The Penn Center on Media, Technology and Democracy (Penn MEDIATED) is committed to independent research on the information ecosystem and its impact on democracy.
Our mission is to advance our collective understanding of the information landscape through cutting-edge science—then leverage that research to foster a more informed society and strengthen the foundations of democracy. We focus on the media organizations and the online platforms, the incentives and the algorithms, that determine which ideas and beliefs spread, and which don't. Penn MEDIATED's faculty and scholars are distinguished by their use of emerging technology for data-driven research of the information ecosystem, including novel data collections, large-scale cloud computing, and innovative applications of AI.
“The health of our democracy depends on the health of our information ecosystem. Seeking truth and understanding is not a utopian ideal; it is a prerequisite for a functioning republic. I am proud to join Penn MEDIATED and contribute to its vision of translating our rigorous research into democratic well-being.”
Penn MEDIATED is the cross-Penn initiative for media, technology, and democracy scholarship and impact at the University of Pennsylvania, bringing together dozens of scholars across seven schools and centers. The Center is supported by a five-year, $5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as well as an additional $5 million from the listed Penn schools.
“There is a critical societal need to better understand — and respond to — the way media and information technologies mediate and even influence global conversations. Championing truth and upholding democracy are important elements of Penn’s strategic framework, In Principle and Practice.”
“We are thrilled to have Penn MEDIATED join GNI’s Academic Constituency. Their focus on data-driven analysis of the information ecosystem, and the breadth of expertise and research undertaken by their affiliated faculty, will bring incredible insights and value-add to GNI and our members.”
