The role of the media in the challenges of democracy
What role will journalism play in the future media landscape? Mid Sweden University and NTNU hosted a seminar in Trondheim to explore media's role in upholding democracy, focusing on trust, political influence, and journalism’s evolving challenges.
On October 16, 2024, a research seminar was held at NTNU in Trondheim, jointly arranged by the EVPOC research group from NTNU and Demicom at Mid Sweden University. The seminar, titled Media and democracy in challenging times , focused on the many challenges that today's media face in their roles as carriers of society and information in a democracy.
The research presented during the seminar touched on how the changing roles of the media affect trust and relations between the public and political actors. In particular, it was discussed how disinformation, deepfakes and populist movements challenge traditional journalism and public discourse. A central theme was the difference between a "thick" and a "thin" democracy, where robust public discourse is crucial to maintain legitimacy and societal trust.
Panels during the seminar highlighted issues of media coverage of elections, the future development of journalism and how political parties use media logic to influence public opinion. In conclusion, the importance of finding new ways for journalism to continue to play an active and credible role in strengthening democracy in today's complex media landscape was emphasized.