European Union Press and Public Diplomacy Counselors visit UNC Hussman
UNC Hussman hosted a group of 21 visiting European Union press and public diplomacy counselors on October 9, 2024, at the Curtis Media Center for an intensive faculty-led session on misinformation, the evolving trans-Atlantic media law landscape and community journalism during the 2024 presidential election.
This was the second time that this delegation of distinguished diplomats has come to UNC Hussman to learn about political dynamics in North Carolina with guidance and insight from faculty experts. The event was organized by UNC Hussman and arranged by Adriana Brassart, the head of press and public diplomacy for the Delegation of the European Union to the U.S., and by the Bertelsmann Foundation of Washington, D.C.
The session was opened by Dean Raul Reis, who welcomed the diplomats and contextualized Hussman’s research and teaching relating to countering disinformation efforts in media and law and connecting it to local media efforts led by the school.
Meredith Clark, associate professor of race and political communication; Daniel Kreiss, Edgar Thomas Cato Distinguished Professor; and Shannon McGregor, associate professor and director of the school’s Ph.D. and M.A. Theory and Research programs discussed the initiatives of the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP) in understanding and countering disinformation in contemporary media and the current political campaign.
Professor Tori Ekstrand followed with a detailed introduction to the mission and research of UNC’s Center for Media Law and Policy, especially as it related to similar issues. Knight Chair in Local News and Sustainability Marisa Porto followed with an intensive focus on the challenge of local news sustainability.
These faculty presentations were followed by a stimulating question and answer session during which the diplomats and public diplomacy counselors offered wide-ranging questions about the current media ecosystem and the nature of disinformation in the current political campaign, among other topics.
The EU Press and Public Diplomacy Counselors ended with a dinner sponsored by the University’s Transatlantic Masters program at which Hussman faculty and staff had the opportunity to interact with the diplomats, UNC graduate students in the program and the faculty and staff of the program and the Center for European Studies.