I spent a full day at the OII for my first time since being back in Oxford. It was in part enjoying my new affiliation as an OII Senior Fellow and also participation in a meeting of the Advisory Board. But it also included attending the Awards Day ceremonies that featured a conversation with Professor … Continue reading OII – the Institute has reached escape velocity!
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What Happened to our Academic Culture?
Universities – along with their centers, departments, and colleges – vary greatly in the vibrancy of their respective academic culture (intellectual climate). Nevertheless, no university can be complacent about the vitality of their culture for academic excellence – least they lose it. Of course, there is no single academic culture. There are differences in the … Continue reading What Happened to our Academic Culture?
Pack Journalism – Digitally Networked
Digitally Networked Pack Journalism Pack journalism is not only alive and well in the digital age, it is arguably more prominent than it could ever be in the analogue era of print journalism. There is clearly a need for multi-disciplinary research on the sociology and politics of digitally enabled pack journalism. The concept of pack … Continue reading Pack Journalism – Digitally Networked
Talks in Europe on Quello Center’s Search and Politics Project
I had a fascinating and challenging week in Europe speaking about the Quello Center’s work on search and politics. The findings of our project, called ‘The Part Played by Search in Shaping Public Opinion’, suggested that concerns over fake news, echo chambers, and filter bubbles is ‘overhyped and underresearched’. The project was supported by Google, … Continue reading Talks in Europe on Quello Center’s Search and Politics Project
Twitter Diplomacy Not Going Away: Taiwan Joins the Twittersphere
I've written/blogged about the inevitable rise of digital diplomacy, and the need to adapt to it. President Donald Trumps' use of Twitter is testing the patience of the foreign policy community in particular, setting many against the wisdom of his use of Twitter, and the value of digital diplomacy in general. However, this morning's New … Continue reading Twitter Diplomacy Not Going Away: Taiwan Joins the Twittersphere
Should Tweeting Politicians be able to Block Users?
An interesting debate has been opened up by lawyers who have argued that President Trump should not block Twitter users from posting on Twitter. I assume this issue concerns his account @realDonaldTrump (32M followers) but the same issue would arise over his newer and official account as President @realDonaldTrump (almost 19M followers). Apparently, the President … Continue reading Should Tweeting Politicians be able to Block Users?
Big Questions and Big Issues for the US and Britain: A Discussion with Voices from Oxford’s Denis Noble and Sung Hee Kim
When visiting Oxford in early February for a conference, I was invited to speak with my two colleagues who, with my help, founded Voices from Oxford (VOX) in 2009. The discussion was held in Rhodes House, one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in Oxford. As befitting the venue, my colleagues asked big, challenging … Continue reading Big Questions and Big Issues for the US and Britain: A Discussion with Voices from Oxford’s Denis Noble and Sung Hee Kim
Talk on the politics of the Fifth Estate at University Institute of Lisbon, March 2017
I had a quick but engaging trip to Portugal to speak with students and faculty at CIES at the University Institute of Lisbon. I have given a number of talks on my concept of the Fifth Estate, but there are always new issues emerging that enable me to help students see the transformations around the … Continue reading Talk on the politics of the Fifth Estate at University Institute of Lisbon, March 2017
Orwell’s 1984: Must Reading for the Digital Age
I have not taught an undergraduate course on the Internet and society for quite some time, but when I did, at USC, I had George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four on the required reading list. I remember one of the last classes I taught. It was in 1998. It is memorable because my students - after questioning … Continue reading Orwell’s 1984: Must Reading for the Digital Age
Russian Hacking and the Certainty Trough
Views on Russian Hacking: In a Certainty Trough? I have been amazed by the level of consensus, among politicians, the press and the directors of security agencies, over the origins and motivations behind the Russian hacking of the 2016 presidential election. Seldom are security agencies willing to confirm or deny security allegations, much less promote … Continue reading Russian Hacking and the Certainty Trough