UW–Madison’s Fall 2021 Journalist in Residence program presents a series of talks focusing on the media’s role in reporting on complex and often polarizing subjects. Topics of this semester’s talks range from the evolution of local news coverage to the role of media in the climate change debate.
Just Narratives: Covering Criminal Justice
Featuring Center for Journalism Ethics Journalist in Residence Keri Blakinger
Wednesday, September 29 at 6:30 p.m. CT
“Just Narratives: Covering Criminal Justice” will gather three dynamic panelists to explore the roles and responsibilities of journalism in covering the criminal justice system. Journalist-in-residence Keri Blakinger, a formerly incarcerated journalist and reporter for the criminal justice-focused nonprofit news organization The Marshall Project; James Causey, longtime Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter and “Ideas Lab” contributor; and Keith Findley, UW–Madison professor of law, co-founder of the Innocence Project will explore critical ethical questions, such as: how and when does media coverage reinforce the societal status quo? How can we ensure that coverage of the criminal justice system represents multiple points of view and incorporates the experiences and perspectives of those most affected? Do journalists have an ethical responsibility to humanize people caught up in the system and what are the best ways to do that? And can a “solutions” journalism focus help engage minds and bridge political divides on the issue of criminal justice? This free event will include a question and answer period at the end.
Funded in part by a grant from Wisconsin Humanities, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities
The public event takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the Memorial Union Play Circle on the UW–Madison campus. Registration is not required. Information about virtual attendance can be found here.
Politics & Policy
Featuring Public Affairs Journalist in Residence David Brooks
Wednesday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. CT
The La Follette School of Public Affairs welcomes best-selling author and New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks for “Policy & Politics.” The political and foreign affairs analyst, featured on PBS NewsHour, NPR’s All Things Considered, and NBC’s Meet the Press, will share his insights on this critical time in U.S. history.
Free general-admission tickets for the presentation, Policy and Politics with David Brooks, are sold out; however, tickets for online viewing are available via the Memorial Union Box Office.
Brooks’ visit is made possible by the La Follette School’s Kohl Initiative.
COVID-19 and a Deluge of Data
Featuring Science Journalist in Residence Caroline Chen
Tuesday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m. CT
ProPublica’s Caroline Chen will headline the free, hybrid in-person/virtual panel discussion, “COVID-19 and a Deluge of Data,” with UW–Madison experts as part of the Crossroads of Ideas public lecture series. She will be joined by mathematics Professor Jordan Ellenberg, life sciences communication Professor Dominique Brossard, and population health sciences Professor Ajay Sethi for a conversation about data and how we share it, how we consume it, and the difficulties we face when making sense of it, from navigating uncertainty to confronting an onslaught of misinformation.
Chen will virtually join the in-person UW–Madison panelists for a moderated discussion. Details about the in-person event, held in the H.F. DeLuca Forum in the Discovery Building at 330 N. Orchard St. in Madison, along with registration for the virtual livestream, can be found online.