14 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | FROM THE NEST 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. Marty Baron Discusses Journalism and Democracy 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. Baron has served as editor-in-chief of The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and Miami Herald, in addition to holding senior editor roles at The New York Times and Los Angeles Times. Newsrooms under his leadership earned 18 Pulitzer Prizes. He led The Globe’s 2002 investigation into the Catholic Church’s cover-up of clergy sex abuse, which was later portrayed in the Academy Award-winning movie “Spotlight.” “When there’s evidence of wrongdoing, especially great Speakers Marty Baron ’76 ’76G ’14H (left) and V Spehar (below) rounded out this academic year’s Compelling Perspectives events. SPEAKER SERIES4 Renowned Editor Marty Baron and Digital Journalist V Spehar Take Part in Compelling Perspectives The speakers shared their viewpoints on the media’s role in contemporary society. THE WASHINGTON POST / CHRISTA NEU
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