The past 12 months have seen not just a new administration south of the border, but a new threat to journalism. Margaret Sullivan, from the Washington Post, goes so far as to suggest the future for journalists will be “hellish”. How much could this threat be extended to Canadian journalists? With the increasing proliferation of “fake news”, how should journalists respond? How do you hold political figures to account when they are more present on Twitter than in a press conference? These are the questions journalists are grappling with right now, but could there be a silver lining in a changing media landscape?

This year’s speaker is Rosemary Barton, host of CBC’s Power & Politics and one of FPA’s 75 for the 75th most inspiring alumni. Barton graduated from Carleton University with a Masters of Journalism in 2001. She joined the CBC’s Ottawa parliamentary bureau in 2007 and became the full-time host of Power & Politics in 2015. In that role, she has become known for holding decision makers—from prime ministers to foreign leaders—accountable.

This is the 25th Annual Dick, Ruth, and Judy Bell Lecture, which was established to honour the contributions of individuals to the political and public life of Canada. Speakers may include individuals who have been active in politics or public service or distinguished scholars in political science. The lectures themselves are generally devoted to discussions of political subjects, either in a present-day or historical context. Scholars and graduate students are encouraged to attend and use the lectures as a basis for further work in Canadian studies.