The Power Of Investigative Journalism: Shining A Spotlight On Survivors

Netflix’s newly released documentary “Athlete A” chronicles the story of the first gymnast to report to USA Gymnastics that she had been sexually abused by Dr. Larry Nassar, and of the team of Indianapolis Star reporters who began investigating numerous other claims of abuse against the former team doctor. This panel, held over Zoom on July 23, 2020, convened journalists and media professionals to discuss their experiences reporting on cases of sexual abuse, the role of the media in providing a space for survivors to tell their stories, and the impact of investigative journalism on exposing the truth around sexual violence in sports. Mashable’s Rebecca Ruiz, who writes about gender, sexuality, and equality, moderated the conversation with Marisa Kwiatkowski, investigative reporter for USA Today; Katie Townsend, legal director for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; and Courtney Radsch, advocacy director for the Committee to Protect Journalists.