2110. Global Press Freedom: Journalism, Human Rights, and Democracy

Examination of the complex relationship between freedom of the press and the broader exercise of civil liberties and human rights internationally and in the United States. Understanding of the critical importance of a free press in the functioning of democracy and distinguishing between responsible, fact-based reporting and the falsehoods that sustain authoritarian regimes and aspiring authoritarians. Analysis of the various components that go into the gathering and dissemination of news while engaging in critical thinking about the vulnerability of the press to coercion, the power structures that limit and enable freedom of expression, and the potential for journalism to expose injustice among marginalized and traditionally exploited populations.