At the 17th SSASA symposium participants will explore how the news media has developed an increased political role
Scholars, journalists, and professional leaders from around the world are convening in Salzburg today for the 17th symposium of the Salzburg Seminar American Studies Association (SSASA).
This year's symposium, The Changing Role of the Media in American Life and Culture: Emerging Trends, will include thematic presentations, panel-led discussions, plus small in-depth discussion groups.
The four-day event is taking place at Schloss Leopoldskron, the historic home of Salzburg Global Seminar, and features an array of high-profile speakers.
Speakers include Elisabeth Bumiller, Washington Bureau chief, the New York Times; Edith Chapin, executive editor, NPR News; and Paul Mihailidis, associate professor of media studies at Emerson College's School of Communication.
Ron Clifton, a retired associate vice president of Stetson University and retired counselor in the Senior Foreign Service of the United States, returns as chair for this year's symposium.
Last year, Salzburg Global Seminar created The Ron Clifton Lecture in American Studies to celebrate Clifton's contribution toward American studies.
Christopher Bigsby, a professor of American studies and director of the Arthur Miller Institute for American Studies at the University of East Anglia, delivered the inaugural lecture titled "Trying to Understand America."
On Sunday, Reinhard Heinisch, head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Salzburg, will deliver the second Ron Clifton Lecture in American Studies. His talk is titled, "Questions of Lost Trust, Alternative Facts, Verification and Validity in America." His talk will be followed by a discussion and Q&A, moderated by Edith Chapin.
During this year's symposium, participants will explore the role of the media in the United States and around the world. They'll focus on the significance of truth and verification, and they'll examine the future implications, looking at the role of the media in culture and democracy in the years to come.
Key questions include:
Marty Gecek, chair of the Salzburg Seminar American Studies Association, said, "I am looking forward to stimulating conversations with 53 individuals from 29 countries, to discuss the influence and impact of American media, both at home and abroad."
The Changing Role of the Media in American Life and Culture: Emerging Trends features as part of the Salzburg Seminar American Studies Association (SSASA) multi-year series. You can capture highlights on social media using the hashtag #SSASA.