Disruption, disinformation and democracy: Political reporting in the Trump era

03/20/2018

Since the 2016 election, political journalists have been operating in a whirlwind of Tweets, leaks, investigations, and shattered norms of governance. Please join a panel discussion hosted by the College of Media’s Department of Journalism that will address the challenges and implications of that whirlwind for journalism and for democratic life.

  • Dan Balz, chief correspondent, The Washington Post
  • Roger Simon, political columnist and author
  • Tracy Sulkin, professor, political science and interim executive associate dean, College of Media
  • Moderating the panel: Stephanie Craft, associate professor, journalism

Thursday, April 12, 2018
3 – 4:30 p.m.
Illini Union, Room 404

The public is invited to attend!

Dan Balz ’68 Journalism, ’72 M.S. Journalism, joined The Washington Post in 1978 and has been on the front lines of the Post’s political coverage as a reporter or editor throughout his career. His career as a Washington-based reporter has spanned nine presidencies and as a political reporter and editor he has covered ten presidential campaigns. He is the author or co-author of several books, including two New York Times bestsellers: "Collision 2012: Obama vs. Romney and the Future of Elections in America" and, with co-author Haynes Johnson, "The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election."

Roger Simon ’70 English, has been a political columnist and reporter for Politico, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, U.S. News & World Report, and Bloomberg News among others. His books include: "Road Show: In America, Anyone Can Become President, It's One of the Risks We Take;" "Show Time: The American Political Circus and the Race for the White House;" and "Divided We Stand: How Al Gore Beat George Bush and Lost the Presidency."

Tracy Sulkin, Ph.D., is Interim Executive Associate Dean, College of Media; Professor of Political Science and Romano Professorial Scholar, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She and has written extensively on congress and legislative style.

Stephanie Craft is an associate professor of journalism. She specializes in new literacy and journalism ethics.