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Martha Bayles

Martha Bayles

Martha Bayles writes about the arts, cultural policy, and media. A former columnist for The American Interest, she is a contributing editor of American Purpose and film and TV critic for the Claremont Review of Books.

Since 2003 Bayles has taught humanities at Boston College. She is the author of two books: Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music (1996) and Through a Screen Darkly: Popular Culture, Public Diplomacy, and America’s Image Abroad (2014). A fellow at the Hudson Institute and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, she is currently at work on a monograph on the threats to independent journalism around the world; a book about free speech in the digital age; and a memoir about race entitled Off White.

Articles and Events

The Little Lady with the Snake Tongs

The Little Lady with the Snake Tongs

A tribute to Roberta Evans Wilson, 1931–2023.

Martha Bayles, Peter Skerry
Brandon Terry on King's philosophy

Brandon Terry on King's philosophy

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we take a moment to appreciate and learn about this heroic and complex American leader. Brandon Terry, in conversation with Martha Bayles, shines a light on King as a public philosopher and intellectual whose rhetoric spoke to both his supporters and opponents.

Brandon Terry, Martha Bayles

Continuing Liberty conference, September 20-22, 2021: "America's Voice in the World" with Martha Bayles, David Ensor, Jamie M. Fly, Karen Kornbluh, Jay Tolson, and Suzanne Garment

Part of the Continuing Liberty [https://www.americanpurpose.com/continuing-liberty/] conference. 1:00 p.m.—2:15 p.m. ET America’s Voice in the World Martha Bayles, Boston College and American Purpose David Ensor, former director, Voice of America Jamie M. Fly, president, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Karen

American Purpose, Martha Bayles, Jamie M. Fly, Suzanne Garment
The Same Ol’ Same Ol’ Won’t Save Us

The Same Ol’ Same Ol’ Won’t Save Us

The national “conversation” on race is stuck in replay.

Martha Bayles

Apr. 15, 2021: Martha Bayles, Nick Cull, David Ensor, and Jay Tolson discuss "The Future of the Voice of America"

Join us on April 15, 2021 to hear Martha Bayles, Nick Cull, David Ensor, and Jay Tolson discuss "The Future of the Voice of America." Martha Bayles [https://www.americanpurpose.com/author/martha-bayles/] writes about the arts, cultural policy, and media. A former columnist for The American Interest,

Martha Bayles, Nicholas J. Cull

Jan. 22, 2021: Eli Lake and Martha Bayles discuss Inauguration Wrap-up, Trump Twitter, Big Tech and Free Speech. Moderated by Carla Robbins

Join us on January 22, 2021 to hear Boston College Professor and writer Martha Bayles and Columnist for Bloomberg Opinion Eli Lake discuss Inauguration Wrap-up, Trump Twitter, Big Tech and Free Speech. January 22, 2021. 11:00 a.m. EST.

Martha Bayles, Carla Anne Robbins

Dec. 16, 2020: Amanda Bennett, David Ensor, Peter Pomerantsev, Martha Bayles, Jamie Fly discuss "Turmoil at Voice of America."

Join us on December 16, 2020 to hear Amanda Bennett, David Ensor, Peter Pomerantsev, Martha Bayles, Jamie Fly in conversation with our Jeff Gedmin on "Turmoil at Voice of America." December 14, 12:00 p.m. EST.

Peter Pomerantsev, Martha Bayles, Jamie M. Fly

Dec. 1, 2020: Martha Bayles, Jamie Fly, and Peter Pomerantsev on “America’s Voice in the World. The Future of U.S. International Media.”

Boston College Professor and writer Martha Bayles, former RFE/RL President Jamie Fly, and writer and book author Peter Pomerantsev discuss the future of American public diplomacy and U.S. broadcasting with our Jeffrey Gedmin. December 1, 12:00 p.m. EST.

Martha Bayles, Peter Pomerantsev, Jamie M. Fly