Author: Andy Pang
2017.
What a year.
So much has happened that it’s virtually impossible to remember yesterday, let alone the year in its entirety. However, if we were to sum up the media landscape in one word, “awakening” would be ideal 2017 verbiage.
Biases, echo chambers, and of course, fake news: concepts that are widely discussed these days, but are hardly new topics. What’s different in 2017, though, is that there is a collective realization of their impact. No longer are they distant topics for debate, but complex discussions with imminent implications on our society.
Despite the turbulent year that has passed, here we are again, in the month of January, being offered a fresh slate and ambitious opportunities. If 2017 was the year of awakening for the media industry, then 2018 is set to be a year of action. A year where ideas and solutions are put forth to address the way we process, consume, and scrutinize the information that shapes our views of the world, and each other.
From the academia sector to the journalism space, there is no shortage of predictions on the future of the media landscape. What’s encouraging is that experts and thinkers beyond those two traditional cores are also working towards improving the way we interact with content. This industry shift will elicit positive change in the long run because the problem in the media industry is not completely a human one, nor is it a technical one. Therefore, the solution lies in bridging human insight with technological innovation. DNN is a part of this shift, and that’s why we see industry reform and technological disruption as two equally important elements in the media landscape going forward. In this piece, we’d like to highlight some of the key trends in those areas and share our insights.
A side note before we dive in. It is not lost on us that there’s a number of problems in the media industry today, and that fixing these problems stems much deeper than simply altering the way information is curated and disseminated. Problems such as diversity, sexuall harrasement, and gender inequality are also significant barriers that the industry must face. However, we feel that the emotions, factors, and insights involved are different, and therefore deserve their own spotlight. To see our views on that topic, please check out our Gender Inequality series.
AI and “Augmented Journalism”
Artificial intelligence is already ingrained into the fabric of our daily lives, from the collision detection system in your car (soon to be autonomous cars) to Netflix learning, and recommending the type of shows you like to binge. It is only logical to assume that artificial intelligence would be used in a data intensive industry such as journalism.
It should also be noted that AI is a vast field, with a plethora of implications and use cases. In the realm of journalism, the biggest advantage for media outlets is perhaps the ability to analyze massive amounts of data from countless sources, “augmenting” the reporter’s ability to uncover insights in every story. In the 2018 Tech Trends For Journalism and Media released by the Future Today Institute, not only is artificial intelligence viewed as the top innovation trend impacting the mediascape, but is also being implemented in various tangible ways, such as automation and deep learning.
As far back as 2014, the LA Times became the first outlet to report on an earthquake, thanks to its own robot. But they’re not the only major US publication to experiment with “robo-journalism,” as Washing Post also relied on Heliograf, a writing bot developed by the outlet itself. The bot posted over 850 articles in 2017, covering stories from sports events to elections. Across the Atlantic, Leading UK news agency Press Association (PA) began a partnership with automation specialist Urbs Media to create 30,000 localized news reports every month.
It is important to know that AI efficiently amplifies a media production by helping to dissect the “why” of different stories. However, offering unique insights based on contextual and cultural understandings still requires a human, at least for now. Using a bot might be fine when reporting on earthquakes and game scores, but when it comes to deciphering the factors behind a three-point lead between presidential candidates, reliance on algorithms is both premature and limiting.
Manipulation
As more and more tools becomes available for visual editing and alterations, the implication for scrutinizing content authenticity will be at an unprecedented level. While many of these technologies are conceptualized with a different purpose, such as VoCo, unveiled during the Adobe MAX 2016 event, or Canadian digital voice creation platform Lyrebird, it is also easy to see how they can be manipulated and abused.
Since their inception, many other research teams have also been experimenting with similar solutions. The University of Washington, for example, has achieved a breakthrough in highly realistic audio-to-video conversion, with the aim of improving conference meeting receptions; they’ve even played with the idea of conversing with a historical figure. A similar project has also been developed by Stanford University, where its real-time face capture software named Face2Face software, is able to puppeteer videos of world leaders such as George W. Bush, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump. While there are many practical uses, just one look at their works in action can send one’s imagination into a Black Mirror-esque narrative.
All of these advancements bring about a heightened scrutiny for every piece of content the consumer sees, whether it’s on social media, TV, or any other platform. However, that may not necessarily be a bad thing. As Pablo Boczkowski, Professor of Communication Studies at Northwestern University points out in his 2018 prediction for Nieman Lab, “skepticism is a necessary, albeit not sufficient, condition for the emergence of sustainable solutions regarding a potential state of misinformation marking contemporary politics and culture.”
Therefore, as much as the distrust between content consumers and information gatekeepers continue to present a challenge that needs to be addressed, it will also ignite the industry to present possible solutions.
Accountability
Looking back on 2017, the political stage was perhaps the most obvious arena that showcased the impact of misinformation. From the US presidential election to the French presidential election, it became came clear that current gatekeeping protocols put in place by media outlets are tremendously inadequate.
Additionally, the ongoing investigation conducted by the US congress on tech giants such as Facebook, Twitter and Google, is yet another indication that accountability for the current problems we face extends far beyond journalism. In response, Facebook has already committed to adding more human moderators globally to review content, as well as ramping up investments in machine learning and even revamping its newsfeed page.
However, while the increase in the overhaul of these infrastructures is valuable, an alternative is also needed that combines technological efficiency with human involvement. That’s why DNN chose to build its platform on the Ethereum blockchain. By leveraging the decentralized ledger network, data input and exchanges are not only transparent, but also immutable, minimizing the chance of manipulation and hacks. But DNN is more than a blockchain filing cabinet, it incorporates a meticulously thought-out incentive layer that rewards positive user contributions to the ecosystem. A quick read through our whitepaper will convey the idea of open access news curation platform, where every stakeholder within the content supply chain, whether it’s the reader, writer, publisher or reviewer, is included in the process.
Going forward, DNN foresees this dispersion of accountability turning into partnerships between organizations and corporations outside their immediate industry silo, from tech, media, to academia and even beyond.
As we go forward in 2018, we believe in a proliferation of creative solutions designed to solve this complex problem. After all, the common theme prevalent in the key trends we mentioned earlier all have direct implications to breaking down the silos between different industries.
The media landscapes of our generation are no longer synonymous with publications and news outlets, fixing the way content is produced, distributed, and preserved is going to require everyone of us to pitch in, from the readers to the leaders.
About DNN
DNN (Decentralized News Network) is a news curation platform powered by the Ethereum blockchain. It’s our goal to encourage the dissemination of factual, unbiased political news by incentivizing accountability at all levels of the news consumption process. We’re news for the people, by the people.
Our DNN token presale is currently live. Contact presale@dnn.media to participate.
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We’re currently in need of journalists, writers, readers, and editors to test out our Alpha updates! Check out our website today, and let us know what you think. Participating in our Alpha will earn you bounty stakes for our DNN Token.
