The interactivity induced by information and communication technologies has opened up opportunities in the fields of journalism, and in processes involving how public opinion is formed. However, it has also raised concerns. With regards to opportunities, the internet is seen as a channel that enhances the participation of citizens in the debate on public affairs and leads to improvements in political decision making processes. It is also expected of technology to develop language and journalistic narratives that increase engagement of audiences with the media. Concerns include the internet being seen as a channel that fragments the audience, levels poor quality information with good quality one, and polarizes the population’s political positions. In addition, general online consumer practices have placed the industry in a business model crisis.
Within this scenario, the Digilab: Media Strategy and Regulation research group works as a laboratory of ideas for incorporating innovation into social communication media, as well as into the participation of citizens in the public sphere. It aims to answer important questions such as: what strategies are journalistic industries adopting in order to incorporate technological and narrative language innovation into their professional routines? What changes in regulatory frameworks would favor inclusive journalism? What are media audiences adopting with regards to information habits, appropriation of journalistic messages and participation in the public sphere?