Global Media: Innovation & Policy Lab

This course looks at media around the world, the difficulties that journalists face, Big Tech’s corruption of the global public information ecosystem, and the effect this has had on people, society, and democracies. We will look at history and theory to understand the role the media plays, how it can be supported through regulatory efforts, and what has happened to society since the gatekeeping role of the media was upended by the rise of Big Tech. The usurping of advertising revenue and the micro-targeting of audiences will be understood through discussion of business models/media innovation/media sustainability and policy solutions. We will discuss the need for new business models, look at the experiences of Rappler, and familiarize ourselves with the world of government policies that can support non-profit, philanthropic journalism. We will consider the role of investigative reporting, the problems of information operations and narrative warfare, and how generative AI is upending journalism and society. Quality journalism and information are under threat from all sides. Press freedom is at a 25-year low globally. 2025 was the deadliest year on record for journalists, and the United States, long the exporter of press freedom norms, has become a press freedom case study of its own. This means the search for solutions has become more intense, and the field is experimenting with big ideas and creative thinking. Accountability is possible: the International Criminal Court will try a former Philippines president whose drug war was documented by journalists, including many at Rappler. It’s an exciting time to think about why journalism matters and what policies will help preserve it.