While the craven likes of Adam Lanza, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold settle the matter with self-inflicted gunshot wounds, when it comes to the very sticky, decidedly all-American question of balancing media coverage of accused offenders against their constitutionally guaranteed rights, it's a shadowy legal and social realm where emotion necessarily runs amok. It's also a fascinating and explosive intersection where ethics, commerce, morality and vengeful rage all inevitably collide with ungoverned velocity. Today's Skirball Center Soapbox Series event, “Freedom of the Press,” offers a chance to hear Pulitzer Prize winner Geneva Overholser, professor and director of USC's Annenberg School of Journalism represent the press box. Next month (Feb. 10), in the opposing criminal-defense dugout, the storied and sage Loyola Law School professor and former U.S. senior trial attorney Laurie L. Levenson offers “Rights of the Accused.” Skirball Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.; Sun., Jan. 13, 2 p.m.; free. (310) 440-4500; skirball.org/programs/soapbox-series.

Sun., Jan. 13, 2013

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