Digital Literacy in Media: Navigating AI's Role in Democracy and News

• In Event: Digital News and Democracy

Abstract

In the digital realm, where technology interweaves with every facet of life, the democratization of news has undergone a seismic shift. Traditional media outlets, have become digital for more than a decade but are still struggling to keep up with the technological advancements in the industry. This shift raises critical questions about the role of technology in enhancing or undermining democratic processes. Our work, investigates the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Journalism, and Metaverse affordances on media organizations, with an emphasis on the implications for democratic engagement and discourse. More specifically, this paper follows a threefold approach. Firstly, it draws insights from a qualitative focus group with 19 executives from five media organizations, both large and small, in Greece, France, Cyprus, and Portugal. This group informed an extensive questionnaire, which was answered by 200 media professionals from these countries. The topics covered range from editorial practices to administrative, managerial, and ownership aspects. The questionnaire was refined further through semi-structured interviews with higher-level media executives and CEOs.

The results depict a digital transformation in the media industry that is yet to fully embrace the potential of AI and data analytics. Publishers’ hesitation reflects broader concerns about technology's influence on democratic institutions, as media organizations play a pivotal role in informing the public and fostering civic engagement. Furthermore, the lack of a robust digital strategy and a reluctance to integrate artificial intelligence tools and software in the newsroom indicate a fear toward the potential negative impact of specifically large language models in journalism. The study further delves into digital literacy and highlights the necessity for targeted training to empower journalists with the skills to harness AI effectively to be able to reverse-engineer models to uncover and address injustices and hold political actors, big corporations and platforms to account, and demand algorithmic transparency. Moreover, by integrating data journalism and AI, newsrooms have the potential to combat online disinformation campaigns, ensure the quality of disseminated information, and foster a more informed public discourse, all of which are crucial to a functioning democracy.

This work is done in the context of IQ Media Hub, a European cooperation project that based on this knowledge, designed a forward-looking curriculum that spans from basic digital literacy to advanced technological applications, aiming to bridge the gap and prepare media organizations for the digital future. The think-tank of the hub examines how digital technologies can be harnessed to both challenge and strengthen democratic values, ensuring journalism remains a cornerstone of democracy. Through the lens of the IQ Media project, we seek to contribute to the dialogue on how technology, when leveraged correctly, can act as a fundamental support for democracy against the threats facing democracies today, thus paving the way for a rejuvenation of democratic norms and institutions.

The above study is Co-funded by the European Union under the program “IQ Media: A Collaborative Framework Towards Business Transformation, Innovation, Quality Journalism, and Advanced Digital Skills in the Media Environment covering Greece, Cyprus, France, and Portugal.” -"IQMedia" with AGREEMENT NUMBER no. 101112285.

Authors

• Catherine Sotirakou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

• Costas I. Mourlas, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens