Recent social justice movements—like the one sparked by George Floyd’s murder, #MeToo, and the reckoning against sexism initiated by Brienne Allan—have irrevocably altered the role and expectations of media in the United States.

Beth Demmon moderates this discussion with Kate Bernot, Ale Sharpton, and Esther Tseng. The group will examine the role of media in covering sensitive topics and ongoing narratives within the craft beer industry. They’ll unpack the media's responsibilities, legal limitations, different ways to approach sources who may have been the victims of trauma, how to approach organizations who have been the center of controversies while balancing objectivity and opinion, and the delicate dance journalists must balance when reporting from within the communities they are a part of.

Kate Bernot (she/her) is a freelance beer reporter and editor whose work regularly appears in Good Beer Hunting, Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, and Montana Craft Beer Connection. She has also contributed to Imbibe, America's Test Kitchen, Thrillist, Craft Spirits Magazine, and Chicago Magazine. She is a BJCP-certified beer judge and lives in Missoula, Montana.

Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton (he/him) is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, speaker and beer judge to name a few of his roles. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. Ale has also recently launched his own beer called Piano Keys—a chocolate vanilla imperial stout—alongside brewing giant New Belgium geared to support diversity and racial equality through various initiatives. Although a native New Yorker and a Cornell University alumnus, Ale proudly calls Atlanta his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on Twitter (@alesharpton) and captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).

Esther Tseng (she/her) is a Los Angeles-based freelance food, drinks and culture writer. She has contributed to the LA Times, Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Eater, Civil Eats, Saveur, and more. 

Moderator, Beth Demmon (she/her), is an award-winning San Diego-based freelance writer and podcaster who specializes in covering the culture of craft beer for numerous local, regional, and national outlets. She is a member of the North American Guild of Beer Writers; the British Guild of Beer Writers; a BJCP-certified beer judge; a Certified Cider Professional; co-chair of the San Diego Brewers Guild’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee; and founder of the Diverse Beer Writers Initiative. Follow her work on bethdemmon.com or on Twitter at @delightedbite.