A radically different media ecosystem calls for radically new ideas.
Today, media companies are no longer the gatekeepers to information. In this environment, what is the role of the editor? Platforms are being manipulated to spread misinformation, influence elections and incite violence around the world. Search engines are reinforcing racism. Programmatic advertising was found to be funding terrorism.
Beyond reporting, how we can we use editorial thinking — which we define as news judgment plus media ethics — to address these problems? What opportunities exist for media companies in this new environment? How can we bridge the gap between editors and engineers to ensure a healthier media ecosystem?
We must hold the values of journalism — truth, transparency, accountability and the minimization of harm — to the prism of this new landscape and imagine what could be on the other side.
Meet Editors Over Algorithms.
Editors Over Algorithms is an attempt to imagine the future of editing, while also preparing editors and engineers to operate in media environments increasingly touched by artificial intelligence.
Our work takes four forms.
01. RESEARCH
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What might the future job of an editor look like?
02. MEDIA ETHICS WORKSHOPS
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How can we arm engineers with an ethical framework to navigate our new media ecosystem?
03. ALGORITHMIC AUDITING
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How can we use the frameworks of journalism to investigate algorithms for bias?
04. EVENTS
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Let’s explore the roles of editors in society and find new ways to put their skills to use.