LOS ANGELES – As a part of the Los Angeles Loyolan’s First Amendment Week speaker series Don Lemon spoke to students and faculty on March 18 in the Burns backcourt. The conversation was moderated by Loyolan Sports Editor Janai Williams and outgoing Editor-in-Chief Olivia Silvester.
This year the series focused on “Journalists in Jail”– something keynote speaker Lemon experienced in February when he was arrested in a church for covering an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota. According to the Trump administration Lemon allegedly obstructed worship inside of the church. After his arrest Lemon pleaded not guilty to the charges and vowed to fight for his rights as a journalist. In spite of this legal battle Lemon continued his work as a journalist.
Lemon spoke about the importance of continuing to report in spite of the court case. “I wanted to be an example for other journalists, and even especially young people like you,” he said.
Throughout the conversation he emphasized the increasing pressure the free press has faced under the Trump administration. Urging all members of the media to fight back against challenges to the free press. “Everyone in media should be outraged and fight against this every single day,” he said.
He also spoke extensively about the evolving media landscape, and the newfound importance of independent media outlets. Highlighting how independent media can bypass the gatekeepers of traditional mainstream media, he said, “I don’t have anyone telling me what I can or cannot do anymore.”
According to Lemon, this signifies a cultural shift that looks for authentic personalities who deliver the news. “The news is important, but the person bringing you the news matters too,” he said.
During his remarks Lemon also provided student journalists with advice, saying “Work hard and don’t get into this thinking it’s glamorous.”
The event also featured a Q&A portion where one attendee, Francis Abradu Otoo, a junior philosophy major, asked Lemon about how the truth has seemingly become subjective. Lemon encouraged students in particular to improve their media literacy. “We should start learning media literacy in high school and college. We need to start teaching those courses,” he said.
At the end of the event Lemon called on attendees to, “support journalists and organizations that support them.”
