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Science for Sapiens A year in research (2024)

isinformation, Artificial Intelligence,
and the rise of social networks are
challenging journalism, which was al-
ready facing a tumultuous period due
to the decline of print media, informa-
tion overload, and a lack of appeal to
younger audiences. As explained by
M Jose Alberto García-Avilés, a journa-
lism professor at Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche,
the journalistic profession is undergoing a challenging phase
where its traditional role as a watchdog is being questioned.
However, at the same time, journalism remains an indispensa-
ble tool against misinformation and the manipulation of public
opinion. Furthermore, innovation is becoming a crucial asset
for media companies. García-Avilés is the principal investigator Part of the research team at the final meeting of the project at the
of the Spanish team in the project “Innovations in journalism Academy of Sciences in Vienna.
in democratic societies: Index, influence, and prerequisites
in international comparison”, which began in October 2020, The project adopted a
with the participation of 19 researchers from Austria, Germany,
Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. multiple case study design

Many media outlets are undergoing a disruptive transforma- to identify the most
tion, with some discovering innovative approaches to sustain important journalism
the profession. Other media companies have managed to sur- innovations in the
vive the impacts of digitalisation and globalisation, as well as
the revolution brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic that past decade
accelerated digital transformation. “We focus on a special and
significant research area: journalism as the backbone of demo-
cracy,” underlines García-Avilés. The project adopted a multi- nological environment, it is necessary to consider the ethical
ple case study design to identify the most important journalism challenges generated by using Big Data and Artificial Intelli-
innovations in the past decade. It explored the relevance and gence, such as misinformation and political bias. The thou-
purpose of journalism through a hundred interviews with ex- ghtless use of data to guide journalistic decisions can increase
perts structured for international comparability. Textual analy- inequality, fake news, all kinds of bias, and a lack of represen-
sis was employed to code and analyse the interviews, cluste- tation of minorities. Academic and professional experts advo-
ring the results into the main forms of innovations that were cate for developing data-informed processes that incorporate
compared across five countries. human knowledge and promote an open media culture. This
approach, they say, would support a rigorous analysis of infor-
In each country, the researchers compiled a list of the top 20 mation and a better-educated society.
innovations in four areas of media: product, organisation, distri-
bution, and commercialisation. Many of these, such as content The research team also designed practical recommendations
automation, new digital narratives, or data journalism, require for journalists, media managers and policymakers so they can
technological competence in usingtools and developing new improve the quality and the democratic function of journalism.
products that add value to users and the news organisation, In order to share the results of the project, an international con-
ultimately benefiting from their implementation. The resear- ference with 40 experts from media companies and institutions
chers emphasise that innovations must successfully increase from the five countries was organised at the Austrian Academy
audience, revenue, organisational improvement, brand image, of Sciences in Vienna in September 2023. As García-Avilés re-
or prestige for the news organisation. These goals are evident marks, “In the face of Artificial Intelligence, the differential value
in innovations related to cultural organisations, collaborative of journalists will be their creativity, their ability to connect with
journalism, or projects on new business models. people and to ask good questions because we are now going
to have a much more homogeneous journalism, designed by
García-Avilés explains that the process involved in each inno- machines that often tells us nothing”.
vation includes design, experimentation, testing, development,
dissemination, and learning. Of course, tools and technologies The project was carried out as a so-called D-A-CH cooperation
play a fundamental role, but also management and leaders- among the Catholic University of Eichstätt (Germany), the Me-
hip skills, professional culture, and talent. García Avilés argues dienhaus Wien Research Association, the Austrian Academy of
that “the ‘human factor’ is essential, as innovation cannot be Sciences, and the University of Klagenfurt (Austria), the Zurich
thought of in economic terms alone.” “Innovation does not University of Applied Sciences with partners at the University
necessarily come from business or technology, but rather from of Lugano (Switzerland), the City University in London and, of
being able to create something unique that ultimately arises course, the Miguel Hernández University. Funding was pro-
from a series of inspirations and contributes to solving people’s vided by national basic research institutions of the D-A-CH
needs”, says García-Avilés. countries: The German Research Foundation (DFG) project
no. 438677067 and 512640851; The Austrian Science Fund
The researchers highlight the ethical implications of journa- (FWF) project no. I 4797-G; and The Swiss National Science
lism. As the principal investigator emphasises, in a highly tech- Foundation (SNF) project no. 100019E_190126.

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