The Philosophy of Journalism Workshop will explore foundational questions about the nature, ethics, and epistemic value of journalism. The event will bring philosophers and practitioners—including local journalists and alumni—into dialogue through a mix of invited and contributed talks as well as panel discussions. Topics will include the distinction between news and opinion, the role of journalism in holding power to account, and the implications of practices such as balanced reporting, narrative framing, and data-driven journalism. This is a rare opportunity for students, scholars, and members of the public to engage with a growing but still underdeveloped area of research.

Schedule: 

Friday, November 21, 2025:

• 9:30am–9:35am: Welcome and opening remarks
• 9:35am–10:35am: Eleanor Gordon-Smith (USC, Philosophy, The Guardian), “The Distribution of Doubt”
• 10:45am–11:15am: Vanessa Schipani (Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media), “Rethinking Journalistic Objectivity (Or Why Journalists Can be Activists)”
• 11:15am–11:30am: Tea & coffee

• 11:30am–12:00pm: C.J. Oswald (University of Virginia, Philosophy): “News is More than its Aims”
• 12:00pm–1:00pm: Lunch
• 1:00pm–2:00pm: Rubén Marciel (University of Geneva, Political Science and International Relations), “In Defense of Deliberative Journalism” (via Zoom)
• 2:20pm–4:00pm: Panel Discussion and Q&A Session 1, with Dave Andreatta (The New York Times freelancer; University of Rochester, Media relations), Carrie Figdor (University of Iowa, Philosophy, formerly with The Associated Press), and Jason Silverstein (independent journalist, formerly with The New York Times and CBS)

Saturday, November 22, 2025:

• 9:30am–10:30am: Viviane Fairbank (University of St Andrews and University of Stirling, Philosophy, co-founder of The Truth in Journalism Project), “The Responsible-Inquiry Model of Journalism”
• 10:40am–11:10am: Lorenzo Manuali (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Philosophy): “Towards a More Democratically Motivated Mass Media”
• 11:20am–12:20pm: Alexander Prescott-Couch (Oxford University, Philosophy), “Explanatory and Narrative Journalism: Epistemic Functions and Democratic Value”
• 12:20pm–1:20pm: Lunch

1:20pm–3:00pm: Panel Discussion and Q&A Session 2, with Melissa Goldin (The Associated Press), Shohreh Laici (University of Rochester, Scholar in exile), and Jim Memmott (Democrat and Chronicle, University of Rochester, English)