As part of its annual Congress Week celebration, the Richard B. Russell Library will be hosting a conversation with Atlanta-Journal Constitution reporters Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell. The Tuesday, April 22nd panel will be moderated by The Red&Black Executive Director Charlotte Norsworthy-Varnum.
The conversation will center political journalism as it relates to civic education and awareness, understanding both chambers of the U.S. House and Senate, and following pieces of legislation through the congressional process. A light reception will follow.
Parking can be found in the Hull Street Deck directly across from the Special Collections Libraries building.
Congress Week is an annual program sponsored by the Associations of Centers for the Study of Congress (ACSC). The Russell Library is a founding member of ACSC. This event sponsored by the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and the School of Public and International Affairs.
About the speakers:
Tia Mitchell is the Washington Bureau Chief for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, covering national politics for a Georgia audience. She also shares her political expertise on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, News Nation, NPR, and many other national and international news outlets. Tia is a co-host of the AJC's "Politically Georgia" podcast. Tia is active with the National Association of Black Journalists, where she has served as programming co-chair for national conventions since 2022 and is the immediate past chair of the NABJ Political Task Force. She is also active in her local NABJ chapter, the Washington Association of Black Journalists, vice president of the Washington Press Club Foundation Board of Directors and a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest and most prestigious journalism organization. Tia is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and a lifetime member of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association. She graduated from FAMU with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism.
Charlotte Norsworthy-Varnum (ABJ '19, MA '20) is a part-time instructor at Grady College and serves as program coordinator for the Cox Institute's News Literacy Certificate. Varnum is also executive director for The Red & Black Publishing, Co., an independent student media nonprofit that publishes the largest student newspaper in Georgia, provides journalism training, produces year-round daily online news and publishes a family of specialty publications including “UGA 101” and the 50,000-circulation “University of Georgia Visitors Guide.” Prior to joining The Red & Black in 2021, Varnum worked for journalistic outfits such as The Outlaw Ocean Project, Bloomberg TV & Radio, National Public Radio and Turner. Varnum earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism and political science in 2019, and her master's degree in journalism in 2020.
Greg Bluestein is a political reporter and author who covers the governor's office and Georgia politics for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He writes for the front-page of the AJC, contributes to the Political Insider blog and morning Jolt newsletter, co-hosts the Politically Georgia podcast and is a frequent guest on local and national TV and radio programs. He's an MSNBC and NBC News contributor and the author of "Flipped," a book on Georgia's epic 2020 election. He's a proud graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in journalism and political science, and Axios named him the "most dedicated" Bulldog fan at the 2023 national championship game.