Renowned journalists to tackle billionaire ownership media model at Brandeis forum

As billionaire owners reshape the American news industry, some of the nation’s foremost journalists will gather at Brandeis University next week to debate who really controls the news, and what that means for democracy.

The public forum, titled “Who Owns the News?”, will take place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, in Rapaporte Treasure Hall at Brandeis University, 415 South St., Waltham. The event, presented by Brandeis Journalism, is free and open to the public. More information is available here.

The discussion comes in the wake of Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos’s recent decision to dramatically reduce the paper’s newsroom staff, a move that reignited national debate about billionaire ownership and the future of independent reporting.

Panelists include Marty Baron, who led both The Washington Post and The Boston Globe to Pulitzer Prizes; Kevin Merida, former executive editor of The Los Angeles Times, former managing editor at the Post, and founding editor of ESPN’s The Undefeated; Janice Page, former arts editor of the Post and former deputy managing editor for arts and newsroom innovation at the Globe; and Kainaz Amaria, former senior visuals editor for the Post’s investigative unit and veteran of Vox and NPR.

Brandeis journalism professors Neil Swidey and Ann Silvio will co-moderate the conversation, which will explore whether today’s ownership structures can sustain the watchdog role of journalism in holding power to account.

The event takes place in Rapaporte Treasure Hall. Directions and parking information are available on the Brandeis campus map.