NSU to welcome journalist Georgia Fort for 2026 Larry Adair Lecture

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Northeastern State University (NSU) will welcome three-time Midwest Emmy Award-winning journalist Georgia Fort on Sept. 17 for a Constitution Day presentation on freedom of the press, the First Amendment and the role of journalism in American democracy.

Fort’s 2026 presentation, Freedom of the Press, is part of the Larry Adair Lectureship Series at NSU. The lecture begins at 2 p.m. in the NSU Webb Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

NSU Development Director Peggy Glenn said Fort’s experience as a multifaceted journalist made her a strong candidate for the lecture.

“We chose Ms. Fort as our lecturer to share some of the most heartbreaking and most inspiring stories she has covered, along with why a free press remains crucial to our democracy,” said Glenn. “We anticipate that audience members will come away with a great appreciation for journalists who objectively report on those in power and those whose lives are forever changed by that power.”

Fort brings nearly 17 years of experience working in commercial and nonprofit radio and television news. She focuses on expanding the range of viewpoints reflected in journalism and bringing context to complex issues that may disproportionately impact disadvantaged individuals or groups. Her work has gained notable recognition from several professional organizations and has placed her at the center of national conversations about press freedom.

In 2022, she also founded the nonprofit Center for Broadcast Journalism, and in 2023, she launched “Here’s the Truth,” an independently produced television news program that earned 12 regional Emmy nominations and won three. Fort is also a 2025 Bush Fellow and founder of BLCK Press.

NSU President Rodney Hanley said Fort’s perspective as a journalist will give students an opportunity to consider the role of a free press in a democratic society.

“Having Fort join us as a lecturer is about more than hearing her experiences as a journalist,” Hanley said. “It’s an opportunity for individuals to think about the importance of a free press and the responsibility each of us has to stay informed and engaged in our communities.”

For more information about the Larry Adair Lectureship Series, visit nsualumni.com or email the NSU Foundation at foundation@nsuok.edu.

About the lecture: Friends and family of former Oklahoma Speaker of the House Larry Adair, along with the NSU Foundation, established the lectureship series in 2004 to create an annual forum encouraging members of the NSU community to become more engaged in politics, government and public policy.

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