Issues Facing Our Democracy: Free Press (Series Part IV)

Monday, November 17th

6:00—7:45 PM

Meeting Room, Norwell Public Library

64 South Street, Norwell, MA, 02061

Register: https://norwellpubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/issues-facing-our-democracy-free-press-series-part-iv/

Join us for the fourth installment of our ongoing series, Issues Facing Our Democracy, as we explore the critical topic of Freedom of the Press.

This panel discussion will examine:

• The role of democracy in upholding a free press

• Current legal protections and emerging threats

• The rise of disinformation and how to distinguish truth from falsehood

• The importance of fact-checking

• The essential role of civic education in supporting media literacy

Moderator: Irwin Nesoff, Progressive South Shore

Panelists include:

Christopher Haraden grew up in Hull and started reporting the news at age 16, when he was hired to work at one of three – yes, three – weekly newspapers in Hull in 1987. Over the years, he’s covered everything from town meetings to development hearings to a murder trial for The Hull Times, of which he is now the editor. In addition, he was the founding editor of “Boston Homes: The Complete Guide,” a weekly real estate newspaper covering five Boston neighborhoods, and has worked as an editor and reporter for the TAB chain and Banker & Tradesman. Chris has won awards for headline writing, government reporting, and historical features, and last year was named one of Editor & Publisher Magazine’s “20 over 50” in the news business.

Gregory V. Sullivan is the President of the New England First Amendment Coalition and has served as counsel to numerous media organizations in New Hampshire for more than 45 years. He has successfully litigated many First Amendment and Right-to-Know cases in federal and state courts, and currently serves on the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s Committee on the Judiciary and the Media. His work has advanced the public's interest through several landmark First Amendment and public access cases before the New Hampshire Supreme Court and the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. He teaches First Amendment Media Law at Suffolk University Law School in Boston and at the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications in Manchester, N.H.

Moderator:

Irwin Nesoff, a lifelong activist and organizer, is a resident of Hull where he serves as the Chair of the Select Board. With his wife Paula, he manages the weekly Progressive South Shore e-Newsletter. Irwin is a retired Professor of Social Work and Leadership and Policy and holds a Doctorate in Social Welfare.