The Assault on Journalism: At Home & Abroad with Thomas O. Melia

Watch the recording of our Buffett Lecture with Thomas O. Melia about the assault on journalism at home and abroad. Melia discussed the central role that professional journalism plays in a democratic country. He described the range of issues and programs the US has long undertaken to strengthen journalism in authoritarian states or countries in transition, and the current attacks on these programs and institutions by the Trump administration.

Thomas O. Melia is a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Democracy & Civil Society, after serving (2021–2025) as senior advisor on foreign policy to recently-retired Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Maryland). Earlier, Melia served in the Obama Administration as USAID's Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, & Labor. Throughout his career, in the nonprofit world and in government service, he has focused on the promotion of democracy and human rights globally. O. Melia served as the inaugural Buffett Distinguished Visiting Practitioner from May 11–15, 2026.