New York, September 05, 2019—The Committee to Protect Journalists will participate in LA Press Freedom Week, a multi-day celebration of press freedom and the importance of the First Amendment, in Los Angeles from September 16-20. The event is sponsored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Los Angeles Times, in collaboration with CPJ, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
Marquee events include a discussion of the challenges for journalists covering elections that includes CPJ board chair Kathleen Carroll, and a conversation about press freedom and diversity moderated by veteran journalist and CPJ board member Lester Holt. The week also includes a focus on challenges unique to California, with a panel about local journalists’ efforts to promote transparency in police conduct.
“Los Angeles is a global media center, and so it’s important to highlight the emerging threats to press freedom in the United States and around the world,” said Joel Simon, CPJ’s executive director. “We stand together for press freedom because journalism has the power to inspire change, to challenge abuse, and to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Simon will participate in a conversation with Maria Ressa, founder of the Philippine news website Rappler and a TIME magazine 2018 Person of the Year, on fighting growing global repression of the press. CPJ Advocacy Director Courtney Radsch will join PEN America for a panel discussion on the challenges facing journalists reporting on the border crisis and the privacy and human rights implications of covering immigration. Several other spotlight events will be held throughout the week, including a panel discussion on misinformation and a screening of “The Panama Papers” documentary.
For more information or to RSVP to any of these events, visit the website. To arrange an interview with a CPJ expert, email [email protected]