Media And Politics Podcast

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 d

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

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.