FORA.tv to Broadcast Intelligence Squared US Debate June 26: "Individuals & Organizations Have a Constitutional Right to Unlimited Spending on Their Own Political Speech"
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 26, 2014 -- WHAT: FORA.tv, the leading online destination for video programs from the world’s best conferences and events, will broadcast the Intelligence Squared U.S. (IQ2US) Oxford-style debate, “Individuals and Organizations Have a Constitutional Right to Unlimited Spending on Their Own Political Speech.”
Is independent political speech the linchpin of our democracy or its Achilles' heel? For democracy to work, some say, citizens (and corporations, and unions, and media outlets, and other voluntary organizations) must be allowed to express their views on the issues, candidates, and elections of the day. This proposition, they say, is exactly why the First Amendment protects the freedom of speech and of the press. On this view, restrictions on independent political speech undermine and subvert our constitutional structure. But others take a different view: If everyone can spend as much money as they like to express their political views, then some voices will be amplified, magnified and enhanced - while others will be all but drowned out. On this view, it is this inequality of influence that subverts our constitutional structure - and restrictions that level the playing field actually enhance rather than abridge the freedom of speech.
WHEN: Thursday, June 26th at 6:30 pm EDT
WHERE: The debate will be streamed live at intelligencesquaredus.fora.tv. The debate will be interactive with a Twitter feed following the conversation around the event. Online viewers will also be able to vote along with the live audience members, sharing their opinion before the debate starts and at the conclusion once all arguments are heard. Following the live event, FORA.tv will offer the debate as a free on-demand program, and the full video and highlights will be available to share and embed.
In support of the motion:
Floyd Abrams
1st Amendment Authority & Partner, Cahill Gordon & Reindel
Nadine Strossen
Fmr. President, ACLU & Professor, New York Law School
Against the motion:
Burt Neuborne
Professor, NYU Law & Founding Legal Director, Brennan Center for Justice
Zephyr Teachout
Assoc. Professor, Fordham Law & Fmr. Nat’l Dir., Sunlight Foundation
Current Gubernatorial Candidate, New York State
The Moderator: John Donvan is a correspondent for ABC News. In a career that spans more than two decades for ABC News, Donvan previously served as the Chief White House Correspondent, along with postings in Moscow, London, Jerusalem and Amman.
ABOUT FORA.TV
FORA.tv is the leader in video production, online distribution and monetization services for the conference and event industry. FORA.tv helps hundreds of organizations including the Aspen Institute, the Economist, the New York Public Library, and Wired expand the audience for their events. FORA.tv has been named a Top 50 Web Site by TIME, and a Top Education Site by The Telegraph. FORA.tv is based in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://fora.tv.
ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
Winner of the 2013 Silver Radio Award for Best Public Affairs Program and named one of the "Five Podcasts that Will Change the Way You Think" by Forbes, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded in New York City in 2006 by Robert Rosenkranz, and has grown into an internationally syndicated series heard and watched by millions. The debates have attracted some of the world's top thinkers, including Steven Forbes, Neal Barnard, Paul Krugman, Karl Rove, Malcolm Gladwell, and Arianna Huffington. With over 80 debates, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to “think twice” on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008. The executive producer is Dana Wolfe.
Hartley Riedner, FORA.tv, http://fora.tv, 415-240-4855, [email protected]
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