The Legacy Foundation will launch Press Forward Lake County with help from journalists Eric Deggans and Marisa Kwiatkowski
The Deggans, a Gary native and critic-at-large for NPR, will be the keynote speaker of the May 28 event at the Indiana University Northwest Savannah Center, 65 W. 33rd Ave.
Marisa Kwiatkowski, director of journalism for the Knight Foundation, will talk about Press Forward's mission.
Press Forward is a national initiative to support and strengthen community journalism. The Legacy Foundation started a Lake County chapter to support the local news infrastructure.
“Local news connects people to their communities,” said Kelly Anoe, CEO of Legacy Foundation, in a press release. “Through Press Forward Lake County, we are working to ensure residents have access to trusted, accurate information about the issues that affect their daily lives — from local government and schools to economic development and public health.
“By supporting the local news ecosystem, we can help ensure that Lake County residents stay informed, engaged and connected to their communities.”
Deggans also is one of 25 professors who are Knight Chairs in journalism and media ethics. He teaches classes on media issues, ethics and journalism at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. He is a graduate of Indiana University and Andrean High School.
His father, Chuck Deggans, was a columnist for the Gary Post-Tribune and the Crusader newspapers in Gary and Chicago.
Kwiatkowski is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her investigation into USA Gymnastics as a journalist at the Indianapolis Star.
The Knight Foundation made a five-year commitment of $150 million to the national initiative.
The free event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Register here.
