Thinking Critically about News Media



Overview

An exploration of the philosophical and ethical issues raised by news media, be it traditional sources such as terrestrial TV and newspapers, or online provision.

The day includes discussion of issues such as media ownership, the reliability and accuracy of political reporting, post digital news provision, and propaganda and ‘fake news’.

We will look at reporting on Russia, China and conflict in The Middle East and Ukraine. We will also look at traditional news media, their ownership and their regulation.

We will be joined by one of Britain’s leading journalists, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown.

This event will close to enrolments at 23:59 BST on 2 April 2025.

Programme details

10.15am:
Registration at Rewley House reception (in-person attendees)

10.30am:
The business of truth telling: whom should we trust and why? 
Justin Schlosberg

11.45am:
Tea/coffee break

12.15pm:
The Truth is Now a Commodity. How does the Honest Media Function in in such a World?
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

1.30pm:
Lunch break

2.30pm:
A New Politics: Truth in the Age of Emotionality and Identity
Hardeep Matharu

3.45pm:
Tea/coffee break

4.15pm:
Discussion
Hardeep Matharu, Justin Schlosberg, Stephen Law

5.30pm: 
End of day

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee - in-person attendance (includes tea/coffee) £120.00
Course Fee - virtual attendance £110.00
Baguette Lunch £7.30
Hot Lunch £19.25

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit or are a full-time student in the UK you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees.

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutors

Justin Schlosberg

Speaker

Justin Schlosberg is a media activist, researcher and lecturer in Journalism and Media Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is the author of Power Beyond Scrutiny: Media, Justice and Accountability (2013).

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

Speaker

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown has been a journalist in print, radio and TV for the past four decades. She has written for many titles including The Guardian, The Independent, The New York Times and Time magazine, and her books include After Multiculturalism (2000) and In Defence of Political Correctness (2018). She is senior research associate at the Foreign Policy Centre, an honorary fellow at Liverpool John Moores University, and honorary visiting professor at Cardiff and Lincoln Universities. She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2022.

Dr Stephen Law

Chair and Director of Studies

Stephen Law is a Departmental Lecturer in Philosophy and Director of the Certificate of Higher Education at OUDCE. His research focuses on the philosophy of mind, language, metaphysics and on philosophy of religion. He also writes many accessible online articles and edits the Royal Institute of Philosophy journal THINK: Philosophy for Everyone.

Hardeep Matharu

Speaker

Application

Please use the 'Book' button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in the price, but if you wish to stay with us the night before the course, then please contact our Residential Centre.

Accommodation in Rewley House - all bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished and each room has tea and coffee making facilities, Freeview television, and Free WiFi and private bath or shower rooms. Please contact our Residential Centre on +44 (0) 1865 270362 or email res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk for details of availability and discounted prices. For more information, please see our website: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/accommodation

IT requirements

For those joining us online

We will be using Zoom for the livestreaming of this event. If you’re attending online, you’ll be able to see and hear the speakers, and to submit questions via the Zoom interface. Joining instructions will be sent out prior to the start date. We recommend that you join the session at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start time – just as you might arrive a bit early at our lecture theatre for an in-person event.

Please note that this course will not be recorded.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support