A promotional flyer for a panel discussion titled "Stars and Stripes at a Crossroads" features portraits of speakers in the foreground against a light parchment-style background with a subtle American flag detail in the bottom corner.

Stars and Stripes Museum Library

LXCL:Seating is limited to 100 tickets

General Admission

Check made out to Stars and Stripes Museum
Address to send check: PO Box 1861, 17377 Stars and Stripes Way, Bloomfield, MO 63825

Stars and Stripes at a Crossroads: A Conversation on Editorial Independence Saturday, November 7, 2026 &bull; 1:30 p.m. Osage Centre &bull; Cape Girardeau, Missouri How does a newspaper maintain its editorial independence while covering the institution that funds it? Join the Stars and Stripes National Museum and Library for a timely conversation about the legacy, challenges, and future of the newspaper that has informed generations of American service members. Bringing together newspaper leadership, journalism scholarship, and a veteran&rsquo;s perspective, this discussion will explore freedom of the press, public trust, and military readers&rsquo; access to credible, independent reporting. Panelists include:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Max D. Lederer, Jr. &mdash;&nbsp;Former Stars and Stripes publisher, Army veteran, and Bronze Star recipient. Lederer joined the newspaper in 1992 and became publisher in 2007. Editor &amp; Publisher named him its 2026 News Executive of the Year.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Capt. William &ldquo;Bill&rdquo; Urban &mdash;&nbsp;U.S. Navy public affairs officer and military deputy to the publisher at Stars and Stripes, bringing a current leadership perspective on the newspaper&rsquo;s mission and operations.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Dr. Cindy Elmore &mdash;&nbsp;Professor in East Carolina University&rsquo;s School of Communication, former Stars and Stripes reporter, and researcher whose scholarship examines military journalism and the newspaper&rsquo;s history of editorial independence.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Lucas Green &mdash; Iraq War veteran, Southeast Missouri business owner, and candidate for Missouri House District 146. Green served 11 years in the Missouri Army National Guard and brings the perspective of a former service member.</li></ul>Moderator Mark Horvit Veterans, military families, students, journalists, and community members are invited to consider what the future of Stars and Stripes means for those who depend on its reporting. Tickets required. Visit nssml.org/sod2026 for reservations. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1792098867/wysiwyg/mvbc85pnt6ed10ow7yv6.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">

Stars and Stripes at a Crossroads: A Conversation on Editorial Independence Saturday, November 7, 2026 • 1:30 p.m. Osage Centre • Cape Girardeau, Missouri How does a newspaper maintain its editorial independence while covering the institution that funds it? Join the Stars and Stripes National Museum and Library for a timely conversation about the legacy, challenges, and future of the newspaper that has informed generations of American service members. Bringing together newspaper leadership, journalism scholarship, and a veteran’s perspective, this discussion will explore freedom of the press, public trust, and military readers’ access to credible, independent reporting. Panelists include:<ul><li>Max D. Lederer, Jr. — Former Stars and Stripes publisher, Army veteran, and Bronze Star recipient. Lederer joined the newspaper in 1992 and became publisher in 2007. Editor &amp; Publisher named him its 2026 News Executive of the Year.</li><li>Capt. William “Bill” Urban — U.S. Navy public affairs officer and military deputy to the publisher at Stars and Stripes, bringing a current leadership perspective on the newspaper’s mission and operations.</li><li>Dr. Cindy Elmore — Professor in East Carolina University’s School of Communication, former Stars and Stripes reporter, and researcher whose scholarship examines military journalism and the newspaper’s history of editorial independence.</li><li>Lucas Green — Iraq War veteran, Southeast Missouri business owner, and candidate for Missouri House District 146. Green served 11 years in the Missouri Army National Guard and brings the perspective of a former service member.</li></ul>Moderator Mark Horvit Veterans, military families, students, journalists, and community members are invited to consider what the future of Stars and Stripes means for those who depend on its reporting. Tickets required. Visit nssml.org/sod2026 for reservations. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1792098867/wysiwyg/mvbc85pnt6ed10ow7yv6.jpg" style="width:600px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;position:relative;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%" />

Stars and Stripes Museum Library

Stars and Stripes at a Crossroads: A Conversation on Editorial Independence

1625 N Kingshighway St

General Admission

$30

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