Free activities and events in New York City

Lecture “The Future of Press Freedom in an Era of Democratic Backsliding”

Published: November 1, 2025; Aithor: Julia Sonrisa

Press freedom, already under threat from technological and economic disruptions and eroding public trust, has become even more vulnerable in President Trump’s second term. Lawsuits aimed at silencing critical journalism and punitive measures against press outlets perceived as anti-Trump are accompanied by a daily drumbeat of vitriol against the media from top public officials.

Building upon a new book, The Future of Press Freedom, a panel of legal experts and journalists will consider how to protect the crucial role of the press in our democracy and support journalists in these dangerous times.

Speakers include

• RonNell Andersen Jones, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
• Nora Benavidez, Free Press
• Azmat Khan, Simon, and June L.I Center for Global Journalism at Columbia University
• Joel Simon, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
• Margaret Sullivan, Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia University
• Sonja R. West, University of Georgia School of Law

Co-sponsored by the Knight First Amendment Institute, the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security, and the Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism at Columbia University.

Lunch will be served.

Registration is required to attend. You must register before 5 pm ET on Monday, November 3, in order to access the Columbia University campus.

For more information, visit our site.

Illustration by Lincoln Agnew.

Time: 12:00 pm EDT

Free!

Registration

Detailed information and discussion of the event.