Welcome Remarks for "New Visions of the Future of Press Freedom"
McGowan Theater, 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
January 29, 2020
Good afternoon, and welcome to the William G. McGowan Theater at the 威尼斯人娱乐场. I鈥檓 David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I鈥檓 pleased you could join us for this afternoon鈥檚 program, whether you are here in the theater or joining us through Facebook or YouTube.
Today鈥檚 discussion, 鈥淣ew Visions of the Future of Press Freedom,鈥� is presented in partnership with the Student Press Law Center.
We are pleased to welcome our panel of student journalists, and our moderator, America Tonight鈥�s Joie Chen, and look forward to the discussion about the future of press freedom and their experiences of censorship and successful efforts to overcome it.
But first I want to let you know about two other programs coming up soon in the McGowan Theater.
Tomorrow night at 7 p.m., we will present a special preview screening of episode one of a new television series, A More or Less Perfect Union, which explores the most contentious issues in American history and today through the lens of the U.S. Constitution. After the screening, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg, the host of the television program, will hold a discussion with historian Hadley Arkes.
And on Monday, February 3, at noon, Pulitzer Prize鈥搘inning journalist David Zucchino will be here to discuss and sign his latest book, Wilmington鈥檚 Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy.
To keep informed about events throughout the year, check our website, Archives.gov, or sign up at the table outside the theater to get email updates. You鈥檒l also find information about other 威尼斯人娱乐场 programs and activities.
Another way to get more involved with the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is to become a member of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation. The Foundation supports the work of the agency, especially its education and outreach programs. Check out their website鈥�补谤肠丑颈惫别蝉蹿辞耻苍诲补迟颈辞苍.辞谤驳鈥�to learn more about them and join online.
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Today, January 29, has been designated Student Press Freedom Day鈥攁 national day of action (now in its third year), which seeks to celebrate the contributions of student journalists and amplify the need to fully apply the First Amendment to them and their advisers. As the home of the original Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights, we are the natural venue to host this discussion on press freedom and the important role that journalists play in our democracy.
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And now it鈥檚 my pleasure to turn the program over to Hadar Harris, the executive director of the Student Press Law Center. A human rights attorney, Hadar joined the SPLC in 2017. She previously served as the executive director of the Northern California Innocence Project. For 13 years, Harris was executive director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law. Earlier in her career, Harris served as executive director of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, a bipartisan legislative service organization of the U.S. House of Representatives, under the leadership of the late Congressman Tom Lantos.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Hadar Harris.