This symposium is the capstone of a two-year collaboration among faculty at UVA dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of digital technologies and their consequences for local democracy. Our work has centered around three interconnected themes: (1) social media, intergroup relations, and public opinion; (2) misinformation, trust, and local media; and (3) community media, participation, and accountability.
Agenda
10:00am – Welcome and introductory remarks (coffee and pastries provided)
10:15am – Panel #1: Misinformation and Trust in Media
- Sayan Banerjee, Texas Tech University, Department of Political Science
- Natalia Bueno, Emory University, Department of Political Science
- Sumitra Badrinathan, American University, Department of Politics, Governance, and Economics
- Discussants
- Siva Vaidhyanathan, University of Virginia, Department of Media Studies
- Robert Brehm, University of Virginia, Department of Political Science
11:45pm – Lunch (provided for registered attendees)
12:30pm – Panel #2: Technology, Voice, and Empowerment
- David Nemer, University of Virginia, Department of Media Studies
- Gabrielle Kruks-Wisner, University of Virginia, Department of Politics & Global Studies
- Discussants:
- Alisa Zomer, Assistant Director, MIT GOV/LAB
- Winston Ardoin, UNC-Chapel Hill, Department of Political Science
2:00pm – Coffee Break
3:00pm – Panel #3: Data Democratization: Citizen ownership and use of data
- Michele Claibourn, University of Virginia, Equity Center (Director of Equitable Analysis), Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, & School of Data Science
- Aaron Martin, University of Virginia, Department of Media Studies & School of Data Science
- Discussant: Tanu Kumar, Claremont Graduate University
4:30pm – Closing Plenary: Academic and Practitioner Perspectives
- Nick Matthews, University of Missouri, School of Journalism
- Jessica Mayberry, Founding Director, Video Volunteers
