Soledad O'Brien Talks 'Messy' State of Journalism, First Amendment in Trump Era (Video)

TV anchor and veteran reporter Soledad O’Brien has one word for the state of journalism in America — “messy.”

O’Brien discussed the matter, and the larger role of the First Amendment in the Trump Era, on Monday at the inaugural Be Conference is in Austin, Texas.

“I really believe journalism is going to go through a trying time, and come out the others side. Most journalists I know feel like they’r being tested,” she said. “It’s hard — I think that you have a public that’s really struggling to distinguish between fake news and real news.”

Also Read: Watch Kristen Bell Talk Entrepreneurship, Kick Off BE Conference (Exclusive Video)

O’Brien said many outlets are waking up to serious journalism again, now that a veneer of civility between the office of the President and the free press has crumbled.

The former MSNBC and CNN contributor, now host of the web series “Matter of Fact,” sat in conversation with TheWrap’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman.

Watch the conversation live below.

Also Read: Paradigm's Women Agents Discuss Their Starts, Gender Parity in Hollywood (Video)

The BE is a special gathering of influential women in Media, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship and Technology.

The two-day event offers networking, workshops, panels and mentor sessions with top industry executives, thought leaders and creatives in a first-class setting for networking, mentorship and ideas.

Speakers will include LinkedInCMO Shannon Stubo; Author and Media Strategist Wendy Sachs; Co-founders & Co-CEO’s of WERK Annie Dean; and Anna Auerbach; Jesse Draper, Founder, Halogen Ventures; Sarah Avins, CDO, NY Presbyterian Hospital; Eddie Bauer guide and mountaineer, Melissa Arnot; Andrea Razzaghi, Deputy Director of Astrophysics at NASA and many more.

The BE is a joint creation of TheWrap and the Mom 2.0 Summit. The event is hosted at Austin’s Omni Barton Creek Resort and Hotel.

The Scene at BE Conference 2017: Kristen Bell, Soledad O'Brien, Mentors and More (Photos)

See the diverse, talented group of women and the various programs as they happen at the 2017 BE Conference.
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Kristen Bell (left) and TheWrap Founder and CEO Sharon Waxman kick off The BE Conference with a conversation about Entrepreneurship.
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Kristen Bell, star of "The Good Place," discussed her early Hollywood days and not fitting the mold of geek or girlfriend parts.
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Kristen Bell's social impact company This Bar Can Save Lives produces GMO-free meal replacement bars, and donates food to battle child hunger for every bar purchased.
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Kristen Bell at the BE

Bell is one of the voice leads of "Frozen," the juggernaut Walt Disney animated franchise.
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TheWrap Founder and CEO opens the conference with a celebration of women and their diverse interests in business and leadership
Sharon Waxman and "Chasing Coral" producer Larissa Rhodes kicked off The BE Conference will a discussion about the Netflix documentary acquired at Sundance.
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Photographer and author Karen Walrond, who moderated the panel "How I Broke The Mold: Charting an Unconventional Career Path," checks in for
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The BE Conference attendees applaud the night one program, a discussion about Netflix's "Chasing Coral."
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The Linkedin Lounge, designed to help attendees rock their professional profiles, at the 2017 BE Conference.
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A networking breakout session at The BE Conference.
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From left: Andrea Razzaghi, Deputy Director of Astrophysics at NASA; Mountaineer, Melissa Arnot; Cindy Whitehead, CEO, The Pink Ceiling and moderator Karen Walrond, from the panel "How I Broke the Mold: Charting an Unconventional Career Path" at the 2017 BE Conference.
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Paradigm agent Meghan Oliver, who specializes in content creators, hosts a mentorship breakout session at The BE Conference.
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Kristen Bell with Sharon Waxman at the BE Conference.
Poppy Crum, the chief scientist at Dolby Laboratories, talks about pivoting from classical music to audio-visual scientific research
Shannon Stubo, the CMO of LinkedIn, talks about career pivots at the BE.
Poppy Crum
Venture capitalist Jesse Draper talks investment and raising capital
Melissa Arnot and Cindy Whitehead
BE attendees connect in the Linkedin Lounge
A photography exhibit in the BE Conference Marketplace
Inside the BE Conference gift bag
The Female Quotient CEO Shelley Zalis
Paradigm Agency Motion Picture Lit head Valarie Phillips
Soledad O'Brien discusses how activism has impacted her career.
Singer and musician Madame Gandhi closes out the inaugural BE.
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Madame Gandhi
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Madame Gandhi is signed to Paradigm.
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