Vroman’s is proud to announce Democracy Wise,
a non-partisan speaker series designed to educate on topics of key importance to
our democratic system, community, and country.
Wednesday, May 24, 7pm
Navigating Media
Is the continued talk of fake news leading you to wonder what news sources you can trust? Do you wonder how best to research and/or discern what’s real from what’s not? What role does the media play in today’s political landscape? What is the media’s role and responsibility in a democracy?
USC Professor Tom Hollinan (Professor of Communication at the USC Annenberg School) and
Carmen Rios and Lauren Young from Ms. Magazine (a non-profit media outlet) will be on hand to discuss and answer questions.
About the Presenters:
Carmen Rios is currently the Digital Editor at Ms., Managing Editor at Argot Magazine, and a Contributor at Everyday Feminism. She also co-hosts THE BOSSY SHOW, a political podcast for young women. Previously, she was the Feminism Editor, Social Media Co-Director, and Community Director at Autostraddle; a blogger and activist with the SPARK Movement; a writer at Mic; and Managing Editor of THE LINE Campaign blog. Her work has appeared at BuzzFeed, BITCH, ElixHER, MEL, and Feministing, among others. Carmen’s successful work for nearly a decade in digital feminism—as a writer, social media maven, and activist leader—has earned her the titles of “digital native,” “intimidating to some,” and “vapid and uninteresting.”
A Los Angeles native, Lauren Young joined Ms. magazine as an editorial intern in 2016. In addition to feminism, Lauren is also passionate about U.S. politics and international relations, and is a lifelong lover of books. Lauren holds a Bachelor’s degree from Smith College, where she double majored in Government and Russian Civilization, and a Master’s degree in European and Russian Studies from Yale University. Follow her on Twitter @thatlaurenyoung.
Thomas Hollihan is a professor of communication at the USC Annenberg School.
Professor Hollihan publishes in the areas of argumentation, political communication, media diplomacy, contemporary rhetorical criticism, and the impact of globalization on public deliberation. He is the author of several books including: The Dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands: How Media Narratives Shape Public Opinions and Challenge the Global Order, Uncivil Wars: Political Campaigns in a Media Age, Arguments and Arguing: The Products and Process of Human Decision Making (with Kevin Baaske), and Argument at Century's End: Reflecting on the Past and Envisioning the Future. In addition, Hollihan has published in the International Journal of Communication, Quarterly Journal of Speech, Rhetoric and Public Affairs, Argumentation and Advocacy, Communication Quarterly, Western Journal of Communication, Southern Speech Communication Journal, Controversia, Speaker and Gavel, Debate Issues, and Global Media and China.
Professor Hollihan served as the associate dean for academic affairs in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism from 1997-2007. He currently chairs the Executive Committee of the USC US-China Institute. He has also served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Debate Tournament, president of the American Forensic Association, president of the Western Forensic Association, chairman of the National Communication Association's Doctoral Education Committee, chairman of the Committee on International Discussion and Debate, and chairman of the National Debate Tournament Committee.
Other Democracy Wise Events:
Wednesday, May 31, 7pm
Civil Liberties
Civil Liberty: the state of being subject only to laws established for the good of the community, especially with regard to freedom of action and speech. Do you know what your civil liberties are? What a police officer or other government official can ask and not ask of you? What individual rights are protected by law from governmental or other interference?
Vice President of the ACLU of Southern California Pasadena Foothills Chapter, Tamara Haywood, Former Chapter President and Police Practices Committee Chair, Kris Ockershauser and others TBA, will be on hand to speak on civil liberties and answer your questions.
If you plan on attending one or all of our events, please let us know at rsvp@vromansbookstore.com.
Send us your name, number of guest(s) and note the title of the event(s) you will be attending.
If you would like to submit a question for our speakers ahead of time please email your question to jramos@vromansbookstore.com with the session title in the subject line. Our speakers will do their best to address the questions during their talks; however,
depending on the amount of questions received they may not be able to get to them all.
If you have ideas for future topics for our Democracy Wise series please email jramos@vromansbookstore.com.