Greg Palast Jeff Cohen to speak in New Haven Conn.

BBC reporter Greg Palast and media critic Jeff Cohen to speak in New Haven, Conn.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A BBC-TV investigative journalist and a cable TV media commentator will speak at a pre-election forum on the dangers to America's democracy in early October.

BBC-TV investigative journalist Greg Palast and media critic Jeff Cohen will speak at a pre-election public forum titled, "Democracy in Danger: Oil Wars, Corporate Power and the Struggle to Defend Liberty and Justice," from 2-4 p.m., Saturday Oct. 7 at the United Church on the Green in New Haven, 270 Temple St., corner of Temple and Elm Streets. The program will be followed by an early evening reception with a silent auction at The John Slade Ely House.

The forum and reception are part of a 15th anniversary celebration and benefit for Between The Lines radio newsmagazine, which is based at WPKN Radio 89.5 FM in Bridgeport and is broadcast on more than 35 noncommercial radio stations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The organizers of the event will present a "Democracy in Action" award to the Library Connection Inc.’s Barbara Bailey, Peter Chase, George Christian and Janet Nocek for effectively challenging the provisions of the USA Patriot Act that undermine the U.S. Constitution. The Library Connection is based in Windsor. The group brought a case to federal court in which they succeeded in overturning a gag rule on discussing their receipt of an FBI National Security letter requesting information on library patrons.

Greg Palast, a BBC-TV investigative journalist is the author of two New York Times best sellers, "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy," and "Armed Madhouse." Jeff Cohen is the founder of the media watch group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, and has been a commentator on CNN, Fox and MSNBC. Cohen was the senior producer for the "Phil Donahue Show"on MSNBC and is the author of "Cable News Confidential: My Misadventures in Corporate Media." A booksigning will follow the forum.

Suggested contribution for the public forum is $15, students $5 with ID -- advance tickets are recommended for preferred seating. The post-forum reception and silent auction with Palast, Cohen and the Library Connection awardees will take place at The John Slade Ely House, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets: $50. RSVP by Sept. 30. For reservations and directions, call (203) 268-8446, ext. 3 or visit www.squeakywheel.net or www.btlonline.org for more information.

ENDS

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