Press Releases | Mar, 6 2024
Speakers Include Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Judy Woodruff, Kara Swisher, Larry Wilmore and Many More
Austin, TX, March 6, 2024 – As the presidential election year kicks off in earnest, it’s clear that our democracy is more precarious than ever. And with trust in the news media at an all-time low, many Americans believe that journalism itself is fanning the flames of division threatening the nation.
At a groundbreaking conference on April 9-10 at the LBJ Presidential Library, some of the nation’s leading reporters, publishers, and broadcasters will dissect the news industry’s critical weaknesses and failings – and provide solutions to help restore faith in their profession. The LBJ Foundation and More Perfect will host the Trust. News. Democracy. conference on Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10 at Austin’s renowned LBJ Presidential Library.
“The LBJ Foundation is partnering with More Perfect to address the most pressing challenge of our day, our faltering democracy,” said Mark K. Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation. “Trust. News. Democracy. will examine the role our fragmented, often unreliable media landscape plays in fostering divisions and weakening our nation. Importantly, though, we’ll also explore how we can improve our media ecosystem and build a stronger future.”
“Democracies depend upon shared truth that enables citizens to get reliable information so they can vote, serve, and work together across differences to solve public challenges,” said John Bridgeland, CEO of More Perfect. “We are thrilled to partner with the LBJ Foundation on a summit that helps advance one of our five Democracy Goals – Access to Trusted News and Information – the very goal our surveys show Americans believe is the most important to advance.”
Over two days, top experts will address the impact that hyper-partisan 24/7 cable TV news has on our democracy; the diminishing sources of trusted local news; the toxic influence of social-media platforms and dangers that minors face; and the threats posed by artificial intelligence in the news and the potential harm to free and fair elections.
On April 9, the free conference kicks off with two evening programs featuring journalism legends. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporters and authors, will discuss the precarious state of journalism today. This program is co-hosted by the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin, home of the Woodward and Bernstein Watergate Papers. The second program on April 9th features Kara Swisher, the podcast host, tech savant, and author of the recently released Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, and comedian Larry Wilmore, the Emmy-Award-winning producer, actor, writer, and current host of Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air.
On April 10, daytime panels feature speakers including:
- Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief, USA Today
- John Palfrey, President, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Sonal Shah, CEO, The Texas Tribune
- Brian Stelter, Special Correspondent, Vanity Fair, and former host of “Reliable Sources” on CNN
- Richard Gephardt, Former House Majority Leader, Co-chair of the Council for Responsible Social Media
- Sarabeth Berman, CEO, American Journalism Project
The conference concludes that evening with a conversation with Judy Woodruff, Senior Correspondent, PBS NewsHour.
Lead support for the conference was provided by Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin, Lynda Johnson Robb and family, and Donald E. Graham. Additional supporters include Bank of America, Houston Endowment, The Meadows Foundation, The Peyton Anderson Foundation, Deep South Today, Lumina Foundation, and Edwina and Tom Johnson.
The two-day conference is free and open to the public with a reserved ticket and will be live-streamed. Details and ticket information may be found: www.TrustNewsDemocracy.org.
About the LBJ Foundation
Established by President and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1969, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the LBJ Presidential Library and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. Through the fundraising efforts of its Board of Trustees, the Foundation provides support to the LBJ Library that enhances quality programming, expands educational outreach and exhibits, and gives grants to researchers and scholars. The Foundation supports the LBJ School by providing funds for student scholarships and faculty endowments with the goal of attracting the brightest minds and preparing students for public policy leadership positions. www.lbjlibrary.org/foundation
About the LBJ Presidential Library
The LBJ Presidential Library, located on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, is one of 15 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. Dedicated in May 1971, its mission is to preserve and protect the historical materials in its collections and make them readily accessible; to increase public awareness of the American experience through relevant exhibitions and educational programs; and to advance the LBJ Library's standing as a center for intellectual activity and community leadership while meeting the challenges of a changing world. www.lbjlibrary.org
About More Perfect
More Perfect is an alliance of 28 Presidential Centers, National Archives Foundation, American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia, and more than 100 partners that have freely chosen to unite around a big idea — the advancement of five foundational Democracy Goals to protect and improve our democracy. In addition to formulating comprehensive plans around each of the DGs, More Perfect has co-hosted events at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, William J. Clinton Presidential Library, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, and Obama Democracy Forum on Trusted Elections, Civic Learning, National Service, and Local News, respectively. https://www.joinmoreperfect.us/overview
