Journalism, Democracy, & Society This field explores how journalism and political information are produced, distributed, and received within a changing media environment, and how these processes affect the democratic public sphere and civil society. While studying the professional norms and roles of journalism, changes in news production and gatekeeping, and the relationship between media institutions and platforms, the field also analyzes key communication processes in democracy, such as political media use, public opinion formation, civic participation, and political polarization.

This encompasses not only traditional news media but also portals, social media, YouTube, podcasts, and location-based digital media. It explores various topics, such as how media and communication influence citizens’ judgment and participation, community and social relationships, and the formation of a democratic public sphere. We study these topics using a variety of empirical methods, including computational methodologies, surveys, experimental studies, and interviews.