Our events bring thought-provoking conversations about democracy to the Penn State community and beyond. We also partner with organizations across Penn State and throughout the State College community to co-sponsor programming. All events are free and open to anyone.
9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero
Documentary Screening and Discussion with John Gastil and Brad Vivian
Thursday, September 10, 7:00 p.m.
Carnegie Cinema, 113 Carnegie Building
What happens when thousands of ordinary citizens are invited to shape a major public decision?
The documentary 9/11: Reclaiming Ground Zero tells the remarkable story of how Americans came together after the tragedy of September 11 to help determine the future of the World Trade Center site through one of the largest public deliberation processes ever held in the United States. Thousands of citizens from across the region gathered to discuss competing proposals, weigh trade-offs, and collectively shape what would ultimately be built at Ground Zero. The film offers a rare look at democracy in action, illustrating how structured dialogue and public participation can help communities navigate complex decisions and moments of national significance.
Penn State professors John Gastil and Brad Vivian, experts in deliberative democracy and public memory, will lead a discussion following the screening.
The Great Perceptual Divide: Identity and Democracy in the U.S. and Britain
Wednesday, September 30, 12:15 p.m.
515 Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building
Lunch will be provided at this event.
The divergence of perceptions of political outcomes typical of pluralist societies has developed into a Great Perceptual Divide in the U.S. and Britain, where populations now reside in alternate universes. Perceptions are driven by identity. In the U.S., the perceptual gulf coincides with political partisanship, while in the UK, the perceptual divide centered around the 2016 Brexit decision. In both countries, politicians are called to account for waging war on enemies rather than for advancing policy objectives, destroying traditional political accountability.
Mitchell Smith will explore these divisions in a talk based on his book The Great Perceptual Divide: Identity and Democracy in the U.S. and Britain, which will be published in September by Bloomsbury. Smith is the director of the School of International Affairs at Penn State and a professor of international affairs. He holds an MPA and a Ph.D, both from Princeton. He has been a Fulbright Fellow in European Union Affairs and a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, Belgium.
Journalism, Trust, and the Future of an Informed Democracy
2026 Brown Democracy Medal Ceremony
Thursday, October 8, 4:00 p.m.
Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library
Many of us can remember a time when journalists served a well-established role in communities. News outlets, nationally and locally, were trusted to provide shared sets of facts and common narratives. They were generally seen as imperfect but reliable sources of information.
Today’s media landscape is radically different thanks to the rise of social media and the closing of thousands of newsrooms across the country. As a result, the public is more skeptical about the news they consume than ever — if they consume any news at all.
The organization Trusting News is strengthening the relationships between news outlets and the audiences they serve, creating a more informed public and a healthier democracy in the process. Team members Joy Mayer, Lynn Walsh, and Mollie Muchna and will share insights from their work with journalists across the country as they accept the McCourtney Institute’s 2026 Brown Democracy Medal.