Free Speech, Journalism & Government Accountability

Conversation When governments, institutions, and powerful actors seek to shape public discourse, journalists and civil liberties advocates are often among the first to confront the consequences. Nora Benavidez and Seth Stern examine the evolving challenges facing free expression, press freedom, and democratic accountability — and what it means to defend the public's right to know in an era of increasing pressure on independent journalism.

Guest Nora Benavidez is Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights at Free Press, where she leads the organization's work at the intersection of law, technology, and democracy — including efforts to curb disinformation and protect free expression and digital civil rights. She previously directed U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America, where she led the organization's First Amendment lawsuit against the Trump administration.

Guest Seth Stern is Chief of Advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation, where he leads the organization's efforts to defend press freedom and protect journalists and whistleblowers. A former First Amendment lawyer, he has spent recent years writing and advocating on the legal and policy threats facing the American press.

Witness To

• The evolving landscape of free speech and press freedom
• Government accountability and the role of journalism in democracy
• Protecting expression in an era of increasing polarization