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Local Voices, Democratic Choices

Local Media's Role in Our Democracy

Join us for an engaging and enlightening program featuring Anna Staver, Laura Hancock, and Anthony Shoemaker to discuss the crucial role of local media in shaping democracy.

Join us at the library for an engaging and enlightening program featuring a panel of distinguished reporters discussing the crucial role of local media in shaping democracy. Our esteemed panelists include:

• Anna Staver, the new host of "All Sides with Anna Staver" on WOSU 89.7 NPR News, known for her in-depth coverage of state politics and public affairs
• Laura Hancock, an award-winning politics and policy reporter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, with a focus on state-level issues such as education, health, and LGBTQ rights
• Anthony Shoemaker, the Ohio Bureau Chief of the USA TODAY Network, who covers state government and politics across multiple Ohio newsrooms

Together, they will explore how local media informs the public, holds power accountable, and contributes to the democratic process. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from seasoned journalists about the impact of local reporting on our community and democracy at large.

Panelist Bios:

Anna Staver is the new host of All Sides with Anna Staver, WOSU 89.7 NPR News' two-hour, daily public-affairs talk show covering salient issues and events that shape life in central Ohio. Staver came to WOSU from The Columbus Dispatch where she was a legislative reporter, covering state politics, writing daily and in-depth stories about the Ohio Statehouse on a range of topics including school finance, gun control, budgets, public pensions and legislative races. Staver previously worked at The Denver Post, 9NEWS in Colorado, The Statesman Journal and The Idaho Press Tribune. She is the winner of a Heartland Emmy for best politics/government reporting, a best-writing award from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association and has a certificate in school finance from Georgetown University.

Laura Hancock is an award-winning politics and policy reporter in Columbus for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. She covers issues at the state level, with a focus on the Ohio General Assembly, Ohio Supreme Court and governor’s administration. Topics she keeps an eye on include K-12 and higher education, abortion rights, medical marijuana, LGBTQ rights, health, among others. Originally from the West, Laura moved to Ohio in June 2017 to launch Capitol Letter, a five-day-a-week policy and politics e-newsletter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. She’s been a reporter for over 20 years, previously working in Wyoming and Utah, where she calls home. She graduated from the University of Utah, studying mass communication and political science.

Anthony Shoemaker is the Ohio Bureau Chief of USA TODAY Network. He covers state government and politics for The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon-Journal, Canton Repository and 17 other newsrooms. Also a member of the Ohio Debate Commission.

If you would like to receive an email reminder about this event, please register. Join us in person, or livestream this program on BPL's YouTube channel.

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