2026 John Breaux Symposium: American Media at 250

The 2026 John Breaux Symposium—the Reilly Center's signature annual event—will tackle the theme of "American Media at 250" — a nod to the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.This year’s program will feature national voices and innovative scholars who will examine how media has informed and influenced civic life over the past two and a half centuries and what that history can teach us about today’s media landscape. While celebrating this major national milestone, this event will also explore challenges and opportunities facing the country moving forward.

Topics to be explored include:

• The press and political communication then and now — from America’s Founding era to today

• Fake news in American history

• Social media, local news, civil discourse, and polarization

• Navigating the minefield of a fragmented media environment

• The emergence and influence of independent media

The 2026 John Breaux Symposium will encourage thoughtful dialogue about the role of media in American democracy — past, present, and future.

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Host or Publisher LSU Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs