LSU Reilly Center to Host Event on Local News and Political Coverage

February 7, 2022

BATON ROUGE—The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication will host “Common Ground: Local News and Political Coverage,” on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 3:30 p.m. CT. The virtual event will highlight the promise and perils of the local news industry today and underlying issues with national political coverage.

Panelists will explore new perspectives on the value of local news in communities and politics, and possible paths forward for the local news industry in uncertain times. LSU Assistant Professor of Political Communication Joshua Darr will serve as moderator for the event. Darr’s research focuses on the relationship between local and national settings, specifically political knowledge, partisan polarization and local news. 

“In today’s news environment, there has never been more news available about national politics, while local news is struggling—and it’s driving Americans further apart,” Darr said. “My research focuses on how local news outlets can combat this polarization by focusing on the people and issues in the communities they serve, as long as they have the financial support they need.” 

Panelists:

  • Sarabeth Berman, CEO, American Journalism Project
  • Dan Kennedy, Professor, School of Journalism, Northeastern University
  • Jessica Mahone, Ph.D., Research Director, Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media, UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
  • Steve Waldman, President and Co-Founder, Report for America

The event will be hosted on Zoom and livestreamed on the Reilly Center’s Facebook page. Admission is free, but you must register by Monday, Feb. 7, on Eventbrite to receive the meeting access code. For more information, contact acharbonnet1@lsu.edu.

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The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs is partnership-driven, action-oriented and dedicated to exploring contemporary issues at the intersection of mass communication and public life. Its interdisciplinary approach draws together experts from diverse fields to advance research and dialogue. The intent is to inspire our communities to think deeply, take action, develop solutions and broaden knowledge. Underlying the Center’s endeavors is to strengthen and advance the Manship School’s national and state leadership in media and politics.

LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: master of mass communication, Ph.D. in media and public affairs, certificate of strategic communication and dual MMC/law degree.

 

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