NEW YORK—June 7, 2016—Nationally broadcasted public affairs program, The Open Mind, hosted by Alexander Heffner, will produce a special series of programs and digital video conversations on free speech and democracy with $100,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The series aims to increase public interest in and understanding of the First Amendment and critical challenges to press freedom and free expression in the digital age. The underlying theme will highlight how a free press is essential to creating more informed communities.
The series will air as part of the 60th anniversary season of The Open Mind, a broadcast devoted to exploring issues vital to a thriving democracy. The program – the longest running show on public television – was founded by Richard D. Heffner.
Related Links
“Why we must champion the First Amendment in the digital age” by Eric Newton on Knight Blog, 5/17/2016
“A news industry ‘less able’ to defend freedom” by Eric Newton on Knight Blog, 4/21/2016
Report: Free Speech on Campus
“Free to examine, to disagree, to question…this was the founding mandate of our broadcast in 1956…that remains true to this day,” said Open Mind host Alexander Heffner. “We are grateful to Knight Foundation and all our benefactors for enabling us to continue this civic education in the public interest.”
“In order to preserve and uphold the First Amendment, we must engage the public around the issues that may have an impact on its future,” said Jennifer Preston, Knight Foundation vice president for journalism. “Through this series, The Open Mind will help to do just that— by increasing understanding of these important Constitutional rights and the potential threats to press freedom, freedom of expression and access to news and information in the digital age.”
The series aims to explore issues such as: freedom of expression and assembly on college campuses, the impact of the digital disruption of journalism, the concentrated distribution of news and information by major technology companies and the 50th anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act. The programs are scheduled to be broadcast later this year through 2017.
The Open Mind is broadcast nationally on PBS stations via the WORLD Channel. The work will also be shared on its Web and and social media platforms.
Support for The Open Mind is part of Knight Foundation’s efforts to promote press freedom and information access, and ensure that the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment are preserved. Knight Foundation has made many investments in this area including the recent establishment of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University.
About The Open Mind:
“The Open Mind” is a half-hour weekly public affairs broadcast on PBS stations and streamed online. Its host, Alexander Heffner, has reported extensively on Millennials and fused its traditional public television viewership with the emerging digital demographic to bring awareness to issues of public concern. Recent guests include Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan, New York Times public editor Elizabeth Spayd, Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize Board chair Danielle Allen, Associated Press CEO Gary Pruitt, Change.orgCEO Ben Rattray, Marshall Project editor-in-chief Bill Keller, Digital Public Library of America director Dan Cohen, FCC chairman emeritus Newton Minow, USC Annenberg School dean Ernest Wilson, Mozilla Firefox chair Mitchell Baker, ACLU president Susan Herman, Commission on Presidential Debate cochairs Mike McCurry and Frank Fahrenkopf, and United Nations Democracy Fund director Annika Savill.
To learn more visit Thirteen.org/openmind. The show is also available on Facebook and Twitter
The Open Mind is a production of The Open Mind Legacy Project, a New York based non-profit. Alexander Heffner is Host. Elaine Heffner is Executive Producer. Rebecca Wharton is Senior Producer.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit knightfoundation.org/.
CONTACTS:
Rebecca Wharton, Senior Producer, The Open Mind, 212-224-1368, [email protected]
Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 305-908-2646, [email protected]