Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 06/10/2026How is AI shaping the 2026 midterm elections? Join CITAP on Oct. 7 from noon-1 p.m. in Carroll Hall 305 for a panel on AI’s role in campaigns and voter information during UNC’s First Amendment Day. 🔗 Learn more: go.unc.edu/ai-midterm-elections 000
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Academic freedom takes center stage at UNC’s First Amendment Day. 🏫 Join us Oct. 7 from 5:30-7 p.m. for the keynote panel, “The Shifting Frontiers of Academic Freedom.” 🔗 go.unc.edu/keynote-first-amendment-day-2026 002
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Stand up for the freedom to read this Banned Books Week! 📚 Join us Oct. 7 from 10-11 a.m. on the front steps of Manning Hall for UNC’s Banned Books Reading, part of First Amendment Day. 🔗 go.unc.edu/banned-books-reading #UNCCITAP #UNCSDIS #UNC #BannedBooksWeekgo.unc.eduBanned Books Reading - School of Data and Information SciencesHosted in collaboration with the School of Data and Information Sciences (SDIS) and the University Libraries, this event celebrates our essential First Amendment rights through the power of literature... 041
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 05/08/2025Their work comes at a crucial moment as technology companies advance competing visions of AI development that may conflict with democratic values. Read the full report: citap.unc.edu/publications...citap.unc.eduAI Governance & Democracy: A Statement of Principles and Transatlantic Research Goals - The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP)This initiative demonstrates ongoing academic cooperation between U.S. and European institutions, even as formal governmental dialogues have faced recent setbacks. The framework provides a roadmap for... 010
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 05/08/2025Key components include: ✨Shared democratic principles for AI governance ✨Commitment to human rights and social justice ✨Framework for balancing innovation with protective oversight ✨Environmental and workforce considerations ✨Proposed research goals across five critical areas 110
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 05/08/2025The statement outlines key principles and research priorities for ensuring AI development serves democratic values. The framework bridges U.S. innovation strengths with EU human rights protections, offering a unified approach to pressing challenges in AI oversight. 100
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 05/08/2025“AI technologies are not inevitable… their development and widespread use are subject to democratic governance.” We’ve released a new joint report from UNC + @unituebingen.bsky.social: "AI Governance & Democracy: A Statement of Principles and Transatlantic Research Goals". 110
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 26/03/2025🚨TODAY!🚨 We'll see you all soon! 📚👀 000
Reposted by Center for Information, Technology, and Public LifeKnight-Georgetown Institute (KGI) @knightgtown.bsky.social · 21/03/2025Want to learn more? Tune in to KGI’s upcoming webinar on March 25th at 11am about how to fix the feeds 😊 Report authors will explain how algorithms are currently designed and how the report guidelines can make them better. Register now! 👇 bit.ly/4bBbraRbit.lyBetter Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First – Knight-Georgetown Institute 002
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 19/03/2025Now is the time to work on that narrative. Now is the time to reinvest in your relationships with your colleagues, students, universities, and the academic fields you are a part of to steel them for what's ahead. Now is the time to fight for your universities. 0101
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 19/03/2025While there are no clear answers, drawing on his experiences in Hungary, Kristóf Szombati told CITAP and the Knight Research Network in December how important it is for researchers to craft a public narrative about the public value of institutions of higher learning and freedom of inquiry. 192
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 19/03/2025"No institution wins if the sector is demoralized, defunded and delegitimized." Read our full newsletter on the current attack on academic freedom here 👇open.substack.comResisting Attacks on Academic Freedom and InquiryHow power, politics, and fear are undermining the heart of higher education. 191
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 19/03/2025As Tressie McMillan Cottom said in a recent @nytimes.com conversation, "Our current crisis is an amalgamation of two tensions: We want the elitism of prestigious universities and yet we do not want them to have any control of our culture or status." 15015
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 19/03/2025If we allow our universities to be gutted, we risk losing one of democracy’s fundamental pillars – the cultivation of knowledge, critical inquiry, and informed citizenship that sustain a free society. 1164
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 19/03/2025American higher education now faces a perfect storm of demoralization, defunding, and delegitimization. These attacks are not random or isolated; they follow a classic authoritarian playbook, and go beyond ordinary policy disagreements and have become an existential threat to the academic sector. 414148
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 03/03/2025Lunch will be provided, along with some other fun items (📘👀), so RSVP to secure your spot now! forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...forms.office.comMicrosoft Forms 000
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 03/03/2025Dr. Sherri M. Williams is the author of "Black Social Television: How Black Twitter Changed Television", highlighting how Black audiences shape media industries. 110
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 03/03/2025Dr. Meredith D. Clark is the author of "We Tried to Tell Y’all: Black Twitter & Black Digital Resistance", exploring how Black Twitter amplifies marginalized voices and disrupts erasure. 100
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 03/03/2025Dr. Meredith D. Clark & Dr. Sherri M. Williams will explore how Black digital communities have transformed TV, influenced representation, and challenged media gatekeepers. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with two leading scholars on Black digital activism! 100
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 03/03/2025Join us for "Black Twitter: Talking Back and Transforming Television", a conversation on digital activism, media, and culture with Meredith D. Clark and Sherri M. Williams: ✬ March 26 ✬ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ✬ Halls of Fame, Carroll Hall ✬ Lunch provided 🔗 RSVP here: forms.office.com/r/j7cFNhTWRCforms.office.comMicrosoft Forms 121
Reposted by Center for Information, Technology, and Public LifeKatie Furl @katherinefurl.bsky.social · 11/02/2025Ecstatic to announce I'll join the University of North Dakota this fall as an Assistant Professor of Sociology! Honored to be a part of a close-knit community of dedicated faculty and students and to represent the Eternal Flame—persevering through adversity to make a tangible impact for the better. 4221
Reposted by Center for Information, Technology, and Public LifePatrick Gildersleve @gildersleve.uk · 10/02/2025📄 Excited to share a new dataset preprint! WikiReddit: Tracing Information and Attention Flows Between Online Platforms A collaboration with @beeeeeers.bsky.social, Viviane Ito, Agustin Orozco, and @ftripodi.bsky.social at @citap.bsky.social . 1176
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 07/02/2025"We Tried to Tell Y’All: Black Twitter and the Rise of Digital Counternarratives" by Meredith Clark – exploring how Black social media users have built a vital space for resistance, storytelling, and cultural commentary. 000
Reposted by Center for Information, Technology, and Public LifeKnight Foundation @knightfoundation.org · 31/01/2025The latest @pewresearch.org & Knight report reveals that almost 1 in 5 U.S. adults regularly get their news from influencers on social media. Sign up to join news influencers and social media experts on 2/16 to discuss the rapidly changing news landscape: kf.org/4aGa9e9. 061
Reposted by Center for Information, Technology, and Public LifeMarie Hermanova @mariher.bsky.social · 29/01/2025This is one last (unplanned) result of my Fulbright fellowship at CITAP. If you feel like reading a thorough analysis of how authoritarian tendencies overcome our democracies and what the US can learn from Central and Eastern Europe, click below (featuring among others, @ivan-kalmar.bsky.social) 0136
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 29/01/2025 "There is no more powerful political tool than occupying the high ground of popular culture." Authoritarianism thrives by shaping narratives—resisting it starts with understanding how those narratives are built. Read, reflect, and share this tool broadly. 🔗Link in bio 040
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 29/01/2025III. The War on Gender in Authoritarian Politics Gender & identity politics are central to right-wing mobilization. This section unpacks how the Right weaponizes gender to fuel nationalism, suppress dissent, & shape political discourse. 140
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 29/01/2025II. Authoritarian Politics in Everyday Life How does authoritarianism embed itself into institutions & daily experiences? This section explores the economic, political, & cultural forces that sustain authoritarian rule—and how they adapt globally. 140
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 29/01/2025What’s inside?👇 I. Learning from the Past This section covers books & essays on the totalitarian regimes of the Soviet Bloc before 1989 & their aftermath. What happens when a society transitions away from authoritarian rule? What lessons can we learn today? 120
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 29/01/2025Authoritarianism isn’t just a regional issue—it’s a global phenomenon. This guide explores how authoritarian politics take root, drawing on lessons from Central & Eastern Europe. Understanding these patterns can help us resist them elsewhere. 140
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 29/01/2025CITAP, in collaboration with Marie Heřmanová (@mariher.bsky.social) & Kristóf Szombati, presents a very timely and important reading list: "Authoritarian Politics: How to Understand It and How to Resist It." ...🧵 citap.unc.edu/wp-content/u...citap.unc.edu 12113
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 10/12/2024In today's newsletter: -South Korea’s fight and lessons for global democracy from @heesoojang.bsky.social -Kamala Harris’ campaign and its impact on future leadership -The rise of GLP-1 medications and their implications -The role of social media in shaping online interactions and digital trustopen.substack.comDemocracy in Crisis, Digital Platforms, and Leadership RedefinedFrom South Korea's unrest to Kamala Harris’ campaign, GLP-1 medications, and social media’s impact—CITAP researchers tackle today’s key challenges. 0145
Reposted by Center for Information, Technology, and Public LifeHeesoo Jang @heesoojang.bsky.social · 03/12/2024I was preparing to pitch an op-ed on the nationwide protests calling for President Yoon's resignation, aiming to provide global context amid the limited international coverage. Given the urgency, I’m sharing it now. I didn’t expect events to escalate this quickly. #SouthKorea #Democracydocs.google.comSouth Korea Is Fighting for Democracy Again—And the World Needs to KnowLast updated December 3, 10:09 AM South Korea Is Fighting for Democracy Again—And the World Needs to Know Heesoo Jang Assistant Professor of Media Law and Ethics Journalism Department, University of... 20658673046
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 20/11/2024A few CITAPers are at NCA this week in New Orleans. Are you presenting? Let us know when and on what below! 👇👇👇 061
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 15/11/2024🚨TODAY!🚨 Join us in-person or virtually for "Experience vs. Expertise" with @mariher.bsky.social. Explore how social media creators balance authenticity and authority, and the impact of gender in digital spaces. 071
Reposted by Center for Information, Technology, and Public LifeDigital Democracy Centre @ddc-sdu.bsky.social · 13/11/2024At the Digital Democracy Centre, we've just created this cool new starter pack featuring research institutions, researchers, NGOs, journals, and think tanks focused on how digital technologies and AI impact media, politics, and democracy. We'll be updating the list continuously! 3216277
Reposted by Center for Information, Technology, and Public LifeDawn Durante @dawnd.bsky.social · 13/11/2024The Justice, Power, and Politics series is edited by @historianheather.bsky.social and Rhonda Y. Williams. #JPPbooks publishes new works that explore questions of social justice and political power and struggles for justice in the twentieth century. It is the definition of a field-defining series.uncpress.orgJustice, Power, and Politics - Books in the SeriesBooks in the series Justice, Power, and Politics, published by the University of North Carolina Press. 1106
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 12/11/2024This Friday at 3pm EST, CITAP is hosting "Experience vs. Expertise" with Dr. Marie Heřmanová, where she will explore social media, authenticity, and authority. Join us in person or via Zoom. 000
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 12/11/2024The Democrats' “we’re not Trump” stance didn’t resonate. Tressie argues that Americans need to hear a story that acknowledges their fears and frustrations—simply being “different” wasn’t enough. 110
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 12/11/2024On a broader scale, the fractured media landscape gave Trump an advantage. As @dkreiss.bsky.social notes, today’s digital ecosystem allowed Trump to speak directly to audiences who felt disconnected from mainstream news. 100
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 12/11/2024 Tressie McMillan Cottom breaks down why Trump connects with voters: he speaks to their emotions and offers a story of winning, even without specific policies. It’s more than politics; it’s about making people feel seen and heard. 100
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 12/11/2024Just published: "Fractured Platforms, Unified Narratives" - a deep dive into the 2024 election through the lens of storytelling and identity politics, the migration from X to Bluesky, a CITAP book review on January 6th & more.citap.substack.comFractured Platforms, Unified NarrativesExamining the 2024 election through the lens of storytelling and identity politics, the migration from X to Bluesky, a CITAP book review on January 6th & more. 1177
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 11/11/2024We’re building a future rooted in understanding power, uplifting people, and setting new precedents—let’s create it together. 020
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 11/11/2024Whether you're a researcher, student, policymaker, or engaged citizen, your voice matters here. On our feed, you’ll find updates on CITAP events, newly published research papers, and opportunities to engage with our work firsthand. 120
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 11/11/2024Welcome to all of our new followers 🎉 We’re committed to strengthening democracy through rigorous research on the impact of technology, information, & media in society. We’re excited to engage with you, share our insights into the digital landscape, & create more equitable information ecosystems. 1143
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 11/11/2024You ✨do not✨ want to miss this talk on Friday.... 3pm-4pm EST, join us at Carroll Hall or online! ✬RSVP below✬ 010
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 31/10/2024✨Join us on Nov. 15th, 3-4 PM at the Freedom Forum (or via livestream) for "Experience vs. Expertise" with @mariher.bsky.social !✨ Explore how social media creators balance authenticity and authority, and the impact of gender in digital spaces. 👇👇👇citap.unc.eduMarie Heřmanová: Experience vs. Expertise - The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP)Join CITAP and Marie Heřmanová as she examines how social media creators balance authenticity and authority in political discourse, influenced by gender dynamics. 021
Reposted by Center for Information, Technology, and Public LifeDaniel Kreiss @dkreiss.bsky.social · 30/10/2024Honored to have the great A.J. Bauer review Media and January 6th: "While the historians question whether we can, the political communication scholars insist that we must." (cc co-editors @rebekahtromble.bsky.social @shannimcg.bsky.social Khadijah Costley White). www.tandfonline.com/eprint/V3DDA...tandfonline.comJanuary 6 and the Politics of History and Media and January 6thPublished in American Journalism (Ahead of Print, 2024) 1126
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 29/10/2024🚨TODAY!🚨 You do not want to miss this insightful and timely discussion. Join us at 5pm in Carroll Hall, or via Zoom Webinar. 👇👇👇 t.co/SqOhzN6DQwt.cohttps://citap.unc.edu/events/racialized-disinformation/ 010
Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life @citap.bsky.social · 28/10/2024Dinner will be served, and if you are a UNC undergrad, you can earn a CLE credit! 👀 000