Media Leaders Join Panels Exploring 'Security, Freedom and Privacy in the Digital Age'

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Representatives from The Washington Post, the Associated Press, The Guardian, The New York Times and PBS NewsHour will discuss "Security, Freedom and Privacy in the Digital Age" Wednesday, Sept. 18, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Knight Studio at the Newseum. The program is sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in partnership with the Newseum Institute, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the Stanton Foundation.

The opening panel will focus on recent disclosures of National Security Agency surveillance, including the PRISM program, and explore how we now view conflicts between security, freedom and privacy and whether those conflicts can be resolved.

The second panel will examine the press freedom implications of this year's seizures of Associated Press and Fox News records, the attorney general's new policies and the proposed federal shield law for journalists.

The program will be live-streamed at Newseum.org. Comments or questions may be tweeted to #NewseumNSA.

"The program will present a unique perspective on the ongoing challenge of balancing national security needs and the First Amendment protections for a free press," said Gene Policinski, chief operating officer of the Newseum Institute. "The press has the dual role of providing the current event reports citizens need for self-governance, while also serving as a watchdog on government abuses."

"The digital age has changed everything about security, freedom and privacy," said Eric Newton, senior adviser to the president at the Knight Foundation. "Once, a whistleblower agonized about a single revelation. Today, we are talking about uncounted documents being revealed at once, surveillance that could affect anyone and journalists being digitally raided and declared criminals for simply doing their jobs."

"Security, Freedom and Privacy in the Digital Age" is open to the public and admission is free, but seating is limited. Please contact Ashlie Hampton at [email protected] or 202/292-6288 no later than noon on Tuesday, Sept. 17, to reserve a seat. Admission to the Newseum for the program will begin at 9:00 a.m. only at the C Street entrance to the Newseum which is located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.

Program participants from the media include Judy Woodruff, co-anchor of PBS NewsHour; Scott Armstrong, investigative journalist and director of Information Trust; Lucy Dalglish, dean, Phillip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland; Karen Kaiser, Associate General Counsel, the Associated Press; Charlie Savage, Washington correspondent for The New York Times; Jeff Leen, assistant managing editor/investigations at The Washington Post; Kevin Goldberg, legal counsel, American Society of News Editors; and Spencer Ackerman, national security editor, The Guardian.

Other participants include representatives from government, business and privacy organizations. The Knight Studio audience will include members of the Washington media and legal communities.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit www.KnightFoundation.org.
Contact: Anusha Alikhan, [email protected], 305-908-2646

About the Newseum
The mission of the Newseum is to champion the five freedoms of the First Amendment through education, information and entertainment. One of the top attractions in Washington, D.C., the Newseum's 250,000-square-foot news museum offers visitors a state-of-the-art experience that blends news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits, and its Newseum Institute serves as a forum for the study, exploration and education of the First Amendment. The Newseum is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations, including the Freedom Forum. For more information, visit newseum.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Newseum Institute