13th Gershowitz Conference on Media and Governance
November 17-18, 2025
Theme: Power and the Press: Courts, Billionaires, and the Battle for Media Freedom in Democracies
Overview:
This conference invites scholars, journalists, legal experts, and civic advocates to explore the growing influence of judicial power and billionaire wealth in shaping—and often suppressing—media freedom in democracies. As legal intimidation and financial control become tools to silence dissent and investigative reporting, this event seeks to examine the ethical, legal, and democratic consequences of these trends.
Topics of Interest Include:
- Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) and defamation litigation targeting journalists
- Billionaire-funded legal campaigns against media outlets
- Judicial censorship and gag orders
- Media ownership concentration and its impact on press diversity
- Case studies of legal and financial suppression of journalism
- The erosion of New York Times v. Sullivan protections
- The role of tech billionaires in shaping online discourse and moderation policies
Submission Guidelines:
Abstracts: 250–300 words
Deadline: October 15, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: October 20, 2025
Full Paper Submission: October 30, 2025
Submit via: info@mycmpimedia.org, edmund.janniger@mycmpi.org
About the Gershowitz Conference:
The Gershowitz Conference is the flagship annual lecture series of the Center for Media and Peace Initiatives (CMPI), New York, 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.
