2017 Journalists Forum: Cities and Equity in the Era of the Trump Presidency

The Journalists Forum in Cambridge, Mass. April 6-8, 2017 will be a wide-ranging conversation about cities and equity in the era of President Trump, Brexit, and the gathering storm of isolationism worldwide. The election of the 45th president was historic, and augers dramatic changes in institutions, policies and priorities. Journalists will be seeking to make sense of major disruptions in political, economic, and social order – and eager to learn how a range of institutions might respond to the new reality. Through the lens of cities and equity, we will examine the ways that metropolitan regions are poised to be centers of innovation, democracy, and resistance. The Forum will take place within the first 100 days of the new administration, but the sessions will be designed for a long-term reframing of important narratives.

The Journalists Forum, organized in partnership with the Ford Foundation and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, will begin with an opening night reception on April 6, 2017 featuring Richard Florida, author of a new book on more inclusive urban economies. Over the following two days, we will cover topics including the new contentious relationship between the federal government and cities, infrastructure and its financing, economic development for struggling post-industrial cities, immigration and sanctuary cities, pre-emption and local autonomy, equity and technology, and climate change, as cities and states confront challenges in the absence of federal action. Following tradition, the Practicing the Craft sessions will examine the role of the media, fact-checking, social media, and “fake news,” in this extraordinary new era.

This is an invitation-only event. Please click here to request more information.