Brandeis Stories

March 18, 2026

In the wake of Jeff Bezos’s decision to gut The Washington Post newsroom, four of the nation’s leading journalists – including the former top editors of the Post and The Los Angeles Times – will headline a Brandeis Journalism forum on March 24.

“Who Owns the News?” will tackle some of the most pressing questions confronting our media and democracy today. Is the billionaire ownership media model sustainable for high-quality journalism? How can we ensure that rigorous journalism continues to hold powerful interests to account when so much media power is in the hands of the super-wealthy? And to what extent are journalists responsible for their industry’s problems?

The panel of distinguished journalists includes Marty Baron, who led the Post and The Boston Globe to Pulitzer glory; Kevin Merida, former executive editor at the LA Times, former managing editor at the Post, and founding editor of ESPN’s The Undefeated; Janice Page, former arts editor of the Post and former deputy managing editor for arts and newsroom innovation for the Globe; and Kainaz Amaria, former senior editor for visuals for the investigations unit of the Post who held similar roles at Vox and NPR.

“We are thrilled to have such incredibly talented and roundly respected leaders in journalism come to the Brandeis campus to engage with our students and the wider community,” said Neil Swidey, Brandeis Journalism chair and professor of the practice. “These consequential issues could not be more timely.” Professor of the Practice Ann Silvio and Swidey will co-moderate the forum, with support from Josh Wolk, professor of the practice of journalism, and lecturer Adriana Lacy.

The event, part of the Brandeis Journalism Program’s Carapezza Lecture Series, is supported by a gift from alumnus Dr. Len Carapezza and his family. It will take place in Rapaporte Treasure Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 24. It is open to the public, but advance registration is required.