Jake Tapper, Amy Schumer, Amber Ruffin, Roy Wood Jr. and Ronny Chieng Join Variety & Rolling Stone Truth Seekers Summit
By Whitney Cinkala
July 10, 2025
Top filmmakers Joe Berlinger, Bao Nguyen and R.J. Cutler, among others, are also to be featured at the summit, presented by Paramount+
Variety and Rolling Stone have announced the lineup for the fifth annual Truth Seekers Summit, a daylong event on Aug. 14 in New York, spotlighting the most influential voices shaping the future of news, documentaries and cultural commentary. Held in partnership with Paramount+, the gathering brings together today’s most fearless journalists, trailblazing documentarians, and headline-making talent for dynamic conversations on truth, storytelling and impact.
Jake Tapper, CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent and co-author of New York Times Best-Selling book “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” will be honored with this year’s Truth Seekers Award and will participate in a Q&A about his career achievements.
“Room to Move” will feature executive producer Amy Schumer and director Alexander Hammer taking the audience behind the scenes of the powerful documentary with subject Jenn Freeman.
Ronny Chieng, stand up comedian and Emmy-winning correspondent at “The Daily Show,” will speak about his approach to crafting political humor for broad audiences.
“Have I Got News For You” hosts Amber Ruffin and Roy Wood Jr. will also participate in a conversation dissecting the nuances of comedy in cultural commentary.
Tapper is being honored for his accomplished work in journalism. Tapper joined CNN in 2013 and currently anchors the two-time Emmy award-winning weekday program, “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” and CNN’s Sunday morning show, “State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.” Most recently, Tapper played a leading role in CNN’s coverage of the unprecedented 2024 election cycle, moderating the network’s historic presidential debate between President Biden and Donald Trump. Tapper was also at the forefront of CNN’s expansive special coverage of the Democratic National Convention, Republican National Convention, and led CNN’s 2024 Election Night in America coverage.
In other event highlights, the Documentary Roundtable featuring R.J. Cutler, Academy Award nominated and Emmy winning filmmaker, “Martha,” “Elton John: Never Too Late”; Bao Nguyen, Emmy and Grammy nominated filmmaker, “The Greatest Night in Pop” and “The Stringer”; Elegance Bratton, director, producer and writer, “Move Ya Body: The Birth of House”; Mary Robertson, executive producer, “The Fall of Diddy” and founder, Maxine Productions; Jennifer Tiexiera, director and producer, “Rebecca,” “Speak.” and Dan Krauss, director, “Bodyguard of Lies” will discuss the creative choices and ethical challenges behind nonfiction storytelling.
A conversation featuring “Bodyguard of Lies” director Dan Krauss and Washington Post investigative reporter Craig Whitlock will explore the making of the documentary, moderated by Susan Zirinsky, President of See It Now Studios.
“At Variety, we believe truth is the cornerstone of impactful storytelling. Our Truth Seekers Summit celebrates the voices who are unafraid to challenge narratives and illuminate the world as it is. This year’s lineup reflects the urgency, complexity, and power of telling stories that matter,” said Dea Lawrence, chief operating and marketing officer.
“The State of the Documentary Industry” panel will include key leaders from Tribeca, PBS, ITVS, Neon and more discuss the evolving business of documentary filmmaking — from festival premieres to streaming greenlights. Panelists include Dan O’Meara, EVP, nonfiction, Neon; Sylvia Bugg, chief programming executive and GM of general audience programming, PBS; Carrie Lozano, president and CEO, ITVS; Cara Cusumano, festival director & SVP programming, Tribeca; and Karol Martesko-Fenster, CEO & president, Abramorama.
“We could not be more excited to partner once again with Paramount + and Variety to celebrate investigative storytelling with Truthseekers” says Rolling Stone’s executive editor Sean Woods. “Now in its fifth year the event and special issue have become a vital celebration of impact journalism and documentary filmmaking like no other.”
True Crime and Investigative Journalism genre leaders Joe Berlinger, EP, “Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders,” director and EP, “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey”; Lisa Cortés, director & EP, “Murder Has Two Faces”; Julia Willoughby Nason, director and EP, “American Murder: Gabby Petito”; and Ben McKenzie, actor and director, “Everyone is Lying to You For Money” will participate in a panel diving into the art and responsibility of bringing real-life crime stories to the screen.
The Truth Seekers Summit, presented by Paramount+, coincides with the release of a special feature expanding on the truth seekers theme with stories, both original and archival, demonstrating the brands’ decades-long dedication to the truth.
