Freedom of the press remains an essential part of America’s foundation, but it is under threat more than ever.

UD alumni and award-winning writers Jeff Pearlman and Paul Kane will examine why a free press still matters as the speakers at this year’s Byline event on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. in Memorial Hall, room 127.

Kane, who graduated in 1992, has covered Congress since 2000, currently for The Washington Sun, and formerly for the Washington Post and Roll Call. In 2024 he was part of a Post team that received the Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting for their “sobering examination of the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle." Kane lists Philly sports, the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens and Bruce Springsteen as “forever” likes on his profile on X.

Pearlman, Class of 1994, honed his high school journalism skills as a reporter with UD’s student newspaper, The Review. After UD he worked at national publications including Newsday, the Wall Street Journal and Sports Illustrated, where he gained notoriety for an exposé of former major league baseball pitcher John Rocker. Pearlman is now a bestselling author, known for his deeply researched biographies and team histories, including profiles of Bo Jackson and Tupac Shakur.

Hosted by the UD Journalism program, Byline is made possible with generous support from program founder Edward A. Nickerson. Countless graduates credit Nickerson's classroom as a roadmap to their success.

Registration is required by Oct. 19. To register and for more information, please visit https://ud.alumniq.com/index.cfm/events:register/home/eventId/9498