Past Events

Link to program or click on the above poster

For the first time in a U.S. Presidential election, Artificial Intelligence (A-I) takes a lead role as a major influencer. Along with A-I, comes rampant misinformation, much of it garnered from social media. All of it is designed to impact people’s views on candidates and the issues.

This poses big issues for journalists. “This is important to society at large,” said Political Analyst Steve Swatt. In a half-hour forum, Swatt moderates a panel discussion with journalists to discuss misinformation and how it impacts reporting.

Panelists include CalMatters Investigative Reporter Byrhonda Lyons, Cal State University Sacramento (CSUS) Faculty Member and Author Rebecca LaVally and former KGO Reporter Wayne Freedman.  “There’s a very low barrier with social media that’s encouraging misinformation to go viral. It can happen fast and spread like wildfire,” said Freedman.

Statewide Investigative Reporter Lyons said that nobody knows who to believe anymore. “It is chaos.” Still, she said that reporters work to fact check and dig for truth. LaVally said that it gets tricky when sources lie. “People tend to remember the lie.”

The panel discussion is made possible by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) SF/NorCal Chapter. Again, it can be found on the EmmySF/NorCal website.

LINK TO WATCH WEBCAST

In this virtual media panel: ‘Navigating Tensions in War Coverage’, speakers will highlight key frameworks and checklists to guide reporters, editors and producers in covering the multi-layered contexts of the conflict in the Middle East region and at home, including demonstrations across the nation’s campuses. It will stream Live on YouTube and Facebook on May 30, Thursday at 11:30 am PDT.

Panelists including former veteran television war reporters, news and law enforcement leaders will also discuss another ongoing war at home: tensions in America’s newsrooms, in line with coverage in conflict zones.

This digital dialogue is anchored on DEI and Belonging as a crucial framework that steers newsrooms towards an inclusive culture of storytelling driven by accuracy, balance and respect for diverse perspectives. This includes the lens of journalists of color that provide nuance.

The NATAS [National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences] SF/NorCAL chapter’s DEI Committee presents this follow-up virtual forum focused on navigating tensions in war coverage, from an insightful digital dialogue on the dangers and psychological impacts of war reporting, held last November 2023.

This upcoming media webcast is a resource support to our members, and is a news source as well to the broader journalism community and the public.

WAR CORRESPONDENTS PANEL

NATAS SF NORCAL hosted a virtual live event with notable former war correspondents on Saturday November 18, 2023

Click to view 11/18 panel on War Coverage