Salon: Past Events

Does our Constitution include a right to privacy? What about the right to vote? Some rights aren’t explicitly spelled out, yet we still depend on the courts to define and uphold them. But is that confidence reasonable, given historical and present-day court actions that seem irredeemably tainted by politics?

On Sunday, 8 Jan., 4-6 pm, the Jefferson Center will host a discussion of these issues, led by Dr. William Lasser, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Clemson University, South Carolina.

This event is free and open to the public. It will take place on Zoom. Please click on the title to the left for the registration link, a QR code for that link, and a list of relevant background readings. For more information, contact: Tony Davis (tonydavis0@gmail.com)

The Jefferson Center will host a discussion led by Rogue Theater Company’s Jessica Sage on November 20, 2022 from 2 to 4 pm. The topic is the state of theater in the Rogue Valley and, more broadly, current issues facing the performing arts here and beyond. Please note that the date and time are different from our usual salon schedule.

The internet and other technologies have exerted a profound effect on performing arts in the last couple of decades. More recently, the pandemic has hit live performance hard. As live theater emerges from a difficult two years, new uncertainties and opportunities have arisen. This event will address how local artistic endeavors can thrive in the internet age. How will the situation of the arts in the Rogue Valley evolve in the coming years? What kinds of audiences does live theater seek these days, and what do audiences seek from theater? How dependent is theater on local audiences and patrons in a relatively small area like the Rogue Valley, as opposed drawing in others from outside the area? What role should local governments, educational institutions, and businesses play in supporting performing arts? Long active in theater here and elsewhere, Jessica Sage is currently Producing Artistic Director of Rogue Theater Company

This event is free and open to the public. It will take place in the Jefferson Center’s space, suite 101, in the Old Armory Building, 208 Oak St., in Ashland.

There will be no Salon in September. Please stay tuned for information about the October salon, scheduled for October 9th.
Thank you for your patience and continuing support of The Jefferson Center.

The Jefferson Center will host a discussion via Zoom on July 10, 2022 from 4 to 6 pm, examining the challenges and dilemmas journalists confront as they cover contentious local issues. We’ll discuss the role of media in community controversies, conflicts, and disagreements with two experienced local journalists: Bert Etling, formerly editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings and founder of the news website Ashland.news, and Erik Neumann, interim news director at Jefferson Public Radio.
Please register in advance by clicking on the title to the left and following the zoom link in the longer description of the event.
Local journalists often face difficult choices, and their coverage may reverberate in relatively small communities. They may feel squeezed between the goals of full and accurate reporting and avoiding offense to some segments of the community. This is especially true if those they might offend are powerful, influential, and can exert pressure on media to soften their stance.
How should journalists handle coverage of controversies? Do “both sides” deserve equal consideration in these cases? How far should reporters go in refuting controversial claims?

Bert Etling is executive editor at Ashland.news, which launched earlier this year. He edited the Ashland Daily Tidings from 2014 to 2019, overseeing a five-fold increase in local content and 30% increase in circulation.

Erik Neumann is interim news director at Jefferson Public Radio. He earned a master's degree from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and joined JPR as a reporter in 2019 after working at NPR member station KUER in Salt Lake City.