Freedom of the Press: Why a Healthy Democracy Needs Journalistic Sunlight

We live in a time of not only polarization, emerging AI, and social distrust, but also media disruption. Every week a local news outlet shuts down in America, which means more and more small communities don’t know what’s happening on the city council or at the school board. And this term especially, the Trump Administration is often bypassing traditional media by going “direct to voters” through posts on Truth Social, Instagram, Facebook Reels, or text-based engagement. And yet everyday we see reporters, columnists, and editors doing their job – on Capitol Hill, in the White House Briefing Room, and elsewhere. As Justice Brandeis said, “sunlight is the best disinfectant.” That’s true for all Americans but perhaps especially for Christians, who should have no fear in searching-out the truth.

Join us next Friday as Josh Good, director of the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program, which houses Faith Angle Forum, discusses why free press matters.

Video and audio recordings of the lecture will be available on our website after the event.

As always, a Chick-fil-A lunch will be provided. Please also forward this invitation to colleagues and interns who may be interested in attending this lecture.