for equitable community lending. The Untying Knots Podcast explores how people and organizations are reimagining society and dismantling systems of oppression.   Notes: Untying Knots is a collaboration between Nikhil Raghuveera and Erica Licht. It is supported by Dr. Megan Ming Francis. Thanks to Karla Nicholson, Lucas Turner- Owens, Carolyn Chou and Alex Papali. Learn More: Haymarket People’s Fund: https://www.haymarket.org/ Boston Ujima Project: https://www.ujimaboston.com/ People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond: https://www.pisab.org/ Asian American Resource Workshop: https://www.aarw.org/ Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"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, and Rolling 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 RussiaThe 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 JusticeThis 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 Globe David Armstrong and Evan Allen The Addiction TradeSTAT 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 ChicagoBuzzFeed 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 Times Washington 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.