By Rich Larson
As debates over press freedom, political influence, and changing media landscapes dominate national headlines, St. Olaf College will host a timely public conference this weekend examining the role of journalism in an increasingly polarized society.
The Buntrock Center for Freedom and Community’s annual spring mini‑conference, titled Journalism in a Polarized Age, will bring together journalists, scholars, and media innovators for two days of panels and talks on Friday and Saturday in Viking Theater, located in Buntrock Commons.
“This is a moment where the connections between politics, media, and the public feel impossible to ignore,” said Christopher Chapp, professor of political science at St. Olaf and director of the Buntrock Center. “Every day we see new developments that raise questions about press freedom, how people consume news, and what that means for democracy.”
Chapp pointed to rapid technological change and algorithm‑driven news feeds that shape how different audiences experience the same events. “Not that long ago, it felt like ‘news you choose,’” he said. “Now it often feels like news is chosen for you.”
The conference opens Friday at 2 p.m. with a panel on press freedom featuring investigative journalist and St. Olaf alum Gretchen Morgenson; media law scholar RonNell Andersen Jones of the University of Utah; and Scott Libin, senior fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism. The panel will be moderated by Erin Golden-Zimmerman, a former editor at the Star Tribune.
At 5 p.m. Friday, the keynote address will be delivered by James Druckman, a leading scholar of political polarization and media at the University of Rochester.
Saturday’s programming begins at 9 a.m. with a panel on visual journalism, followed by sessions on innovation in journalism and the relationship between polarized publics and the press. Speakers include photojournalists, documentary filmmakers, data journalists, and founders of emerging news models such as Punchbowl News, Sahan Journal, CityCast Twin Cities, and Tangle News.
Chapp said the event reflects the Buntrock Center’s mission to foster meaningful dialogue on pressing political and social issues while engaging both students and the wider Northfield community.
All of the main events are free and open to the public. Professor Chapp said he is hopeful that people come ready to “listen, think, and engage with these questions.”
A full schedule is available at institute.stolaf.edu.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
