What: The University of Illinois at Springfield will host the first two programs in its Government Accountability and a Free Press Project: a luncheon seminar featuring Charles Lewis, president of The Fund for Independence in Journalism, and an evening panel discussion featuring Judith Miller, Pulitzer Prize-winner and former investigative reporter for The New York Times.
When & Where: Wednesday, November 7.
The luncheon seminar will begin at noon in the Public Affairs Center Lobby.
The discussion featuring Judith Miller will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the PAC Studio Theatre.
Details: The Government Accountability and a Free Press Project is a series of events designed to explore legal, ethical, and practical political and policy issues that may arise as members of the press engage in investigative reporting that is intended to uncover less-than-transparent government conduct. It is a collaborative effort of UIS' College of Public Affairs and Administration, Center for State Policy and Leadership, and Sangamon Auditorium.
Background: Lewis founded the Center for Public Integrity in 1989 and served as its executive director until December 2004. From 1977 through 1988, he did investigative reporting for ABC and CBS news, where he was also a producer for 60 Minutes.
In July 2005, Miller was jailed for contempt of court for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the source of a leak outing Valerie Plame as a covert CIA agent. Miller subsequently spent 85 days in jail, twice as long as any American reporter has ever been confined for protecting a confidential source.
For more information, contact Cheryl Peck at 217/206-7823.
