04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Today, authoritarian governments are willfully depriving hundreds of millions of people of authentically plural and independent information and analysis, with profound implications for these countries’ ability to reform and prosper. The event, which featured experts on China, Russia, and Iran, was organized around the ideas in the January 2014 Journal of Democracy article, “Breaking the News: The Role of State-Run Media,” written by panelists Christopher Walker and Robert Orttung.
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Fragile states around the world demand international attention from both the diplomatic and development communities. They are states where governance tends to be weakest and development is most difficult to achieve. Media is often most vulnerable to cooption in these states. This discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities for media development in fragile states using Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya, and Somalia as case studies.
10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
The National Endowment for Democracy celebrated 30 years of supporting freedom and democracy around the world with a ceremony at the National Archives in Washington, DC. The event featured welcoming remarks by Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner and Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi.
