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Experiential Learning American Forum

Major media series that brings students together with prominent figures to engage about the most important issues facing young people today, in politics, media & democracy.

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American University School of Communication

Connecting Students with Newsmakers

Reflecting and expanding on its origins as a campus speakers series, the American Forum today provides AU students with experiential learning and meaningful participation in close civic dialogue with some of the most important players in media, politics and policy, about some of the most important issues of our time. Produced by the School of Communication with Professor Jane Hall as longtime moderator and executive producer, the American Forum has developed major media partnerships for regular broadcasting on NBC TV Washington streaming channel and WAMU radio, along with C-SPAN, Newseum and online video.

Congressmen Jamie Raskin, Manu Raju, Seung Min Kim, January 6 police officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges, Anita Hill, Yamiche Alcindor, Julian Bond, Chuck Todd, Jake Tapper, Martin Baron, Akbar Ahmed, Eugene Daniels, Emilie Ikeda, Maria Elena Salinas, Ana Navarro, Patti Solis Doyle and Republican and Democrat strategists are among our many guests. Professor Hall works with the non-partisan Kennedy Political Union and other student groups on these productions.

Playlist of American Forums

Videos in this playlist

To play a specific video, use the playlist icon in the player or view each video on YouTube.

  1. American University School of Communication

    Police Officers Daniel Hodges and Harry Dunn, Four Years Later

  2. American University School of Communication

    Officers Daniel Hodges and Harry Dunn on why they still speak out about Jan 6. Insurrection

  3. American University School of Communication

    Police Officers Harry Dunn & Daniel Hodges on fighting false “narratives” about Jan. 6 insurrection

  4. American University School of Communication

    Police Officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges on Donald Trump’s pardons of January 6 Insurrectionists

  5. American University School of Communication

    American Forum: AAPI Representation in Media | NBC4 Washington

  6. American University School of Communication

    American Forum: A Conversation with Rep. Jamie Raskin | NBC4 Washington

  7. American University School of Communication

    Eugene Daniels of POLITICO on his story & being a role-model for Black and LGBTQ+ journalists

  8. American University School of Communication

    Chuck Todd on Donald Trump, Republicans and Calling the News “A National Nightmare

  9. American University School of Communication

    Chuck Todd on 2020 “Wildcard” Candidates --and Why Politics Today is like “Back to the Future”

  10. American University School of Communication

    Chuck Todd on Fox News, Media Credibility and the Media Post-Trump

  11. American University School of Communication

    CNN’S MANU RAJU ON COVERING CONGRESS; “FROM A REPORTING PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS ALMOST A GOLD MINE”

  12. American University School of Communication

    CNN’S MANU RAJU ON HOW JOURNALISTS SHOULD REPORT ON DONALD TRUMP’S SOCIAL MEDIA

  13. American University School of Communication

    CNN’S MANU RAJU ON COVERING CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AND ‘BEING TOTALLY HONEST' IN REPORTING

  14. American University School of Communication

    CNN’s MANU RAJU ON THE FIGHT FOR CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE IN THE 2024 ELECTIONS

  15. American University School of Communication

    Ana Navarro on How Trump Won Nomination in “Perfect Storm”

  16. American University School of Communication

    Martin Baron on the Response of the Catholic Church

  17. American University School of Communication

    GEN Z'S Take on Voting and the Midterm Elections!

  18. American University School of Communication

    Maria Elena Salinas on Leaving Univision: “It’s Time for Me to Do Something Different”

  19. American University School of Communication

    Katharine Weymouth on Meryl Streep as her Grandmother in "The Post"

  20. American University School of Communication

    Ed O’Keefe on Sen. Susan Collins’s characterizing Congress as “Groundhog Day”

  21. American University School of Communication

    Ed O’Keefe on the difference between covering Congress and a presidential campaign

  22. American University School of Communication

    Ed O’Keefe on Sen. John McCain’s vote in Congress against a Republican plan to end Obamacare

  23. American University School of Communication

    Ed O’Keefe on covering Sen. Rand Paul and deported immigrants in Guatemala

  24. American University School of Communication

    Ed O'Keefe on why and how the Democrats are working with President Trump to protect "Dreamers"

  25. American University School of Communication

    Ed O’Keefe on how his role has a journalist has changed since the election of Donald Trump

  26. American University School of Communication

    American Forum at the Movies with Washington Post's Ann Hornaday

  27. American University School of Communication

    Yamiche Alcindor on Trump’s Attacks and Advice for Young Black Journalists

  28. American University School of Communication

    Yamiche Alcindor on the Presidential Debate and Fact-Checking Donald Trump at the White House

  29. American University School of Communication

    Yamiche Alcindor on How Covering Donald Trump Is “Like Covering a Hurricane"
Jane Hall

Meet Jane Hall

Meet the award-winning journalist, professor chosen Professor of the Year twice by AU student government, and Pulitzer finalist. Her 2021 CQ Press book, Politics and the Media: Intersections and New Directions, has been praised by Kirkus Reviews as “a definitive resource on politics and the media for years to come.”

Read the latest on American Forum 

Jane Hall and Jamie Raskin

Government & Politics

Straight Talk

WCL professor-turned-politician Jamie Raskin returned to AU for candid conversation during September 14 American Forum

Full Story

Hall, Sahejpal, Cheung, Ikeda, and Kim

Journalism

A New Chapter for SOC’s AAPI Journalists

AU celebrated the launch of its first-ever student chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association

Full Story

Officers Daniel Hodges and Harry Dunn with professor Jane Hall

Communications

Officers Who Defended U.S. Capitol on Jan 6. Discuss Its Impact on Media and Democracy

Students at an American Forum at AU's School of Communication heard first-hand from DC police officer Daniel Hodges and Capitol police officer Harry Dunn, who played heroic roles in defending the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Full Story

Gen Z takes on Midterm Elections

Communications

Gen Z Takes on the Midterm Elections

Students shared their views and engaged with a panel of experts about what they think are the most important issues.

Full Story