Liberal Arts in Action: Responding to This Historic Moment

On Friday, January 23, 2026, the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts convened leading scholars, journalists and community voices for a series of panel discussions exploring how liberal arts expertise shapes our understanding of today's most pressing civic issues — from the role of the media and constitutional rights to the lived impacts of state-sanctioned violence.

In a moment marked by deep political polarization and urgent questions around immigration enforcement and public safety, this event interrogated how language, law, ethics and community narratives inform our response to current events. Panelists engaged in rigorous dialogue that bridged academic insight with real-world consequence to discover how the liberal arts help us make sense of conflict, community and our shared civic future.

Journalism Sessions:

Beyond Documenting: The Role of the Photojournalist When Everyone is Recording

Chair: Regina McCombs (Hubbard School)
Panel: Ben Hovland (MPR News), Dylan Jacobson (KSTP-TV),  Lewis Karpel (WCCO TV), Ellen Schmidt (MinnPost)

Photojournalists play a critical role covering law enforcement, protect, and immigration activities. The panel will discuss the way that their work has changed with the widespread availability of digital recording devices, and in particular this moment in time when everyone is documenting what is happening in the community. They will also discuss the unique professional ethical roles and responsibilities in contrast to citizens activists and constitutional observers. Finally, local photojournalists will discuss their experiences as on-the-ground reporters in the present moment, and compare it to their past reporting experiences, including 2020 civil unrest.
 

First Amendment Protections and Responsibilities Afforded Journalists and Citizens: Documenting Law Enforcement

Chair: Elisia Cohen (Hubbard School)
Panel: Jane Kirtley (Hubbard School/Silha Center); Andy Mannix (ProPublica)

A discussion led by Hubbard School faculty on the topic of First Amendment law and ethics. What rights and responsibilities do journalists have to cover law enforcement activities and protests? What are the rights and responsibilities of citizens and observers of law enforcement activities?
 

Community Journalism when ICE is in the Community

Chair: Gayle (G.G.) Golden (Hubbard School)
Panel: Jon Collins (MPR); Brian Arola (MinnPost); Shubhanjana Das (Sahan Journal); Madison McVan (Minnesota Reformer)

Journalists on the ground in communities are uniquely positioned to build trust, or rely on already-created trust, to more deeply document people's experience at this moment. This conversation with local journalists in the Twin Cities who have experience reporting in and for their communities. The conversation will include a look at the journalist's role compared to that of observers who are recording/documenting the operations. How are those roles distinct? Does the public understand the difference between observers and journalists? It will also explore the way close-in reporting can promote empathy in times of strife. 

Additional dates will be announced for panel discussions on topics such as:

Unrest: The Challenge of Live Coverage
Psychological Underpinnings of Mass Political Behavior
The Language of State-Sanctioned Violence
The Impact on Communities of State Sanctioned Violence