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“Authoritarianism rarely storms in with a bang —
it creeps in quietly, through unchecked power and silence dressed as order.”
                                                                                                                                                                             Celina Stewart LWV US CEO

 Freedom of the Press is central to the preservation of our Democracy.

The First Amendment to our constitution specifically protects Freedom of the Press.   A free press serves as the “Fourth Estate,” a watchdog outside of government that keeps the public informed and holds the government and other powerful institutions accountable.

Our guest speaker, Emily LeCoz, Executive Editor in Chief of Suncoast Searchlight, our region's newest non-profit newsroom, will answer our questions regarding the current threats to freedom of the press.

“Suncoast Searchlight was founded on the belief that a strong, independent press is essential to a thriving community... [our] goal is to ensure that all voices are heard and that the public has access to the information they need to drive meaningful change.”  According to Ms. LeCoz, “There’s never been a greater need for this type of journalism.” 

Emily Le Coz is Suncoast Searchlight’s executive editor-in-chief and oversees the newsroom’s editorial strategy and day-to-day operations. Emily comes to Suncoast Searchlight from USA TODAY, where she spent five years as an investigative reporter and editor, producing and overseeing some of the news organization’s most ambitious work.  Read more...