This webinar from CLA's Liberal Arts In Action series features Elisia Cohen in dialogue with Jane Kirtley and Andy Mannix.
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.
This session was the third of four that took place that day. For details and links to video of all four, visit CLA's Liberal Arts in Action: Responding to This Historic Moment.
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?
To view other journalism sessions from this Liberal Arts in Action webinar, visit:
Beyond Documenting: The Role of the Photojournalist When Everyone is Recording