WILLIAMSBURG — The Reves Center for International Studies at William & Mary (W&M), the Human Security Law Center (HSLC) at William & Mary Law School, and the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO is hosting an online symposium on Friday, Nov. 4, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
The symposium, called “Press Freedom Under Attack: 21st Century Threats to Journalists and Democracy,” will feature Russian Journalist Tikhon Dzyadko as the event’s keynote speaker.
Dzyadko is a Russian Journalist, television presenter, and Editor-in-Chief of Dozhd TV (also known as TV Rain), which was one of the few independent television news stations in Russia before its operations were suspended. Through his role at Dzyadko TV, Dzyadko has interviewed notable public figures, including opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
In March 2022, Dzyadko made headlines when he suspended DozhdTV operations after Russia’s media regulator blocked its website for spreading “deliberately false information about the actions of Russian military personnel,” an action which was prompted by Dozhd TV’s critical commentary on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The online symposium will also host visiting guest panelists including:
- Rachel Grady, Director and Executive Producer of, “Endangered: Journalism in Jeopardy.”
- Carl-Phillippe Juste, an award-winning photojournalist for the Miami Herald.
- Joel Simon, Fellow at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University and Senior Visiting Fellow at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University.
- Apar Gupta, lawyer, activist, and writer of technology and democratic rights in India with over 15 years of experience.
- Martin Plaut, Senior Research Fellow with the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London.
- Natalie Southwick, Americas research associate in 2017 with Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
The online symposium is free and open to the public. The following is the scheduled Agenda for the Symposium, courtesy of W&M:
- 9:00-9:10 a.m. – Introductory Remarks from Professor Nancy Amoury Combs, the Ernest W. Goodrich Professor of Law and Director of the Human Security Law Center at W&M Law School, and Dr. Teresa Longo, Associate Provost for International Affairs and Executive Director of the Reves Center for International Studies.
- 9:15-10:15 a.m. – Keynote Address with guest Keynote Speaker Tikhon Dzyadko.
- 10:20 a.m.-11:40 a.m. – Endangered: Threats Against Journalists in the United States and Abroad featuring Rachel Grady, Carl-Philippe Juste, and Joel Simon as panelists. Acting as the discussion Moderator and another panelist is Rachel Sleiman, a third-year W&M Law School student who serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Comparative Jurist.
- 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. – Does Media Intimidation Look the Same Everywhere? Stories from Different Parts of the World featuring Apar Gupta, Martin Plaut, and Natalie Southwick as panelists. The discussion moderator is Christopher Tyree, senior director and co-founder of the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism.
For more information on the guest speakers and the upcoming virtual symposium, visit W&M’s website. The symposium will be hosted over Zoom. Virtual guests can register for the event by filling out the zoom registration link.
