At the SmartMedia Lab, we want to reinvent and redesign journalism. With attention to the social functions that journalism fulfills, but with radically new technological solutions and enchanting narrative forms.
To this end, we use the power of seduction. Instead of merely questioning the existing, we build something new. Something attractive and convincing.
In doing so, we focus not only on the latest technological solutions, but also precisely on new ways of storytelling. We are learning from other media segments and testing how effective experience journalism, imagineering and visual storytelling are in fulfilling journalistic functions in society. How can we shape representation in a much more natural way? How do we make social issues truly urgent and relevant? What solutions are there to shape action perspectives?
Together with regional knowledge institutes, local, regional and national media partners and the most innovative media production companies, we will delve into these questions and test (qualitatively, quantitatively and neuropsychologically) the effectiveness of our solutions.
Journalism is struggling to inspire, activate and truly engage people as citizens. At the same time, many other media segments, such as gaming and fiction, are doing better than ever. They know how to respond to changing media needs, and respond optimally to technolgical innovations. At SmartMedia, we believe journalism can learn from these segments by focusing not only on cognitive storytelling, but also on imagineering (magic, myth and playfulness).
The journalism sector has many challenges, which are difficult for traditional media in particular to challenge. More and more people indicate that they are news avoiders (already more than 60% in the Netherlands), there are large gaps in the reach of certain audience segments (youth, cultural minorities, political poles) and there is a lack of an innovative mindset. At the same time, society has many challenges and we are in multiple crises that place great demands on journalistic functions. To fight polarization, hold power accountable, break silences and aggregate national debate.
SmartMedia is an initiative of the Lectoraat Ontwerpen aan de Journalistiek (Fontys) and the Lectoraat Digital Media Concepts (Breda University of Applied Sciences). Furthermore, we are currently collaborating with Tilburg University, Yonder, DPG Media, Omroep Brabant and the VPRO Medialab,