Nationally renowned news editor Marty Baron ’76 ’76G ’14H and digital journalist and award-winning podcaster V Spehar offered their viewpoints on navigating today’s media landscape as the last two speakers in the 2024-25 Compelling Perspectives event series hosted by Lehigh University.
The program aims to create a forum for fostering respectful discourse among differing perspectives on issues of critical and societal importance. The conversations with Baron and Spehar, focusing on the role of media in contemporary society, were led by President Joseph J. Helble ’82.
Reflecting on his 45-year career in journalism, Baron told the crowd gathered in Packard Laboratory 101 that a free press is essential to democracy, but the cornerstone is facing unprecedented challenges. He was the second speaker in this academic year’s series held on Dec. 5, 2024.
Read the full story about Baron's Compelling Perspectives conversation here.
Spehar shared insight into nontraditional media and the challenges and opportunities it presents to journalists during the third and final event of this academic year’s series that took place on Feb. 6 at Baker Hall in Zoellner Arts Center.
Read the full story about Spehar's Compelling Perspectives conversation here.
—Stories by Christina Tatu and Lauren Thein
