Technology and Democracy
Sound information is the lifeblood of a democracy. Today, more and more information is mediated by digital technology – and with impacts that are not yet well understood. In this age of many-to-many communication, there is a clear need for fresh thinking and research to inform a new generation of democratic institutions and norms that will promote an informed society and support democratic outcomes.
In 2019, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced a commitment of nearly $50 million in research to better understand how technology is transforming our democracy and to help ensure society is equipped to make evidence-based decisions on how to govern and manage the now-digital public square.
Who’s in the Knight Research Network?
The selected research centers and projects were chosen through two nationwide calls for proposals. The institutions are both public and private, located across the country, and represent a range of academic disciplines and perspectives. All share a common goal: identifying how society can respond to the ways in which digital technology has revolutionized the production, dissemination and consumption of information. but the trusted institutions and information gatekeepers of the past are no longer able to […]
Strengthening democracy in the digital age: Knight’s $50 million investment in a new field of research
On July 22, 2019, Knight made a $50 million investment to develop a new field of research around technology’s impact on democracy. Sam Gill, vice president of communities and impact at Knight, shares details below. When Jack and Jim Knight left behind the corpus of what would grow into the modern Knight Foundation, they had built part […]
Knight Foundation announces a wide range of new grants to support research on Internet governance
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced new investments to support research on the rules, norms and governance of the internet and digital platforms. The $1.7 million in 20 new grants will focus on research to inform the national conversation on technology policy issues, including free expression […]
What’s next for tech and democracy?
Midway through a year rocked by a pandemic, protests and politics, we asked leading researchers and policy thinkers: What new questions relating to technology’s impact on democracy have emerged or are emerging during this period? In light of these new questions, what are your predictions for the rest of 2020? The responses we received over […]