Prof. Dr. Natali Helberger Journalism in the Age of Data-analytics: Towards algorithmic journalistic ethics Prof. Dr. Natali Helberger Vienna, 14 September 2016
Journalism in the Age of Data-analytics Source of information Part of production process Targeted distribution & marketing “The challenge of using data effectively will be central” (BBC, Future of News, 2015) 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
Journalism in the Age of Data-analytics Source of information Part of production process Targeted distribution & marketing “The challenge of using data effectively will be central” (BBC, Future of News, 2015) 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
Journalism in the Age of Data-analytics Source of information Part of production process Targeted distribution & marketing 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
Robot-journalism 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
Journalism in the Age of Data-analytics Source of information Part of production process Targeted distribution & marketing Need to focus on “the art and science of getting our journalism to readers” (New York Times, Innovation, 2014) 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
The datafication of readers 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
Changing relationship with the audience Intensive collection of personal insights about news readers From mass to personalised communication: growing orientation towards the user and personal relevance – need to strike a balance From sources of general interest information to personal information coaches But also: dictate of clicks and metrics 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
Example: Journalism and news readers’ privacy ? 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
Media exception in data protection law Member states shall provide for exemptions …. For the processing of personal data carried out solely for journalistic purposes … in order to reconcile the right to the protection of personal data with the rules governing freedom of expression (Art. 80(1) GDPR) 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
Why news readers’ privacy matters Respect for privacy as precondition for trust into the media Can be a pre-condition for the freedom of expression Reader surveillance can lead to chilling effects Behavioural targeting can decrease diversity of exposure Privacy as democratic breathing space Privacy as a means to protect editorial integrity 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
In concrete: Towards principles of algorithmic fairness in journalism Issues to think about for the example of privacy: Giving users a choice to (not) share personal information (example: cookie walls) Applying restraint in reader surveillance (data minimalisation, no collection of sensitive data, data retention) Deserving readers’ trust (e.g. by not sharing sensitive reading information with third parties, data security) Utmost transparency about why users get to see certain contents Striking a balance between personal relevancy and readers’ interest in a diverse and inclusive information offer Using data to inform, not: to persuade (e.g. care with political targeting in the news media) 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
To conclude Datafication triggers need to rethink the media’s relationship with the reader And ways of responsible dealing with data in journalism - algorithmic journalistic ethics Privacy is one example And there are more: editorial integrity, media diversity, social media, data as form of opinion power, etc. 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR
For more information, please visit our website or send me an email: n For more information, please visit our website or send me an email: n.helberger@uva.nl 23 November 2018 Institute for Information Law - IViR