The Role of the Fourth Estate with Marty Baron
On March 3, 2021, just three days after stepping down as the Executive Editor of The Washington Post, Marty Baron joined the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service at the McCourt School of Public Policy for a valedictory appearance covering his time in journalism and the role of the Fourth Estate.
Mo Elleithee, Executive Director of GU Politics, facilitated a conversation with Baron including student questions. Baron discussed the changing media landscape, the importance of journalistic integrity, and recommendations for the future of journalism.
During the Q&A, a student asked, “Would there be downsides to a world of purely digital news?” Baron responded, “I think the important thing is the kind of journalism we practice, not whether it appears in print or appears on the computer screen.”
Baron talked about the importance of journalism as an institution: “There is a reason our job is called journalism and not stenography. Stenography is recording what people say and disseminating it. We have to say who was behind these decisions, what kind of influence was brought to bear, who may be affected.”
You can watch a quick recap with highlights from the event in the video clip below. (Full GU Politics Forum recording will be posted shortly)