Variety and Rolling Stone today announced that the iconic brands will be hosting the fourth annual Truth Seekers Summit presented by Paramount+. The invitation-only event will take place in New York City on August 15, and the content from the summit will be available live and on-demand for virtual registrants on an immersive platform.
The summit features keynotes and panel conversations highlighting excellence in documentary storytelling, navigating the political landscape, true crime, and more essential topics.
Variety co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh will interview Nancy Grace, host of “Crime Stories With Nancy Grace” and founder/publisher of CrimeOnline, about her expansive vision for covering true crime.
Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, will be interviewed by Rolling Stone CEO Gus Wenner about his prolific achievements in documentary filmmaking.
A fireside chat with Susan Zirinsky, president of See It Now Studios at CBS News, will also be featured.
A “Politics in the Zeitgeist” session will feature Abby Phillip, CNN anchor and political correspondent; Yamiche Alcindor, NBC News’ Washington correspondent; and Katy Tur, anchor on MSNBC’s “Katy Tur Reports,” discussing how they are helping audiences navigate our dynamic and often explosive political landscape.
A conversation entitled “Trailblazers in Investigative Reporting” will feature John Walsh, host and Eexecutive producer of “America’s Most Wanted,” and Callahan Walsh, co-host of “America’s Most Wanted.”
The “Best Mashup-Politics, Humor, Pop Culture” panel looks at the achievements of top entertainers who integrate current events, cultural moments and their point of view into their work. The panel features Tony, Emmy and WGA Award-nominated writer and comedian Amber Ruffin, world-recognized radio host and comedian Charlamagne tha God, Lewis Black, correspondent for “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and Alex Edelman, comedian and writer on “Just for Us.”
Muta’Ali Muhammad, filmmaker of “MoviePass MovieCrash” and “Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn”; Christian Hansen, EP of “American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders”; Amara Cofer, host and co-creator of “Black Girl Gone”; Brian Knappenberger, director of “Trials of Gabriel Fernandez” and “Turning Point”; and Andrew Jarecki, executive producer/creator of “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, Part 1 and 2” will deep dive into their true crime projects on the “True Crime Masters Tell All” panel.
The Documentary Panel will dive into strategies and finding compelling narratives with standout documentary filmmakers including, Andrew McCarthy, writer, director, producer, “Brats;” Alex Stapleton, director, “God Save Texas;” Rahman Ali Bugg, director, “Exposing Parchman”; “Welcome to Rap City”; and Nanette Burstein, director, EP of “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes.”
Additional speakers for the summit will be announced in coming weeks.
“We are very excited to once again join forces with Rolling Stone and Paramount+ to put together this important summit,” said Dea Lawrence, COO and CMO of Variety. “Truth Seekers provides a vital platform for journalists and documentary filmmakers.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Variety and Paramount + for the fourth annual Truth Seekers Summit,” said Gus Wenner, CEO of Rolling Stone. “This project aligns with our core mission to champion deep, investigative storytelling.”
Corresponding with the Truth Seekers Summit, Variety and Rolling Stone will partner to create a special print issue that expands on the truthseekers theme with stories — both original and archival — that demonstrate the brands’ decades-long dedication to the truth. The special issue will be sent to a select list of Variety and Rolling Stone subscribers.
Register for virtual access to the summit here: variety.com/truthseekers.
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