This April, the University of Georgia Libraries will mark Congress Week with events featuring a former senator and political journalists.
Congress Week is an annual program sponsored by the Associations of Centers for the Study of Congress. The Russell Library, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, is a founding member of the association.
“Through our Congress Week programming, the Russell Library seeks to promote a better public understanding of Congress as the branch of government closest to the people,” said Russell Library Director Sheryl Vogt. “Focusing on civic education, the two events this year will give us perspective from a former Member of Congress and observations from two experienced political journalists.”
On Tuesday, April 15, the Russell Library for Political Research and Studies will host former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, who represented Alabama in the upper chamber from 2018-2021 after winning a special election in 2017. A week later, on Tuesday, April 22, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporters Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell for a discussion on political journalism as it relates to civic education and awareness. Both events are free and open to the public, with light refreshments served.
The April 15 event with Jones is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Special Collections Libraries Building. Joe Watson, Carolyn Caudell Tieger Professor of Public Affairs Communications, will serve as moderator.
For the April 22 event, which will begin at 4 p.m., the Russell Library will host Bluestein, a political reporter, and Mitchell, the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief, to talk about how journalists help the public follow pieces of legislation through the congressional process and track important issues. The pair will be joined by Charlotte Norsworthy-Varnum, executive director of The Red&Black, who will moderate the discussion.
Both events are co-hosted by UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and School of Public and International Affairs. For more information, visit libs.uga.edu/scl