At the Media Lab, we strive to reinvent and redesign journalism. Focusing on the social functions of journalism, combined with cutting-edge technological solutions and engaging storytelling formats.
In doing so, we focus not only on the latest technological solutions, but also on innovative ways of storytelling. We learn from other media segments and test the effectiveness of experience journalism, imagineering and visual storytelling in fulfilling journalistic functions. 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?
Journalism is no longer able to inspire, activate and truly engage people in their role as citizens. By responding optimally to changing media needs and technological innovations. At SmartMedia, we believe that journalism can learn from these segments, by focusing less on cognitive storytelling and more on imagineering (magic, myth and playfulness), we can renew journalism.
The journalism sector faces major challenges, especially for traditional media. More than 60% of the Dutch people avoid news, and there are significant gaps in coverage of young people, cultural minorities and political poles. In addition, an innovative mindset is often lacking. At the same time, society has many challenges and we are in multiple crises that place great demands on journalistic functions. Fighting polarization, holding power accountable, breaking silences and aggregating a national debate are crucial.
Fontys Journalism, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Tilburg University, Yonder, DPG Brabant, Omroep Brabant, VPRO Medialab.
Together with regional knowledge institutions, local, regional and national media partners and the most innovative media production companies, we dive into these issues and test (qualitatively, quantitatively and neuropsychologically) the effectiveness of our solutions.