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Journalists, scholars, students and civic leaders from across the U.S. and abroad will explore the evolving relationship between media and democracy May 5-6 at the University of Delaware. The second SNF Ithaca x iMEdD Media and Democracy Summit will examine how we can thrive in a toxic media environment where misinformation spreads, local journalism is in decline and trust in traditional institutions has eroded.
The event is co-hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Initiative at the University of Delaware, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration and the incubator for Media Education & Development (iMEdD). The summit will engage participants in urgent conversations about media’s role in shaping informed citizenship and democratic resilience.
A selection of confirmed speakers includes: ▪ Carmela Boykin, The Washington Post
▪ Astead W. Herndon, The New York Times
▪ Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN
▪ Domenico Montanaro, NPR
▪ Tara Palmeri, The Red Letter
▪ Dave Rubin, The Rubin Report
Additional speakers include representatives from Media Matters for America, WHYY, Spotlight Delaware, Delaware Public Media, 2Puntos and more.
The program will also feature workshops on digital storytelling and short-form video, panels on misinformation, and discussions about rebuilding trust and reimagining journalism for a new generation.
The event takes place at the Trabant University Center, 17 W. Main Street, Newark, Del. To cover the summit, contact mediarelations@udel.edu. Timothy Shaffer, SNF Chair of Civil Discourse and associate professor of public policy and administration at UD, is available for interviews in advance of the event. To arrange an interview, visit his profile and click on the contact button.
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 work in partnership to develop policy solutions.
In the next year, residents of Delaware will have the opportunity to voice their opinions about school funding in support of the students and teachers in the state's public schools.
School funding reform is urgently needed. Delaware has an unusually high number of students requiring additional resources to succeed — including students with disabilities, students living in poverty, and English learners. While Delaware spends more than the national average on public education, the funding is not sufficient to meet the needs of these students and their teachers.
The evidence is clear. Compared to other states, Delaware ranks near the bottom in reading and math performance, according to the Nation’s Report Card (the National Assessment of Educational Progress). Reading and math scores have been declining for the past decade, with 8th grade reading reaching an all-time low in 2024.
Delaware’s spending has not kept up with student needs, and the state struggles to compete with neighboring states for top teaching talent. Beginning teacher salaries are the lowest among nearby states, with even lower salaries in less wealthy communities. Unlike every other state, Delaware does not allocate more funds to districts with less property wealth, further deepening disparities.
The stakes are high. Delaware’s students and teachers deserve strong support, and the state’s economy — including businesses, employers, and universities — depends on graduates who are well-prepared for careers and higher education.
Delaware’s current school funding system, largely unchanged for 80 years, lags behind reforms enacted in other states. Many states have shifted funding to prioritize student needs and address inequities, resulting in measurable improvements in academic achievement, graduation rates, school climate, and college and career readiness.
In the coming months, the Public Education Funding Commission will complete its review and present recommendations to update the funding system. When Governor Matt Meyer — a champion for Delaware’s public schools — sends his recommendations to the General Assembly for consideration, public understanding and engagement will be crucial.
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Gary Henry is a professor at the University of Delaware and a commissioner on the Public Education Funding Commission. He specializes in education policy, educational evaluation, educator labor markets, and quantitative research methods. He is available for interviews on education funding, accountability and related policy changes, helping ensure Delawareans are fully informed as they prepare to voice their views on this important investment in the state’s future. He has advised various states on education funding including Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas.
At the University of Delaware, molecular biologist Mona Batish in collaboration with Dr. Robert Akins at Nemours Children Hospital, is studying tiny loops in our cells called circular RNAs — once thought to be useless leftovers, but now believed to play an important role in diseases like cancer and cerebral palsy (CP). This is detailed in a new article in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. What are circular RNAs? They’re a special type of RNA that doesn’t make proteins but instead helps control how genes are turned on and off. Because they’re stable and can be found in blood, they may help doctors detect diseases more easily.
So what’s the connection to cerebral palsy? CP is the most common physical disability in children, but right now it’s diagnosed only after symptoms appear — there’s no clear-cut test for it. Batish and her team are trying to change that.
Working with researchers at Nemours Children’s Health, Batish discovered that in children with CP, a certain circular RNA — circNFIX — is found at much lower levels in muscle cells. This RNA normally helps the body make an important muscle-building protein called MEF2C. When circNFIX is missing or low, MEF2C isn’t made properly, which may lead to the weakened, shorter muscles seen in CP.
This is the first time researchers have shown a link between circular RNAs and human muscle development in cerebral palsy.
Why does this matter? If scientists can confirm this link, it could lead to:
Earlier and more accurate diagnosis of CP using a simple blood test New treatments that help improve muscle development in affected children Batish’s ultimate goal? To create a test that can spot CP at birth — or even before — giving kids a better shot at early treatment and a higher quality of life.
To speak to Batish, contact mediarelations@udel.edu.
