Panel: Mother Jones—50 Years of Fearless Journalism

Learn more about San Francisco’s rich journalism history with an engaging discussion about the nation’s first investigative news organization, Mother Jones, which started in 1976 in an office above a McDonald’s restaurant in San Francisco. As a special bonus, the panelists analyze the November 3 election results—which would have occurred days earlier—and the news media’s coverage of the big races and issues, particularly in California.

Over the years, Mother Jones has been exposing wrongdoing among governments and corporations and holding the powerful to account. It has built a large and loyal audience, deftly adapting from a bimonthly magazine to meet audiences wherever they get their news—whether print, online, radio, video, social media or newsletters. 

Topics of discussion at the event additionally include the origins of the revered news outlet, influential investigation highlights, press freedom defense as exemplified by the lawsuit it filed against OpenAI and how the outlet confronts disinformation and propaganda head-on. The nonprofit news model animates the entire discussion, demonstrating its sustainability for other news outlets in the Bay Area and across the country.

Sitting on the panel are Mother Jones’ editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery and Mother Jones’ co-founder and historian Adam Hochschild. Journalist Jamil Smith moderates.

A catered reception precedes the panel discussion from 5-6:30 in the Koret Lobby.

While you’re here, visit the Mother Jones at 50 exhibit on the 5th floor in the Magazines and Newspapers Center.

Jamil Smith is a faculty lecturer at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism and columnist at the Guardian US.

Clara Jeffery is an American journalist and has been the editor-in-chief of Mother Jones since 2006.

Adam Hochschild is the co-founder and historian of Mother Jones and a prolific author.

Connect: 

Mother Jones – Website | Mother Jones – X | Mother Jones – Bluesky

Clara Jeffery - Bluesky | Clara Jeffery - X | Clara Jeffery - LinkedIn

Adam Hochschild - UC Berkeley | Adam Hochschild - New York Review of Books

Jamil Smith - X