Journalism is essential to holding power accountable and repelling autocratic trends.
At a time of global democratic erosion, journalism confronts multiple challenges: economic precarity, political pressures, lack of trust, precarious work conditions, and a dwindling ability to command public attention amid (dis)information abundance.
But democracies do not have an alternative institution to do what journalism does on any given day, despite its shortcomings and limitations. The fact that autocrats fear and persecute journalism is a telling sign that journalism is still relevant to scrutinizing power, bringing public awareness to important matters, and sparking actions by other democratic institutions.
In this Iowa City Foreign Relations Council presentation, Prof. Silvio R. Waisbord (School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University) will interrogate the global role of journalism as authoritarianism and populism gain ground and civil society faces escalating crises.
This event is presented in partnership with the Iowa City Public Library and UI School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Registration is not required but will help organizers get a count for food and refreshments.