• Blassnig Sina Julia

Data-driven technologies like algorithms and artificial intelligence play an increasingly important role in the production, distribution and consumption of news.

News organizations, for example, may use algorithms to automatically generate headlines or to make personalized content recommendations to their readers. Users increasingly inform themselves via algorithmically driven platforms like social media or news aggregators.

How are technologies, algorithms, and AI changing the role of journalists and news production processes?

What does this mean for news use, public opinion, and trust in journalism?

And what methods can we use to investigate these developments? We will explore these and other questions based on current research and practical examples.

Acquiring knowledge about the use, significance and impact of algorithms and AI in the field of news
Getting an overview of theoretical approaches and methods in this field and raising awareness for relevant research questions. Developing analytical and critical thinking.

Master students have to enroll via the exams-delegate-ses@unifr.ch to be able to enlist to the course

At the beginning of the semester, you will receive a syllabus with detailed literature references and information on the lecture. All material will be available on Moodle.

Tentative list of literature:

Blassnig, S., Strikovic, E., Mitova, E., Urman, A., Hannák, A., de Vreese, C., & Esser, F. (2024). A Balancing Act: How Media Professionals Perceive the Implementation of News Recommender Systems. Digital Journalism, 0(0), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2023.2293933

Cools, H., & Diakopoulos, N. (2024). Uses of generative AI in the newsroom: Mapping journalists’ perceptions of perils and possibilities. Journalism Practice, 0(0), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2024.2394558

Diakopoulos, N. (2019). Automating the news. Harvard University Press.

Diakopoulos, N., Trattner, C., Jannach, D., Meijer, I. C., & Motta, E. (2024). Leveraging Professional Ethics for Responsible AI. Commun. ACM, 67(2), 19–21. https://doi.org/10.1145/3625252

Fridman, M., Krøvel, R., & Palumbo, F. (2023). How (not to) Run an AI Project in Investigative Journalism. Journalism Practice, 0(0), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2023.2253797

Gunkel, D. J. (2020). An introduction to communication and artificial intelligence. polity.

Hase, V., Boczek, K., & Scharkow, M. (2023). Adapting to Affordances and Audiences? A Cross-Platform, Multi-Modal Analysis of the Platformization of News on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Digital Journalism, 11(8), 1499–1520. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2128389

Lin, B., & Lewis, S. C. (2022). The One Thing Journalistic AI Just Might Do for Democracy. Digital Journalism, 10(10), 1627–1649. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2084131

Mitova, E., Blassnig, S., Strikovic, E., Urman, A., de Vreese, C., & Esser, F. (2023). When Worlds Collide: Journalistic, Market, and Tech Logics in the Adoption of News Recommender Systems. Journalism Studies, 24(16), 1957–1976. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2023.2260504

Morosoli, S., Resendez, V., Naudts, L., Helberger, N., & De Vreese, C. (2025). “I Resist”. A Study of Individual Attitudes Towards Generative AI in Journalism and Acts of Resistance, Risk Perceptions, Trust and Credibility. Digital Journalism, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2024.2435579

Nechushtai, E., Zamith, R., & Lewis, S. C. (2024). More of the Same? Homogenization in News Recommendations When Users Search on Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Mass Communication and Society, 27(6), 1309–1335. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2023.2173609

Porlezza, C., & Schapals, A. K. (2024). AI Ethics in Journalism (Studies): An Evolving Field Between Research and Practice. Emerging Media, 2(3), 356–370. https://doi.org/10.1177/27523543241288818

Simon, F. M. (2024). Escape me if you can: How AI reshapes news organisations’ dependency on platform companies. Digital Journalism, 12(2), 149–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2023.2287464

Thomson, T. J., Thomas, R. J., & Matich, P. (2024). Generative visual AI in news organizations: Challenges, opportunities, perceptions, and policies. Digital Journalism, 0(0), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2024.2331769

Wojcieszak, M., Menchen-Trevino, E., Goncalves, J. F. F., & Weeks, B. (2022). Avenues to News and Diverse News Exposure Online: Comparing Direct Navigation, Social Media, News Aggregators, Search Queries, and Article Hyperlinks. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 27(4), 860–886. https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612211009160

60 minutes

60 minutes