The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Initiative at the University of Delaware Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration and the incubator for Media Education and Development (iMEdD) have announced plans to host the second Media and Democracy Summit, May 5-6, at the University of Delaware. 

The free and open event will convene a diverse group of journalists, academics, and students from across the U.S. and beyond. The summit aims to spark meaningful dialogue about the vital role of media in democracy while collaboratively exploring the challenges citizens face in a world increasingly shaped by media’s pervasive influence.

The SNF Ithaca x iMEdD Media and Democracy Summit will take place at the Trabant University Center, 17 W Main Street, Newark, DE 19716. Attendance is free, and participants can register for individual sessions or the full summit in person. 

Session times are aligned with UD’s class schedule to make attendance more convenient for students and faculty members. Student groups and clubs, in addition to classes, are encouraged to attend and participate in the summit, given the relevance of the media’s role in students’ lives and future careers.

Timothy J. Shaffer, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Chair of Civil Discourse and director of the SNF Ithaca Initiative, said that having the summit on the University of Delaware campus helps to create a space for essential conversations among students, faculty and industry experts. “Media’s roles in our lives–whether it’s entertainment, news, or social connection–is pervasive. We want to help attendees better understand what challenges exist, but also opportunities for leveraging media for good,” Shaffer said.   

This year’s theme, “Thriving in a Toxic Media Environment,” speaks to the current climate of uncertainty around information and trust. Journalists, scholars, and practitioners will share insights and strategies for navigating this complexity, offering guidance on how to stay informed and actively engaged in today’s challenging media landscape.

Speakers and sessions

A selection of confirmed speakers includes Washington Post journalist and TikTok host Carmela Boykin, Astead W. Herndon from the New York Times, CNN’s editor of open-source intelligence Gianluca Mezzofiore and NPR’s Domenico Montanaro. 

Dave Rubin, creator and host of The Rubin Report—a political talk show on YouTube and BlazeTV—will join the Summit as a keynote speaker. His show has been recognized as “one of the most influential spaces for uncensored conversations about politics, culture, comedy, current events, and more.”

Tara Palmeri, journalist and independent content creator on YouTube and Substack, where she writes The Red Letter, will speak about the changing landscape of how and where people seek out information. As more and more people turn to different media, such as podcasts and online streaming platforms for news, representatives from Media Matters for America will present new findings about this trend and what it means for our media ecosystem. 

Sessions will engage topics including the loss of local news and how organizations such as WHYY, Spotlight Delaware, Delaware Public Media, 2Puntos, and Blacksky Algorithms are creating spaces for people to not only receive information but also foster online communities through technology.

Shaffer emphasized the foundational role media have in a functioning and healthy democracy, sharing, “Not long before his death, Walter Cronkite said that it is 'absolutely essential in a democracy to have competition in the media, a lot of competition, and we seem to be moving away from that.’ While we have seen a consolidation of media outlets owned by a few corporations, we are also experiencing a moment of democratization. Someone’s apartment living room now serves as a studio. Where, how, and what people consume demonstrates this paradoxical moment. YouTube and podcasts have become reliable sources alongside legacy outlets.” 

Journalism reimagined

The summit will include presentations on digital storytelling, workshops on how to create short-form vertical videos, and panel discussions about misinformation and trustworthy information. 

“To truly serve the public again, journalism should be reimagined — not in isolation, but through dialogue across disciplines, generations, and perspectives,” said Anna Kynthia Bousdoukou, co-founder and Managing Director of iMEdD, Executive Director of the SNF Dialogues Initiative. “By bringing together journalists, students, and citizens, we’re creating the space for that reinvention, supporting younger generations to understand, value, and shape the role of a healthy media industry in democracy.”

Additional speakers and details continue to be added to the Media and Democracy Summit agenda. Visit the summit website for the most up-to-date information.

About the SNF Ithaca Initiative

SNF Ithaca, an initiative of the University of Delaware's Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration, seeks to advance democracy by equipping students with the civil discourse and civic engagement skills necessary to navigate the mediated public square. Supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), SNF Ithaca is named after the home of Odysseus—one of Greek mythology's greatest heroes. For Odysseus, Ithaca represents not only the beginning of a journey but the ultimate destination. Likewise, the SNF Ithaca Initiative serves as both the beginning of the Biden School students' journey toward becoming engaged and effective citizens and as the ultimate destination for students across the country to come together and develop the civil civic engagement skills that will strengthen our democracy.

About iMEdD

iMEdD (incubator for Media Education and Development) is a non-profit organization founded in 2018 with the exclusive donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

Its mission is to support journalists, students, and media professionals by providing the tools, resources, and opportunities needed to enhance transparency and credibility in their work.

Committed to advancing quality journalism, iMEdD fosters a strong community of journalists by actively promoting collaboration, encouraging synergies, and supporting innovative projects that reshape media practices. 

iMEdD’s dedication extends to the creation and facilitation of quality journalistic content through diverse initiatives such as the Incubator program, co-productions and iMEdD’s original content creation.  

Additionally, iMEdD organizes events and workshops to train the journalistic community with the latest tools and practices, drawing insights from experts across various fields within journalism.