Democracy Matters - Episode 60: Free the Press
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SUMMARY: In this episode of Democracy Matters, we talk with Jim Acosta, CNN anchor for weekend programming and the network's chief domestic correspondent, about the critical role of a free press as necessary noise in a functioning democracy.
What is the role of a free press in democracy? How do we arrive at truth in an information ecosystem filled with misinformation, disinformation and propaganda? How can the news media be a reliable source of information on public issues when basic facts are called into question and mistrust is especially high in one of the two major political parties?
In this episode, we talk with Jim Acosta, CNN anchor for weekend programming and the network's chief domestic correspondent, about the critical role of a free press as necessary noise in a functioning democracy. Acosta weighs in on the implications of the January 6, 2021 violent attacks and the ongoing insurrection for democracy in America and why we need a bipartisan commission to investigate. “If we don’t, we will have one political party deny what happened on January 6,” says Acosta, and we’re likely to see future protests or attempts to overturn results in future elections if one party doesn’t like the outcome.
Acosta served as CNN's chief White House correspondent, where he covered the Trump administration and the Obama administration from the White House and around the world. He regularly covers presidential press conferences, visits by heads of states, and issues impacting the Executive Branch of the federal government. Acosta also reported from the 2016 campaign trail following Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Acosta is also author of the New York Times Bestseller The Enemy of the People.
Acosta graduated cum laude from JMU with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in political science. While in college he volunteered at WXJM, the student-run radio station, and had a job at the local radio station, WSVA.
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