Glenview · Glenview, IL
Explore how news is reported and consumed in today's fast-changing media environment. Journalists Heidi Stevens, Brandis Friedman, and Mark Jacob discuss misinformation, media bias, AI, social media, and the role of a free press in building public trust. Heidi Stevens is the Director of External Affairs at the University of Chicago’s TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, a research institute that works to optimize brain development for all children. Prior to joining University of Chicago, Heidi worked at the Chicago Tribune for 23 years as a writer and editor. She maintains a weekly nationally syndicated column and serves as a Fellowship Coach with The OpEd Project, which works to elevate underrepresented expert voices. She also serves on the Board of Directors for FAN, a North Shore speaker series. Brandis Friedman is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and television host for Chicago’s flagship nightly news program, Chicago Tonight, on WTTW. Since joining WTTW in 2013, she has reported on a wide range of issues affecting the Chicago region, including politics, education, criminal justice, and community affairs. Known for her thoughtful interviewing style and in-depth reporting, Friedman has earned multiple journalism awards throughout her career. Before coming to Chicago, she worked as a reporter and anchor in television markets across the country, building a reputation for clear, engaging coverage of complex issues. She is a frequent moderator of public discussions and community forums, helping audiences better understand the stories and challenges shaping civic life. Mark Jacob is the former metro editor at the Chicago Tribune and the former Sunday editor at the Chicago Sun-Times. On Substack, he writes the Stop the Presses newsletter about media and politics. Mark is the former editor of the Medill Local News Initiative website at Northwestern University. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed him to the Local Journalism Task Force, a legislatively mandated group studying financial problems and solutions involving the state’s news outlets. Mark is the co-author of 11 books, mostly about history.
