Award-winning journalist Jamie Kalven visits Point Park to discuss his investigation of Chicago teen's shooting death by police

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Journalist and author Jamie Kalven's groundbreaking investigation of the fatal police shooting of a Chicago teenager prompted more public scrutiny of the case, which eventually led to a murder indictment against one officer.

Kalven will discuss the investigation, especially his use of public records, during two appearances at "Right to Know: The Power of Public Records," which will be at 1 and 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at Point Park University's Center for Media Innovation, 305 Wood St., Downtown Pittsburgh. 

Reporting by Kalven shed light on what happened Oct. 20, 2014, when Laquan McDonald, 17, was fatally shot by Chicago police. Using public records and acting on a tip, he wrote a story, "Sixteen shots," for Slate that cast doubt on the police version of events in McDonald's death. 

The public furor as a result of Kalven's reporting prompted more scrutiny, which led to a murder indictment against one officer and recommendations to fire other officers, the ouster of the police superintendent, and a U.S. Justice Department investigation.

Kalven's work will be of special interest to journalists, attorneys and college students studying fields related to communications and the law.

The "Right to Know" event is free and open to the public. The 6 p.m. event is open to the public and registration for it should be done at the Right to Know Eventbrite page.

Kalven has reported extensively on police abuse in Chicago and was the plaintiff in Kalven v. Chicago, in which the Illinois appellate court ruled that police misconduct files are public information.  

He is the founder of the Invisible Institute, a journalistic production company located on the South Side of Chicago. The nonprofit is set up to "enhance the capacity of citizens to hold public institutions accountable." Kalven has, through the nonprofit, published disciplinary records of Chicago police officers.

Awards he has received for his work include the 2015 George Polk Award for Local Reporting and the 2016 Ridenhour Courage Prize, the latter of which recognizes those who persevere in acts of truth-telling that protect the public interest.

Kalven is the author of "Working with Available Light: A Family's World After Violence" and the editor of "A Worthy Tradition: Free Speech in America" by his father, Harry Kalven Jr.

The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania and the Center for Media Innovation are presenting the event, which is cosponsored by the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, the Women's Press Club of Pittsburgh and the Online News Association/Pittsburgh.

The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization of communications professionals. It sponsors forums on current events and educational programs and presents the annual Golden Quill Awards contest and ceremony, honoring the best of Western Pennsylvania journalism. For membership information, see westernpapressclub.org.

Founded in 1960, Point Park University is a dynamic, urban university with a strong liberal arts tradition. Located in Downtown Pittsburgh, Point Park enrolls more than 4,000 full- and part-time students in more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs offered through the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Communication and Conservatory of Performing Arts. Visit PointPark.edu to learn more.

PR Newswire is the official wire of The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania.

SOURCE The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania

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