Media And Politics Podcast

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.