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US: Knight Foundation invests $50M into research on tech’s impact on democracy

By  |  July 22, 2019
US: Knight Foundation invests $50M into research on tech’s impact on democracy

A nonprofit with deep ties to the newspaper industry is investing US$50 million into research on technology’s impact on democracy, from countering online disinformation to how companies such as Facebook and YouTube impact public opinion.

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    The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced Monday morning, July 22, that it would fund new research at 11 universities in the hopes of ushering in a new academic field of study. The organization, which was founded by the owners of newspapers such as the Miami Herald, has been trying to stay on top of trends that are changing journalism.

    “It’s our modern-day Gutenberg moment. Even as we embrace the benefits of the Internet, we need to grapple with its effect on our democracy,” said Alberto Ibargüen, the president and chief executive of the Knight Foundation, in a news release. “We need more research, data and insights to do it effectively and avoid unintended consequences. These investments make that possible.”

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