Democracy Dies in Darkness: A Conversation with Marty Baron

The truth is under assault in America, according to Marty Baron, executive editor of The Washington Post. By labeling the press as the opposition party and calling into questions facts, President Trump is subverting the role of free and independent news, says Baron. Baron talks with Brian Stelter, host of CNN’s “Reliable Sources,” about how his journalists are operating in a fake news atmosphere where people doubt the truth. He describes how newsrooms need to change — incorporate more transparency and diversify staff — to earn back trust. Finally, he goes into what it’s like working with Post owner Jeff Bezos.

For more information about the topics discussed in this episode, visit the links below.

• A Robust Press Is an Essential Ingredient to a Thriving Democracy, Aspen Insight
• Is Glenn Beck’s network collapsing? He walked out of a CNN interview when asked., The Washington Post
• I’m in ‘Spotlight’, but it’s not really about me. It’s about the power of journalism., The Washington Post
• Washington Post Editor Marty Baron Says Journalists Are at Work, Not at War, The Aspen Institute

“Aspen Ideas to Go” is a weekly show featuring fascinating speakers who have presented at the Aspen Ideas Festival and other public programs offered by the Aspen Institute. For a curated listening experience, subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or find an archive of episodes here. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.