Eighth International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

As AI technologies become more integrated into the everyday lives of people across the globe, there is an urgent need to think ethically and collectively about how to address both its potential benefits as well as dangers. One such danger relates to digital media, from exacerbating infodemics and accelerating the spread of mis/disinformation to the rapid curation of fake news sites and deepfakes. To help mitigate the erosion of trust in journalistic media, multi-pronged solutions are needed with investment from a range of stakeholders, including journalists, politicians, researchers, educators, and citizens. This research probes not only this multifaceted problem, but also offers a potential solution animated by the theory of public sociology: innovative visual research methods that can be harnessed by journalists, citizen journalists, public figures, and the news consuming public alike. Employing accessible research tools, such as the one discussed in this presentation, enables individuals to better understand their own media consumption, output, and networks. This understanding potentially mitigates some of the negative effects of echo chambers and ideological discord that corrode trust in other individuals, institutions, and democratic ideals. Instead, such tools can foster engagement across ideological lines and encourage the types of collaborations necessary to develop a wide array of creative and ethical solutions that keep pace with ever evolving AI technologies. These solutions are essential to maintaining the public’s trust in democratic values, the idea of the common good, and journalistic media as integrous communication vehicles vital to free and open societies.