By Genesis Bu-Chinchilla
Trinity Times Correspondent
When nationally acclaimed journalist Jim Acosta stepped onto Trinity Washington University’s campus earlier this semester, he brought an urgent message: Courage in journalism isn’t optional – it’s essential to preserving American democracy.
The Americans for Democratic Action, or ADA, hosted its annual awards ceremony Oct. 8 in Trinity’s Rose Parlor in Main Hall. The ADA, founded in 1947 by prominent liberal Democrats and progressives including Eleanor Roosevelt, Hubert H. Humphrey, John Kenneth Galbraith and Arthur Schlesinger Jr., has long played a critical role in the nation’s political landscape.
This year’s ceremony continued that tradition by honoring individuals the organization said reflect its core values of truth, integrity and democratic engagement. Among the evening’s most anticipated guests was Acosta, former CNN White House correspondent and current host of “The Jim Acosta Show” on Substack and YouTube.
Before taking the stage, Acosta spoke briefly with Trinity Times about the future of journalism, the courage it takes to uncover the truth when powerful people are involved, and how recent actions by some of the nation’s largest media companies may place democracy and American values in jeopardy.
“It’s a time of great change in the media world,” he said. “I think that journalism students, when they get out into the real world and start working, they may see a totally different landscape than what we see today.”
Acosta said large corporate ownership of major news outlets, combined with actions by the Trump administration, has created fear among executives that fulfilling their journalistic duty to hold the powerful accountable could bring financial retribution.
He also commented on late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from ABC following a remark about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination – a controversy that drew strong reactions, including from the Trump administration. Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA at 18, has been a major figure in the Make America Great Again movement and an influential organizer among young Republican voters.
On Sept. 17, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr appeared on a conservative podcast, urging broadcasters to “take action” and warning, “we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Later that day, ABC News announced it would indefinitely remove “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from the air.
To Acosta, the punishment represented a threat to free speech and the First Amendment. “You can’t really beat around the bush or sugarcoat things,” he said.
Acosta also cited a new Pentagon press policy issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that has drawn widespread criticism. Under the policy, credentialed reporters must acknowledge restrictive rules about accessing information not explicitly authorized by the Defense Department. Those who refuse risk losing their Pentagon press badges and workspace privileges.
As of mid-October, dozens of major news organizations – including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, The Associated Press, CNN, Fox, NBC and ABC – declined to sign the agreement, citing First Amendment concerns. Many returned their credentials and vacated office space in protest.
Acosta, who served as CNN’s White House correspondent during President Donald Trump’s first term and was often the target of political retaliation, delivered a strong message about the need for courage and integrity in journalism.
“You just have to tell yourself that you have a job and that you are not there to ask the easy questions,” he said. Acosta also criticized the current administration’s practice of selecting reporters from friendly outlets for the White House press pool – journalists, he said, who are less likely to ask tough questions.
The controversy centers on the administration’s unprecedented decision to take control of the White House press pool from the independent Correspondents’ Association – allowing the government to decide which journalists can cover the president, a move critics say threatens press freedom and transparency.
From Acosta’s standpoint, that is not how journalism is supposed to work. “You need to be able to ask the president of the United States, ‘What’s going on in this country?'” he said. “And you can’t hold back; you can’t pull your punches.”
After nearly 18 years at CNN, Acosta left the network in January 2025 after his weekday morning program was moved to a midnight slot as part of a broader programming shake-up he declined to accept, according to Financial Times. Politico reported that the veteran correspondent chose to step away rather than fade into a less-visible role. In a farewell message, Acosta urged followers to “not give in to the lies.” Soon after, he launched The Jim Acosta Show on Substack, describing it as an independent media platform focused on “truth-telling, accountability and American democracy.”
Acosta recalled being labeled “fake news” and “an enemy of the people” by President Trump after a heated press conference exchange. “He tried all sorts of things to shut me up, and I’m still here,” he said. “As long as we have the truth on our side and the facts on our side, I think at the end of the day we’re going to be just fine.”
He shared that same message during his acceptance speech at the ADA ceremony. Jamal Watson, associate dean of Trinity’s School of Professional and Graduate Studies and director of the Strategic Communications and Public Relations program, said the university was honored to host the event – made possible through his connection with the ADA.
Watson, who attended the ceremony, said Acosta’s message was “exactly the right message” for Trinity’s journalism students.
“I think Jim Acosta said it right,” he said. “I think it’s important for us to challenge. I think it’s important for us to push back as journalists.”
Watson said he hopes to convey that message to his students, especially at a time when he believes America is facing hostility toward intellectual engagement and learning. He pointed to examples such as book bans and the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools and workplaces.
Although Trinity’s journalism and media studies program is one of the university’s smaller programs, Watson said he is confident its graduates will make significant contributions to the field, particularly as Trinity primarily serves Black and Latino students.
“I’m very confident that our students who graduate from our programs will be able to enter into newsrooms,” he said. “When they enter the newsrooms, they’re going to bring a different kind of perspective. They’re going to bring a perspective of inclusion, of diversity. They’re going to bring a perspective of trying to get other people’s voices.”
Leeyah Ashe, a sophomore journalism and media studies major, said she appreciated being included in the ADA ceremony and values the opportunities that come with attending a small university.
If the event had been held at a larger school, Ashe said she doubted she would have had the chance to meet Acosta – an opportunity made possible by Watson, who invited Trinity’s student journalists.
“I feel like Trinity is known for being such a small school, so I think a lot of people think that limits the opportunities we have here,” Ashe said. “But that’s so untrue. If anything, we have more being such a small school. It puts us in a different position. There’s always enough stuff to go around for everybody.”
The evening left a deep impression on Ashe, who said Acosta’s remarks gave her valuable insight into journalistic values and ethics.
“Fear is contagious,” Acosta told the students, “but so is courage.”
