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.
Jaron Lanier, computer scientist and author of Who Owns the Future? and You Are Not a Gadget, discussed how the current digital economy, driven by automation and efficiency, is on track to leave large segments of society behind economically. Lanier also addressed, among other topics, privacy, ideology in technology, educational technology and MOOCs, the current dystopian streak in science fiction, the impact of technology on ideas about personhood and spirituality, and the details of how micropayments could be used to pay people for their online activity and data. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 8, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.
Kristen Soltis Anderson, Republican pollster and author of "The Selfie Vote," discussed the divide between the Millennial generation and the Republican Party, and what the party can do to better resonate with young voters in future elections. Anderson also addressed how far-right candidates harm the image of moderate candidates, how Republicans could address climate change, the debate within the party on social issues, and differences between younger and older Millennials. This Shorenstein Center Speaker Series event was recorded on October 6, 2015, at Harvard Kennedy School.