By Dirk Langeveld

WESTPORT — The importance of independent journalism in the current media and political environment was the subject of a recent gathering of journalists and filmmakers at MoCA\CT.

The conversation took place on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd, after a screening of the 2025 documentary Steal This Story, Please! Guests included journalist Amy Goodman, who is featured in the film; filmmaker Tia Lessin, who co-directed the documentary with Carl Deal; and Catherine Shen, host of Connecticut Public’s Where We Live. The event was presented as part of AVON on Tour, in partnership with the Avon Theatre.

Steal This Story, Please! follows Goodman’s lengthy career in journalism, including her role in founding the independent global news program Democracy Now! The documentary also explores the challenges facing independent journalism in a rapidly changing media landscape.

“We have a job to do,” said Goodman. “To be on the convention floor and question delegates. To be in the corporate suites…to be in the streets, where the uninvited guests are. They have something important to say as well. That’s our job as journalists and why we have a First Amendment to protect the press.”

The event proved to be timely, as it occurred just five days after President Donald Trump said he would ban CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House. Several major television network subsequently paused their pool coverage of the White House as a sign of solidarity with the barred reporters. A day after the event, a federal judge ruled that the ban was likely unconstitutional and ordered that reporters from these outlets be readmitted. 

“These are very dangerous times,” Lessin said. “A free press is fundamental—as Amy says—to the public’s right to know, and it is fundamental to democracy. We’re pleased to be out with this film, engaging audiences in dialogue about the importance of the press and the people who work under intense pressure to report the news.”

The event also discussed other concerns about the freedom of press in the United States, including corporate media consolidation and lawsuits filed against media outlets for coverage deemed to be unfavorable. MoCA\CT said the event tied in to one of its current exhibitions, Looking for History, which examines the stories, tensions and possibilities influencing the United States on its 250th anniversary.

Lessin said Steal This Story, Please! has screened in 200 theaters and other venues, and she hopes that it will continue to reach audiences across the nation. 

“Documentaries are the nexus between journalism and art,” she said. “We hope this film not only inspires a generation of journalists, but also helps strengthen the independent media ecosystem.”

Dirk Langeveld

^{_{Dirk Langeveld has worked as a news reporter, content marketing specialist, and freelance writer. He is the author of “The Artful Dodger: The 20-Year Pursuit of World War I Draft Dodger Grover Cleveland Bergdoll” and has contributed to several books on Connecticut history.}}