The media are simultaneously breaking the nation apart and bringing it back together, Washington Post Ombudsman Geneva Overholser told a crowd of more than 100 people in Pioneer Room of the Union Thursday.

Overholser, former editor of The Des Moines Register, spoke as part of this week’s “Civility in Democracy” lecture series sponsored by the Institute on National Affairs.

“We in the press do a very poor job of making people believe in a free press,” Overholser said. She denounced the increasing popularity of tabloid journalism, and challenged those in the audience to fight against becoming cynical.

“There are many fundamental ways our free press works … and is indispensable to a working democracy,” said Overholser, who serves on the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Overholser also spoke closer to home, commenting on closed Office of Judicial Affairs hearings for members of the “Beardshear Eight,” a group of September 29th Movement members convicted of university misconduct violations.

She said she hopes information concerning those cases will soon be made public.

The hearings were closed to the public despite requests by Movement members for open proceedings. A Daily reporter was denied entry to the Jan. 30 hearings.

“I really think the Daily ought to have been let in on this process. I hope there will be more openness,” she said to applause. “Secrecy is not the process of a free and confident democracy.”

The media also force people to address issues they would often rather ignore, Overholser said.

“The press has helped us move into a different chapter, maybe a more difficult chapter,” she said. “I am a firm believer that airing these issues is better than ignoring them.”

Overholser, also a former New York Times editorial writer, condemned the use of anonymous news sources.

She said people are not accountable for what they say when they remain anonymous, and that ultimately harms the credibility of news organizations.

Overholser said responsibility for a better media lies with both journalists and the public. Journalists must continue to strive to tell the truth, and the public must make a point of actively seeking information about public affairs.

“What you don’t know will hurt you,” Overholser said.