The Role of Media in Democracy

For the second time in 2018, TV anchor, author, and political analyst David Gregory was a special guest at Episcopal on a Sunday night in late February.
In conjunction with the Social Studies department, the EHS Current Events Club hosted and organized February's monthly lyceum event around the topic of "The Role of Media in a Democracy." The event was held in the Seidule History Center on Sunday night, February 25.

Gregory has worked in television news since he was 18 years old and has served in a variety of roles over the course of his distinguished career, including NBC White House Correspondent, substitute co-anchor on the Today Show, and as political analyst for CNN. He also authored the non-fiction book How's Your Faith? in 2016.

Gregory paid a visit to campus in January to speak to two senior elective classes about his experiences as a White House reporter during and after the events of September 11, 2001. He also shared his thoughts on the current state of news and other lessons learned about the changes in journalism throughout his career.

"With his years of experience and involvement in journalism, it was very enlightening to hear what he had to say about the role the media plays in our democracy," said Avery Faires '18, who started the Current Events Club at EHS. "His presentation came days after the shooting in Parkland, Fla., and many of the students took the opportunity to ask Mr. Gregory about the media's influence in this situation as well as many other national events. He inspired us all to be critical thinkers and consumers of news and media."

The goal of the Lyceum program is to provide the EHS community a time and place to learn more about the historical context of topics in the news and a structured forum for discussion to better our understanding, explained Heidi Huntley, who chairs the department.

"A lyceum is a concept dating back to the classical era, and has been employed all over the world in various forms," Huntley said. "The best example dates back to the 19th Century where many prominent thinkers like Henry David Thoreau, Susan B. Anthony, and Mark Twain spoke on what was at that time called the lyceum circuit, which would have taken them to both northern and southern states."
Back