13th Gershowitz Conference on Media and Governance
Date: November 17, 2025
Location: Virtual – Time: 10:30am
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83326703413?pwd=Pzi5FK5hI01pUXAShlvnNXzC3p8drf.1
Theme:
“Power and the Press: Courts, Billionaires, and the Battle for Media Freedom in Democracies”
Overview:
The Center for Media and Peace Initiatives (CMPI), New York, in collaboration with the Africa Research Group, City University of New York, invites scholars, journalists, legal experts, and civic advocates to the 13th Gershowitz Conference on Media and Governance. This year’s theme explores the complex relationship between legal systems and wealthy elites in silencing critical journalism. As courts increasingly become battlegrounds for press autonomy, the conference will critically examine the legal, ethical, and democratic implications of court-driven media suppression in contemporary democracies.
The Gershowitz Conference is the flagship annual lecture series of CMPI, a nonprofit organization in consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC. CMPI is committed to advancing global peace, dialogue, and development through interdisciplinary research, media engagement, and policy innovation. Through this conference, CMPI brings together a diverse community of journalists, diplomats, scholars, business leaders, and civil society actors from across the United States and Africa to foster inclusive conversations and promote collaborative solutions to global challenges
Conference Focus:
“Justice for Sale? The Role of Courts and Capital in Undermining Press Freedom”
Focus: Explores the influence of money and litigation in shaping media narratives and intimidating journalists.
“The Billionaire’s Gavel: Legal Power and Wealth as Tools of Media Suppression”
Focus: Case studies of high-profile lawsuits and acquisitions that threaten independent journalism.
“Democracy Distorted: How Courts and Billionaires Shape What America Reads and Sees”
Focus: Examines the erosion of media pluralism through legal intimidation and concentrated media ownership.
“Silencing the Watchdog: Strategic Litigation and Wealth-Driven Media Control”
Focus: Highlights SLAPP suits, defamation cases, and hostile takeovers used to suppress dissenting voices.
“Freedom Under Fire: Legal and Financial Threats to Journalism in the U.S.”
Focus: Analyzes the chilling effect of litigation and billionaire influence on investigative reporting.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83326703413?pwd=Pzi5FK5hI01pUXAShlvnNXzC3p8drf.1
The conference is free but registration is required https://form.jotform.com/82815256059159
CMPI is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: 13th Gershowitz Conference on Media and Governance
Time: Nov 17, 2025 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83326703413?pwd=Pzi5FK5hI01pUXAShlvnNXzC3p8drf.1
Meeting ID: 833 2670 3413
Passcode: 443559
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