Journalist Jon Snow addresses Trinity’s Philosophical Society

Posted on: 26 February 2015

Trinity’s Philosophical Society hosted renowned journalist, newsreader and presenter, Jon Snow, of Channel 4 News on 18 February last when he became an Honorary Patron of the University Philosophical Society and addressed society members.

Mr Snow’s address titled ‘The Golden Age of Journalism’ centred around the speed at which news is broadcast in the modern environment, charting the development from his beginnings as a journalist using a primitive walkie-talkie to broadcast live on the radio, the improvements that the advent of the Telex machine had on on-the-ground reporting, and the impact that Satellites had on video transmission.

Snow praised the democratization of the media, noted that he thought “television would die” acknowledging the changing role of the television journalist in delivering high standards of information. Mr Snow also answer questions from the audience about his views on journalism and  his work including the role of foreign correspondents in a time of modern technology and the responsibility of the journalist.

In receiving the Gold Medal, Mr Snow joins an distinguished list of University Philosophical Society Honorary Patrons including US Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, British Entertainer Stephen Fry, US Democratic Party Leader, Nancy Pelosi, Evolutionary Biologist, Richard Dawkins, Journalist and Food Critic, A.A. Gill, and more recently former Children’s Laureate, Siobhan Parkinson and European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly.