Agenda
In the digital age, as people are exposed to more information from more sources than ever before and lines blur between entertainment, commentary and other types of content, this panel revisits the question: What is “news”?
The power to define news has been shifting from media gatekeepers to the general public—especially in an age of increasing news personalization, where audiences can tailor the content they consume to fit their own interests, preferences, and values. Pew Research Center finds traditional values of news as “new,” factual, and “important to society” hold true among the public, but many also care about personal relevance, considering information not to be “news” if it doesn’t interest or affect them.
Further, as the global media industry grapples with rising concerns about news attention, avoidance, and distrust, personal identities and trust in information sources reshape not only how news is consumed but also how people conceive of what news is (or is not).
The panel will explore the role of changing technologies, values and trust in how people decide what news is and where they turn for it, and dive into how news providers approach these shifts and create content that engages audiences and builds trust.
