Eyes on Reading: Lessons Learned — Reporting on Reading and Dyslexia

Thursday, March 12, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

$15.00 | Friedman Family Auditorium

When New Yorker staff writer David Owen began telling people he was working on an article about dyslexia, he was startled by the response: nearly everyone seemed to have a personal, often painful connection — through a child, a sibling, a cousin or themselves.

Join Planet Word for a conversation between Owen and journalist Emily Hanford, whose reporting on reading instruction — including the groundbreaking podcast Sold a Story — has reshaped the national debate. They will discuss:

* What first drew them to reporting on the “reading wars” and dyslexia
* How journalists wade through complex research, competing claims, and entrenched beliefs
* The reaction to Owen’s recent New Yorker piece
* Finding stories behind the data and writing clearly about high-stakes, complicated topics

The program is presented with support from the Ibis Group.

6:00 p.m. — Discussion (Friedman Family Auditorium)
7:00 p.m. — Reception (Lobby)

For questions or concerns regarding accessibility needs, please contact [email protected].