REGISTER: ‘Trustworthy’ screening is Oct. 24 at Belcourt Theatre, co-hosted by Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy

A free screening of Trustworthy, a new documentary chronicling a 5,300-mile journey across America to explore citizens’ search for common ground amidst growing media skepticism, will be co-hosted by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Belcourt Theatre from 3 to 6 p.m. CT.  

Interested attendees can register here. 

From small towns to urban enclaves, the Trustworthy team spoke with journalists, experts and everyday Americans across the political spectrum about how we arrived at this critical moment, how we can become better news and information consumers, and how we can come together to rise above the misinformation and rancorous rhetoric aimed at dividing our communities and sowing distrust in the democratic process.  

This in-person event is co-hosted by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy as a part of Dialogue Vanderbilt and the university’s commitment to free expression, in partnership with Lipscomb University and the Nashville Film Festival. It will include a full screening of the documentary and a conversation between Stephany Zamora and Dana Richie, co-executive producers of Trustworthy, David Plazas of The Tennessean, and Jimmy Mccollum, professor of communication at Lipscomb. During the discussion, Zamora, Richie, Plazas and Mccollum will offer insight into the state of local media and its role in upholding our democratic institutions.  

This event will be at the Belcourt Theatre at 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 24. Click here to register for this in-person event.  

For more about the Unity Project and to view past events, visit vanderbilt.edu/unity. 

About the Speakers 

Stephany Zamora is the creator of Trustworthy. She is a veteran tech executive who specializes in business systems and operations for growing startup companies, leveraging her entrepreneurial spirit to create a meaningful film that challenges and inspires us as a society. 

Dana Richie is the director and co-executive producer of Trustworthy. She began her career as a journalist at The Houston Post (now Chronicle), going on to hold staff positions at CNN, ABC News 20/20 and VH1. In 2002, she founded BACKLOT, a production company specializing in short and long-form storytelling, as well as branded content for such companies as AT&T, Sony, Smartwater and General Motors. Her debut documentary Gateway, about how the opioid epidemic ravaged three American families, earned a Silver Telly Award for Excellence.  

David Plazas is the opinion and engagement director for the USA TODAY Network newsrooms in Tennessee and The Tennessean where he serves an editorial writer, opinion columnist, op-ed editor and an editorial board member. He has written nationally award-winning columns on affordable housing, government accountability and civic engagement. He leads the acclaimed Civility Tennessee campaign. He curates the “Latino Tennessee Voices” newsletter and hosts the Tennessee Voices video podcast, which has produced more than 370 episodes since March 2020. 

Dr. Jimmy Mccollum graduated from Lipscomb in 1987. He earned his M.S. in journalism at the University of Tennessee and his Ph.D. in mass communication at the University of Alabama. He has served as a part-time reporter and anchor with WSM Radio News. He is director of the Tennessee High School Press Association, based at Lipscomb, and is one of the advisers of Lumination Network, the student news service on campus.