Aspen Ideas Festival 2024
Now in its 20th year, the Aspen Ideas Festival is the Aspen Institute’s signature summer public event. From June 23-June 29, 2024 more than 300 leaders and innovators gathered in the Rocky Mountains to engage in deep and inquisitive discussion of the issues that shape our lives and challenge our times, spanning politics, business, science, the arts, education, and more.
As a senior producer on the festival, I worked closely with guest curator Tina Brown on editorial strategy, programming, booking and content development. I produced about 12 sessions - you can find a selection below.
Putin's Dark Ambitions
With the war in Ukraine in its third year, Putin shows no sign of tempering his military ambitions. Though global pressure on Russian investment has so far failed to crush the Russian autocrat, exiled anti-corruption crusaders and supporters of the late opposition leader Aleksei Navalny continue to expose the lies and thievery of the Putin regime.
Bill Browder, Maria Pevchikh, Simon Sebag-Montefiore and Mikhail Zygar
Moderated by Alessandra Galloni
The Real Sam Bankman-Fried
In the aftermath of the sentencing of disgraced FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, celebrated author Michael Lewis shares new insights about the spectacular downfall of SBF, whom he shadowed for months for his book “Going Infinite.” Lewis sits down with Tina Brown to reflect on what this tells us about fast money, the crypto-world, billionaire worship and the naivety of those caught in SBF’s web.
Tina Brown and Michael Lewis
Unfreedom of the Press
As repressive regimes clamp down on the press, they are now targeting media owners. China shut Hong Kong’s Apple Daily and locked up owner Jimmy Lai. Guatemala’s El Periódico founder José R. Zamora has faced lawsuits and been jailed for two years. The sons of Lai and Zamora and Lai’s attorney discuss the international campaigns to free these two courageous truth tellers.
Jose C Zamora, Sebastien Lai, Caoilfhionn Gallagher
Moderated by Mark Stephens
Teens and Screens: The Unabating Scourge of Social Media
America’s teenagers are facing a mental health crisis; 1 in 3 teen girls say they’ve considered suicide in the past year. Many young people, parents and mental health professionals point to social media as a main culprit. What does science say, and what action is being taken on the legal and regulatory front? And how can you protect your kid’s emotional well-being?
Laura Marquez-Garrett, Larissa May, Amy Neville, Mitch Prinstein
Moderated by Perri Peltz
Truth Tellers: Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit 2024
The Truth Tellers Summit took place in London on May 15, 2024, bringing together the world’s most dogged and diverse truth-seekers, both seasoned and innovative: unsung reporters who risk their lives and reputations, intrepid war photographers, digital data sleuths, relentless documentarians, and enterprising investigators in podcasting, publishing, TV, and streaming media. The invitation-only audience was made up of 400 editors, reporters, broadcasters, media leaders, and cultural and political influencers.
As a senior producer on the festival, I worked closely with guest curator Tina Brown on editorial strategy, programming, booking and content development. I produced the following sessions.
The Questioner: A Conversation With Wole Soyinka
Rebel against colonialism, Nobel Prize laureate, and titan of world literature.
Wole Soyinka
Interviewer: Mishal Husain (BBC)
The Battered Business Of News
The assaults on the business model for real journalism are only increasing. What’s the solution?
Jeff Zucker, Emma Tucker, Nishant Lalwanni, Joshi Herrmann
Moderated by Ros Atkins (BBC)
The Evolving Newsroom
How tech is transforming newsgathering
Manisha Ganguly, Catherine Gicheru, Chris Brauer
Moderated by David Walmsley (The Globe and Mail)
Locking Up The Truth
Governments are targeting not just individual reporters but also media owners, including Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai and Guatamala’s José Rubén Zamora.
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Jose Zamora, Dennis Kwok
Moderated by Mark Stephens CBE