The Future of Politics:

Overview

Scheduled date

The event will take place on October 24, 2017 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Truth and Democracy: Journalism, Politics, and Social Science
This conference and round-table series will discuss and debate
The Future of Politics: Why We Need Journalists.

Moderators

Moderated by Andrea Hunter (CCBJS), with Dominique Leydet (CRIDAQ), Mike Gasher (Concordia), and Mike De Souza (National Observer)

Key question

What role do journalists play in a democracy? In an age when anyone with an Internet connection can tweet, post and publish, why do we need journalists? This panel will explore the role of journalists as watchdogs and analysts, the idea of objectivity, and the importance of public affairs journalism in the dellibrative form of democracy.

Panelists

Included among the esteemed panelists are: 

Mike De Souza
National Observer's Managing Editor
A Montreal native, Mike has worked as a broadcast and print journalist in his home town, as well as the National Assembly in Quebec City, Parliament Hill in Ottawa and Calgary. He has worked for Reuters, Postmedia and The Montreal Gazette. He now leads National Observer's news coverage out of its Ottawa office on Parliament Hill. 

Mike Gasher
Professor Emeritus in the Department of Journalism at Concordia
Professor Gasher previously worked as a reporter, copy editor and editor for the Cobourg Star, Port Hope Evening Guide, Delta Optimist, Richmond Review, The Columbian and The Province. He is the co-author of Mass Communication in Canada (OUP Canada 2016).

Andrea Hunter
Director of CCBJS
Director of CCBJS and has worked for CBC Radio on national and regional shows for over a decade. She was a producer, on-air contributor and fill-in host of The Roundup, a daily national arts and entertainment program on CBC Radio One. She has also been a producer, reporter, and host on morning and afternoon shows on CBC Radio One in Prince Rupert, Halifax, Vancouver, Victoria and Ottawa.

Dominique Leydet
Professor of Philosophy, UQAM
Director, Le Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la diversité et la démocratie (CRIDAQ)

Professor Leydet co-edited Deliberative Democracy in Practice (UBC Press 2010)

*Presentations in English. Discussions in French and English.