Press Release: CivicStory Forum to Explore “Mediating” Role of News

Date: November 7, 2018
For Immediate Release
For: CivicStory – www.civicstory.org

Forum to Explore “Mediating” Role of News

Media Leaders Featured in CivicStory "News & Democracy" Forum

Summit, NJ - Four multi-media news leaders will debate the civic purposes of journalism in a free public forum on Monday, November 19, 7:30 pm. Entitled "News and Democracy," the forum is presented by CivicStory, an online solutions-based news site focused on sustainability and creative change.

Panelists include: NJTV correspondent Michael Hill; Joseph Lichterman of the Lenfest Institute for Journalism in Philadelphia; Stefanie Murray, Director of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University; and Paula Saha, Director of Communications for the NJ State Bar Association.

"News has a key role in identifying common ground in  our diverse democracy," says CivicStory founder Susan Haig."The 'divided nation' theme, though partly true, is ultimately disempowering.  News should inform us of emerging ways to work together to solve urgent problems."

The public is invited to attend, admission is free, but registration is required. To reserve a seat, register at http://bit.ly/NewsDemocracy.

What: Public Forum: News & Democracy
When: Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 – 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Where: Central Presbyterian Church, 70 Maple Street, Summit, NJ
To Attend: Register here to reserve a FREE seat.

OUR SPEAKERS:  (alphabetical)

Michael Hill is a 2018 National Fellow of the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism. Hill is an award-winning news anchor and reporter with stints in New York, Dallas, New Orleans and beyond. He’s covered some of the world’s most memorable events over the last three decades. Hill’s interest in covering news runs the gamut and he feels right at home discovering and re-discovering his native New Jersey. Michael was Student Council President at Barringer High School where he ran track and played on the state-championship-winning football team. Barringer is where Michael’s passion for investigation and storytelling were channeled into broadcast journalism. Hill feels the truth is worth the pursuit.

Joseph Lichterman is the senior business associate at the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization whose sole mission is to develop and support sustainable business models for local journalism. He writes Solution Set, a weekly report on innovation in news. Prior to joining the Institute, he was a staff writer at the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University. He also previously reported for Reuters in its Detroit bureau.

Stefanie Murray is the Director of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. A Michigan native, Stefanie previously worked in Michigan and Tennessee as a reporter, editor, digital media manager and news executive. Before joining Montclair State, she worked for Gannett Co. as vice president and executive editor of The Tennessean in Nashville, and was with the Detroit Free Press before that. Her professional passions are collaborative journalism, local journalism, community engagement and audience analysis.

Paula Saha is the Director of Communications at the NJ State Bar Association. Paula's professional experience includes a decade as a reporter in New Jersey and public relations for the state's largest Arts Center. At NJ Spotlight, she worked in all aspects of of the organization, including editorial, social media, grant-writing, marketing, sponsor relations, website operations, event planning and membership.

About CivicStory

CivicStory is a nonprofit solutions-based news site highlighting sustainability and creative growth in NJ cities and beyond. A 501(c)(3) based in Summit, NJ, its mission is to advance solutions-based news through short videos about citizens and organizations transforming their communities. View videos and forums at www.CivicStory.org

Contact:  Donna Liu, Media Manager, CivicStory
donnal@civicstory.org