COM Research Seminar: News Exposure in a Datafied Media World by Prof. Kjerstin Thorson

25 Mar 2024 (Mon)

On March 25, 2024, Professor Kjerstin Thorson, the Brandt Endowed Professor of Political Communication at Michigan State University, led a thought-provoking seminar titled "News Exposure in a Datafied Media World." The core of Prof. Thorson's presentation challenged the current conceptual frameworks used to analyze the impact of news content in our day-to-day activities. She argued that these frameworks lag behind in adequately addressing the nuances brought about by the datafication on digital platforms. Furthermore, Prof. Thorson presented innovative approaches and posed new questions crucial for understanding news consumption patterns in this data-rich media landscape. She emphasized the importance of developing robust theoretical models that incorporate the complexities of digital data flows and their effects on news exposure. The session garnered an attendance of more than 20 individuals, encompassing faculty members, PhD students, and researchers across various disciplines, indicating a robust interest in the intersection of computational models and media studies.