The social fact : news and knowledge in a networked world / John P. Wihbey.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wihbey, John P., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Journalism--Social aspects--United States--History--21st century.

Journalism.

Social media and society--United States.

Social media and society.

News audiences--United States--History--21st century.

News audiences.

Mass media--Technological innovations.

Mass media.

Physical Description:

1 online resource : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : MIT Press, 2019.

Summary:

How the structure of news, information, and knowledge is evolving and how news media can foster social connection. While the public believes that journalism remains crucial for democracy, there is a general sense that the news media are performing this role poorly. In The Social Fact , John Wihbey makes the case that journalism can better serve democracy by focusing on ways of fostering social connection. Wihbey explores how the structure of news, information, and knowledge and their flow through society are changing, and he considers ways in which news media can demonstrate the highest possible societal value in the context of these changes. Wihbey examines network science as well as the interplay between information and communications technologies (ICTs) and the structure of knowledge in society. He discusses the underlying patterns that characterize our increasingly networked world of information--with its viral phenomena and whiplash-inducing trends, its extremes and surprises. How can the traditional media world be reconciled with the world of social, peer-to-peer platforms, crowdsourcing, and user-generated content? Wihbey outlines a synthesis for news producers and advocates innovation in approach, form, and purpose. The Social Fact provides a valuable framework for doing audience-engaged media work of many kinds in our networked, hybrid media environment. It will be of interest to all those concerned about the future of news and public affairs.

Contents:

Digital networks and democracy's needs

News, knowledge, and civic virality

Social facts and contested knowledge

Understanding media through network science

Bias in network architectures and platforms

Data, artificial intelligence, and the news future

Journalism's new approach to knowledge

Questions for engaged journalism

News and democracy: a research guide

Conclusion fears and solutions.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.