MEDIA ADVISORY FOR JAN. 10: Investigative Reporters to Discuss the Intersection of Technology, Right-Wing Propaganda, and Fake News’ Influence on Politics, and How We Can Preserve a Vibrant Civic Media
Institute for the Future initiates effort to strengthen democracy and civic media, convenes thought leaders to devise solutions to challenges created by new technology, propaganda
Palo Alto, CA, Dec. 27, 2016—The Institute for the Future (IFTF) will hold a timely public discussion on Jan. 10 with investigative reporters and Russia experts about the roles of technology and illicit money in the rise of right-wing populism around the globe. The public panel is part of a broader effort, including a two-day private convening of journalists, tech, academic and policy experts, to generate solutions to preserve an open civic dialogue and strong media. IFTF will share those solutions with the media and the public.
The public panel, How to Destroy Democracy, will be led by New York Times contributor Masha Gessen, author of "The Man Without a Face: the Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin” and Drew Sullivan, co-founder of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, on Jan. 10 from 1-2:30pm at IFTF’s headquarters in Palo Alto. Right-wing populist parties and autocratic leaders are gaining power in countries from France and Russia to Hungary and Poland—a trend that predates the recent U.S. elections. How did we get here? What role does new technology play? Where does the money come from? This panel will be an opportunity to get insight into recent political trends first-hand from journalists who risk their lives to answer these questions by shining a light on the multi-trillion-dollar criminal economy that fuels corruption around the globe.
These investigative journalists, along with experts from the realms of media, academia, policy, and technology, will be in the San Francisco Bay Area to participate in a private convening Jan. 11-12 hosted by IFTF in partnership with the Skoll Foundation and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. The convening, called The Future of Democracy: Preserving A Vibrant Civic Media, is private to enable a frank and fruitful discussion but will result in initiatives to preserve civic media and strengthen democracy that will be shared publicly.
What: A public panel discussion with European investigative reporters and Russia experts to discuss the rise of right-wing populism around the world and the role of new technology, propaganda, and the criminal economy that fuels global corruption.
When: Tuesday, Jan. 10; 1-2:30pm
Where: 201 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA
Panelists:
Masha Gessen, New York Times contributor, author of "The Man Without a Face: the Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin”and “Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot”
Drew Sullivan, co-founder, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
Other investigative journalists from Russia and Eastern Europe
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In response to today’s anti-monument press conference in San Juan County, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Deputy Director Greg Zimmerman:
“There are few if any places in America more deserving of the protections offered to Bears Ears yesterday by President Obama. Rather than celebrating its crown jewel, some members of Utah’s political class did what they do best: Grandstand in front of cameras instead of doing their jobs and passing legislation.
“Rob Bishop had every opportunity to pass his Public Lands Initiative, and chose not to. Each time he stands up to complain about President Obama’s use of the Antiquities Act, it only highlights his own ineffectiveness as a committee chairman.”
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org.
