GBH Media Summit Schedule

Among the casualties of the growing political and societal chasms are many once revered sources of credible information. From academic Ivory towers to scientific institutions and think tanks, there are fewer mutually agreed-upon sentinels of trustworthy knowledge for a divided public. Leading academic and journalistic experts will unpack why public trust in large institutions has decayed–and what makes false information so attractive to consumers. Journalism must confront the concrete dangers that emerge when factually inaccurate media is utilized as a catalyst for anti-democratic activity.

How can the media enhance empathy and tolerance at the intersections of faith and civic life? The common problems faced by American communities might be more effectively communicated through contextual storytelling that fosters understanding and cooperation across differing realms of worship. As political and religious divides increase, faith-based civic leaders will discuss how they are working across religious traditions to build bridges, reduce polarization and strengthen democracy.

The rise of social media influencing and independent newsrooms has yielded a powerful message: diverse communities are no longer willing to wait for authentic, sustained representation in legacy newsrooms. How can the media nurture authentic community relationships and build trust during a period of anti-DEI backlash? This session will unpack the strategies and commitments required to meet the needs and expectations of the entire community.

The profound fractures in American society today offer both a challenge and an opportunity for the chroniclers of the “first draft of history.” Rising levels of division require journalists to identify and authentically amplify voices and perspectives across communities, and media leaders can no longer afford to remain at arm’s length. This session will examine the intersection of objective journalism and contribution to community well-being and explore how media can help mitigate polarization through the stories we frame, voices we include, and our own engagement.

Faced with the double barrels of rampant misinformation and rapidly waning public trust in media, can transparency help clear the clouds of skepticism for audiences? This panel will explore the crucial role of authentic, proactive transparency in building stronger, more trustworthy connections. Topics will include the ethical challenges of reporting, methods for clear and accountable storytelling, and how transparency in decision-making and sourcing can strengthen journalism.

At colleges and universities nationwide, threats to the First Amendment and press freedom are yielding efforts to silence or criminalize the free speech of students and faculty. The push to overturn New York Times Company v. Sullivan, coupled with targeted attacks on journalists and media organizations who refuse to succumb to political pressure, requires a thoughtful strategy, and panelists will offer insights for navigating current threats to the First Amendment.

Local markets are experimenting with a broad range of innovative audience outreach ideas ripe to be replicated. This discussion will feature content and civic engagement projects across public media that can help strengthen community connections and restore trust in the stories and issues amplified by local media.

Increasingly, creative disruptors aren’t waiting to be invited to sit at legacy media and creative tables. They’re bringing their own chairs to spaces that more broadly reflect the communities they live in. In this session, visionary leaders bridging the worlds of entertainment, communication, and technology address how storytelling in film, digital, documentary and short-form video and live events creates pathways to empathy that support increased social cohesion and civic engagement.

Empathy and contextual insights are important tools for building understanding and bringing people together, and media practitioners can leverage them to nurture innovative, sustainable growth. Leaders whose work centers on embracing human complexity will explain how journalists and media leaders can develop a more organic, sustainable mechanism for amplifying the different ways of being human.

Local “news deserts” are growing exponentially across America–and the absence of fact-based local news and information providers is directly contributing to the rise of misinformation and information manipulation. The end result? Where local news is weaker, polarization is deeper. Philanthropic investment in local journalism is fueling efforts to build better-informed communities, enhance trust, and strengthen democracy From the American Journalism Project to Press Forward, independent, non-partisan news organizations are helping to fill the void in local news. We will examine the impact.

Young people today are rejecting many of the hard-wired tropes that dictate how business, civic life, policy and media operate. They are creating and disseminating content that reflects their lived experiences, and as a result, their fight for democracy takes on a different form. This panel explores the dynamic work happening across the country to enhance citizenship and engagement.

The 2024 U.S. election made one thing clear: social media influencers play a stronger role than ever before in shaping public opinion. Their ability to connect with audiences, identify trends or quickly pivot illustrates a level of resilience and reinvention that legacy media would benefit from adopting. From tone to timing, this conversation will explore how to effectively partner with these viral voices and avoid ethical pitfalls.