Description
News recommender systems (NRS) have emerged as powerful tools that leverage algorithms and user data to curate personalized news feeds given the dynamic news media environment (Bernstein et al., 2021; Ricci et al., 2022). These systems offer tailored content, enhanced user experience, and improved engagement. However, the increasing reliance on NRS raises pressing ethical concerns: NRS algorithms can impact public discourse by determining which stories gain more visibility and engagement, users may be excluded from alternative perspectives leading to a narrower understanding of complex issues, and incur in the assumption they are seeing a comprehensive representation of news when they might be exposed to a limited selection based on their past behaviour (Du, 2023). This raises concerns about the formation of public opinion and the erosion of trust in media. While transparency and diversity can play a crucial role in tackling these everyday challenges (Loecherbach & Trilling, 2020; Sax, 2022; Vrijenhoek et al., 2020), what is at stake is the impact on citizens’ epistemic welfare, defined as the individuals’ right to know and be exposed to trustworthy, independent, and diverse information while respecting individual rights to their own data.This paper aims to explore how NRS are designed and implemented in media organisations, an issue underreported in the literature on recommender systems (Ranaivoson et al, forthcoming). This paper delves into the complex interplay between technology and media and investigates the trade-offs between delivering personalized news recommendations and ensuring a diverse flow of information to users (Lim et al., 2023).
Focusing on Spanish news media, the study employs a mixed-method approach. It combines interviews with editors-in-chief and IT experts from Spanish media outlets to gain insights into the algorithms employed in news curation. Additionally, ethnographic observation is conducted to understand the implications of NRS on news dissemination and audience engagement. Through these methodologies, the article seeks to contribute to a more informed and ethically conscious media environment.
By analyzing NRS’ design and implementation, we aim to confirm and eventually question the existence of “tech-editorial gaps” and the necessity for bridging roles (Møller, 2023; Smets et al., 2022). Ultimately, we aim to understand if and in what way NRS’ current deployment leads to certain stories being prioritized, the impact on users’ news exposure and
| Period | 16 Apr 2024 |
|---|---|
| Event title | Media Industries Conference |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | London, United Kingdom |