Cathedral lecture and debate on freedom and censorship

Jodie Ginsberg of Index on Censorship … speaking in Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, on Thursday evening

Patrick Comerford

The Autumn Lecture Series organised by Limerick Civic Trust continues in Saint Mary’s Cathedral tomorrow evening [28 September 2017], when the guest speaker is Jodie Ginsberg of Index on Censorship.

I have been invited by Limerick Civic Trust to facilitate the discussion that follows this lecture, the third in this year’s series. As Precentor of Saint Mary’s Cathedral and as a former journalist I find it doubly interesting to be involved in this event.

This week is Banned Books Week, with a global series of events celebrating the freedom to read. So, it seems appropriate that the free speech advocate Jodie Ginsberg is speaking at the Autumn Lecture Series tomorrow.

Jodie Ginsberg, who is the chief executive of Index on Censorship, will speak about how censorship stifles debate and undermines the tenets of free and democratic societies. She is also expected to comment on press freedom particularly in relation to President Trump’s smearing of the media.

Index on Censorship is an international non-profit organisation that publishes work by censored writers and artists and campaigns for free expression worldwide.

Jodie Ginsberg is a former foreign correspondent and business journalist. She worked for more than a decade for Reuters news agency in South Africa and Ireland and as the Reuters Bureau Chief in London.

In 2012, she set up the Reuters ‘press gang’ initiative – a journalism workshop for young people in the communities around Canary Wharf in London. She has also worked as Head of Communications for Camfed, an education charity that supports girls and young women in Africa through education and at think tank Demos.

This is the third lecture in a six-part series of public lectures by internationally renowned commentators and thought-leaders in their field. The event is organised by Limerick Civic Trust in conjunction with the Kemmy Business School, Limerick Institute of Technology, Limerick City and County Council and The Irish Examiner.

This lecture tomorrow evening [Thursday 28 September 2017] takes place from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. in Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick.

In the weeks that follow, the speakers include Simon Carswell of The Irish Times [5 October], Ian Ritchie, international architect [12 October], and Roger Madelin of International Regeneration [19 October].