The Centre for Free Expression Podcast https://centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com

Democracy is an ongoing public discussion about what is legitimate in our society — and what is not. That conversation doesn’t belong to any one group, and it cannot be settled once and for all. Democracy prospers when everyone has the right and opportunity to be informed and to participate in public discourse.

Every two weeks, the Centre for Free Expression Podcast explores important questions people have about our society, their rights to be engaged, their opportunities to be informed, the challenges to these rights and opportunities, and how we can overcome those challenges. 

For more information about us and the work we do visit our website: https://www.cfe.torontomu.ca
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]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 15:32:26 -0400 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en ca Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Education 1440 episodic Democracy is an ongoing public discussion about what is legitimate in our society—and what is not. That conversation doesn’t belong to any one group, and it cannot be settled once and for all. Democracy prospers when everyone has the right and opportunity to be informed and to participate in public discourse. Every two weeks, the Centre for Free Expression Podcast explores important questions people have about our society, their rights to be engaged, their opportunities to be informed, the challenges to these rights and opportunities, and how we can overcome those challenges. Centre for Free Expression Centre for Free Expression No false https://feed.podbean.com/centreforfreeexpression/feed.xml https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/21952270/cfepodcastlogo.png The Centre for Free Expression Podcast https://centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com 144 144 What does the Western media get wrong about the Middle East? What does the Western media get wrong about the Middle East? https://centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com/e/what-does-the-western-media-get-wrong-about-the-middle-east/ https://centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com/e/what-does-the-western-media-get-wrong-about-the-middle-east/#comments Tue, 19 May 2026 15:32:26 -0400 centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com/756fda41-aaa9-3ac5-ab1f-2c51213e7e65 In striving for balance and neutrality, does the Western mainstream media end up spreading misconceptions, myths and mistruths about the wars and conflicts in the Middle East? What are news consumers in the West missing about the war in Gaza, the turmoil in Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere? How can we ensure better coverage of the raging conflicts that are shaping our world today? 

Panelists: Hadeel Al-Shalchi (Editor, NPR’s Weekend Edition), Mohamad Bazzi (Director, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at New York University), Martin Lukacs (Managing Editor, The Breach), Ari Paul (Journalist, FAIR.org)

Moderator: Julian Sher (Journalist, author & CFE Senior Fellow)

This conversation occurred on October 16, 2025 and was co-sponsored by Canadian Association of Journalists and PEN Canada. 

]]> In striving for balance and neutrality, does the Western mainstream media end up spreading misconceptions, myths and mistruths about the wars and conflicts in the Middle East? What are news consumers in the West missing about the war in Gaza, the turmoil in Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan and elsewhere? How can we ensure better coverage of the raging conflicts that are shaping our world today? 

Panelists: Hadeel Al-Shalchi (Editor, NPR’s Weekend Edition), Mohamad Bazzi (Director, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at New York University), Martin Lukacs (Managing Editor, The Breach), Ari Paul (Journalist, FAIR.org)

Moderator: Julian Sher (Journalist, author & CFE Senior Fellow)

This conversation occurred on October 16, 2025 and was co-sponsored by Canadian Association of Journalists and PEN Canada. 

]]> Centre for Free Expression false No 3706 3 full Islamophobia on Canadian Campuses: Why and What to do? Islamophobia on Canadian Campuses: Why and What to do? https://centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com/e/islamophobia-on-canadian-campuses-why-and-what-to-do/ https://centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com/e/islamophobia-on-canadian-campuses-why-and-what-to-do/#comments Wed, 13 May 2026 09:23:47 -0400 centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com/310ecb18-c47c-37f1-a526-9a66fdc65f64 Islamophobia, like other forms of religious prejudice, racism and xenophobia, are everyday experiences on Canadian campuses despite efforts to eliminate it. Why does Islamophobia persist? What forms does it most commonly take on campus? What can be done to overcome it? Join a panel deeply engaged in eliminating Islamophobia as they explore these questions. 

Panelists: Imam Yasin Dwyer (Executive Director, Muslim Chaplaincy of Toronto), Adel Iskandar (Associate Professor of Global Communication, School of Communication and Director, Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies, at Simon Fraser University), Maryam Laoufi (Advisor, Muslim Student Association at Concordia University), Basmah Ramadan (Student Advocacy Coordinator, National Council of Canadian Muslims; former President of the University of Toronto Muslim Students Association). Moderator: Amira Elghawaby (Canada’s former Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia)

This conversation took place on May 5, 2026, and was co-sponsored by BCCLA, Muslim Employee Community Network, and PEN Canada.

]]> Islamophobia, like other forms of religious prejudice, racism and xenophobia, are everyday experiences on Canadian campuses despite efforts to eliminate it. Why does Islamophobia persist? What forms does it most commonly take on campus? What can be done to overcome it? Join a panel deeply engaged in eliminating Islamophobia as they explore these questions. 

Panelists: Imam Yasin Dwyer (Executive Director, Muslim Chaplaincy of Toronto), Adel Iskandar (Associate Professor of Global Communication, School of Communication and Director, Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies, at Simon Fraser University), Maryam Laoufi (Advisor, Muslim Student Association at Concordia University), Basmah Ramadan (Student Advocacy Coordinator, National Council of Canadian Muslims; former President of the University of Toronto Muslim Students Association). Moderator: Amira Elghawaby (Canada’s former Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia)

This conversation took place on May 5, 2026, and was co-sponsored by BCCLA, Muslim Employee Community Network, and PEN Canada.

]]> Centre for Free Expression false No 3192 2 full Can American Media Survive Trump and Billionaire Owners? Can American Media Survive Trump and Billionaire Owners? https://centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com/e/can-american-media-survive-trump-and-billionaire-owners/ https://centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com/e/can-american-media-survive-trump-and-billionaire-owners/#comments Wed, 06 May 2026 01:22:39 -0400 centreforfreeexpression.podbean.com/022edea5-91a5-3347-a716-6f73d3336156 The gutting of the Washington Post. Abrupt changes at CBS. Caving to extravagant but frivolous Trump lawsuits. Are some of the richest and most powerful corporate tycoons ruining American journalism — and will more takeovers make things even worse? Is democracy dying in broad daylight? Three frontline journalists look at the dangers and what lies ahead. 

Panelists: Joe Davidson, Veteran former Washington Post columnist, Margaret Sullivan, Columnist for The Guardian US, Max Tani, New York-based journalist covering media for Semafor. Moderator: Julian Sher, Journalist and author. Senior Fellow, Centre for Free Expression This conversation took place on March 19, 2026, and was co-sponsored by Canadian Association of Journalists, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, PEN Canada, and World Press Freedom Canada.

]]> The gutting of the Washington Post. Abrupt changes at CBS. Caving to extravagant but frivolous Trump lawsuits. Are some of the richest and most powerful corporate tycoons ruining American journalism — and will more takeovers make things even worse? Is democracy dying in broad daylight? Three frontline journalists look at the dangers and what lies ahead. 

Panelists: Joe Davidson, Veteran former Washington Post columnist, Margaret Sullivan, Columnist for The Guardian US, Max Tani, New York-based journalist covering media for Semafor. Moderator: Julian Sher, Journalist and author. Senior Fellow, Centre for Free Expression

This conversation took place on March 19, 2026, and was co-sponsored by Canadian Association of Journalists, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, PEN Canada, and World Press Freedom Canada.

]]> Centre for Free Expression false No 2699 1 full