The Penn MEDIATED Conference endeavors to elevate cutting-edge empirical research to build a panoramic view of the media and informational landscape—illuminating the path to a healthier information ecosystem.
The Penn Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy (Penn MEDIATED) is pleased to host our inaugural annual convening focused on the rigorous study of the information ecosystem and its impact on democracy.
By centering empirical research, the MEDIATED Conference will challenge assumptions widely held by advocates and policymakers about both the causes of and solutions to the information democracy crisis—enabling interventions grounded in evidence rather than anecdote.
During this conference, we will:
Consider the complete scope of the information ecosystem—newspapers, radio, TV, web search, social media, podcasts, political speech, AI, influencers, and peer-to-peer communications.
Convene academics, civil society organizations, media and journalism leaders, technology companies, and government officials—creating an opportunity for re-evaluating institutional decisions with analytical clarity.
Bridge computational research and tools with practice, offering scalable and implementable approaches to improve digital information technologies.
Focus on critical threats to democracy: affective polarization, deteriorating digital public discourse, authoritarian propaganda, and the crisis of journalism.
Examining how the information ecosystem shapes emotional divisions between political groups and what evidence-based interventions can reduce them.
Investigating the deterioration of online civic conversation and scalable approaches to restore healthy norms of digital exchange.
Analyzing the mechanisms and reach of state-sponsored information operations and their measurable effects on democratic publics.
Assessing the structural collapse of local and investigative journalism and evidence-based models for sustaining a free press.
Understanding how large language models, synthetic media, and AI-driven recommendation systems are reshaping the broader information landscape.
Bridging rigorous computational tools with actionable policy, connecting measurement science directly to implementable reform.
Four communities, one shared mission: evidence-based solutions for the information and democracy crisis.
Researchers in political science, communication, computer science, and related fields studying the information ecosystem with empirical rigor.
Nonprofit leaders, advocacy organizations, and foundations working to strengthen democratic institutions and the public information commons.
Technology companies, media organizations, and industry leaders seeking evidence-based approaches to responsible platform governance.
Policymakers, regulatory officials, and public servants working on media, technology, and information integrity policy at every level.
The Penn MEDIATED Conference is an invitation-only event. We welcome inquiries from researchers, practitioners, and organizations working at the intersection of media, technology, and democracy.
If you would like to be considered for an invitation, present research, or explore partnership opportunities, please get in touch.