Jill Abramson, in a jovial conversation with David Carr, on Monday spoke on the future of journalism, her firing from The New York Times, and announced her plans to create a startup.

The event filled Boston University’s Tsai Performance Center. Abramson, 60, is the former executive editor of The New York Times. She was the first woman at the helm, and since her ousting from the paper in May, has begun teaching a course at Harvard University.

Carr, 58, is currently a media columnist at The New York Times. He is also the author of “The Night of the Gun,” an autobiography, and teaches a course at Boston University.

Abramson announced to the audience she was talking with investors about creating a startup with Steve Brill, one that would offer journalists money they could live off, she said. This was the first anyone had heard any mention of the plan.

“I’m actually thinking about getting back into some writing and reporting,” she said, thrilling the crowd, many of whom took to Twitter.

Abramson has not widely commented on her ousting from the Times, but was featured in a Cosmopolitan Magazine article regarding her firing in July. On Monday, she wanted to make clear that she was fired.

“Just say ‘fired,’” Abramson insisted. “I have devoted my career to telling the truth, and the truth was I was fired.” The word has not commonly been associated with her abrupt leave from the Times, and she wanted to clear the air as to what actually happened at the paper.

“When I was executive editor of the Times I was very careful about what I said in public,” she remarked.

But now, Abramson can speak her mind, she said.

Aside from the breaking news of Abramson’s plans, she and Carr spoke to each other swiftly and comfortably, remarking from time to time about their work together at the Times, and the classes they are teaching at Harvard University and Boston University, respectively.

“I went to Harvard as an undergraduate, and I walk around campus [now] wondering if I’m 20 or 60,” said Abramson, adding that she is enjoying being back in the classroom as a professor.

Carr said he is stunned by how serious his students are.

As for the future of journalism, the two spoke on the fast-paced news cycle and the struggle to get the news out and do so properly.

Abramson remarked that the digital revolution has been just as important as the revolution created by the invention of the printing press.

“Say what you want about print or digital,” Carr said, “but it’s a place you land and turn the boat.”

BuzzFeed and Vice were mentioned during a conversation on the power of new media, Abramson remembering disappointment from many when under her leadership, the Times paired with BuzzFeed for the 2012 conventions.

“We’re all being pushed around in a pretty ferocious news cycle,” said Carr.

Toward the end of the conversation, Abramson and Carr were presented with questions from the audience.

When asked the best journalism advice she had ever received, Abramson said, “shut up and listen.”

The only time there was an interruption to the pair’s friendly banter was when Abramson challenged Carr to speak on how sexism related to her firing from the Times.

Carr initially said Abramson’s gender had not been mentioned much until recent years.

To which, Abramson replied, “that’s ridiculous.”