|
9/11 Security and Liberty Fellowships, 2004-2005
Conference assesses impacts
of 9/11 attacks on nation
During the second week of November, 2004, the Institute for Justice and Journalism began a year-long fellowship with 10 journalists dedicated to producing news coverage about issues of security and liberty in the post 9/11 era.
Among those participating were journalists from the Los Angles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Newsday, the Detroit Free Press, the Washington Monthly, The Nation, The American Prospect, UPI, Public Radio International and KNBC-TV.
Their task was to explore and report on the impact that the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks had on American concepts of security as well as on civil and political liberties.
The fellowship program commenced in Los Angeles with a five-day conference that included presentations from two dozen experts, academics, officials and other journalists. Keynote addresses were delivered by NYU media critic Jay Rosen and investigative reporter and editor Lowell Bergman. Bruce Hoffman of the RAND Corporation presented an analysis of the war on terror. Lawyers Laurie Levenson and George S. Cardona debated the Patriot Act. And U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Sherman Oaks) also weighed in on the subject.
Journalists Deborah Potter and Tim Porter, under commission from IJJ, reviewed the state of broadcast and print coverage on the issues of security and liberty.
Experts from the USC Center for Homeland Security conducted a panel on risk assessment and weapons of mass destruction. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security provided the Bush Administration's point of view on security and border matters. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca discussed local security issues.
Issues of press freedom and civil liberties were addressed by Lucy Daglish from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and by Peter Weitzel from the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government. The conference was capped by a presentation by John Farmer, senior counsel and team leader of the national 9/11 Commission.
A follow-up conference with IJJ Fellows and their respective editors was held in San Francisco in January 2005. The Fellows reported on their progress in completing their projects. The Washington Post/PBS/NPR team that produced the multi-platform report “No Place to Hide” also made presentations.
|
