Attention 2023:

Understanding and Shaping

the Digital Media Ecosystem

Attention: Understanding and Shaping the Digital Media Ecosystem was designed to build understanding, identify research needs, and forge pathways for interdisciplinary research collaboration.

The conference focused on building understanding of the digital media ecosystem, drawing on interdisciplinary research from Canadian and international researchers, particularly those from the Canadian Digital Media Research Network (CDMRN). Discussions compared national and international perceptions of the ecosystem, assessed the state of research on digital media, explored emerging threats such as disinformation and foreign interference, and examined the impacts of social media on Canadian society. 

The conference also aimed to align government, civil society, and academic efforts by establishing a community of practice, focusing on the priorities and needs of those working within the digital media ecosystem.

Event Speakers

  • Aengus Bridgman

    Director, Media Ecosystem Observatory, McGill University.

  • Alexei Abrahams

    Digital Research Lead, Media Ecosystem Observatory, McGill University.

  • Anatoliy Gruzd

    Director of Research, Social Media Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University.

  • Bessma Momani

    Associate Vice-President, International and Professor of Political Science, University of Waterloo.

  • Chris Tenove

    Assistant Director, Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions, University of British Columbia.

  • Colette Brin

    Professeure titulaire, Centre d'études sur les médias, Université Laval.

  • Craig Silverman

    Reporter, ProPublica.

  • David Morin

    UNESCO Chair in the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Extremism, Université de Sherbrooke.

  • Jean-Christophe Boucher

    Associate Professor, School of Public Policy & Political Science Department, University of Calgary.

  • Jennie Phillips

    Project Director (PIER), Media Ecosystem Observatory, McGill University.

  • Joan Donovan

    Assistant Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media Studies, Boston University.

  • John McAndrews

    Managing Director, Digital Society Lab, McMaster University.

  • Karim Bardeesy

    Executive Director, The Dais, Toronto Metropolitan University.

  • Kathryn Hill

    Executive Director, MediaSmarts.

  • Marcus Kolga

    Founder and Director, DisinfoWatch.

  • Nicholas King

    Associate Member, Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University.

  • Peter Loewen, Director

    Policy, Elections, and Representation Lab, University of Toronto.

  • Philip Mai

    Co-Director and Senior Researcher, Social Media Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University.

  • Rebekah Tromble

    Director, Institute for Data, Democracy, and Politics, The George Washington University.

  • Taylor Owen

    Founding Director, Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, McGill University.

Networking between talks

Networking between talks

Karim Bardeesy, Executive Director of the Dais, and Peter Loewen, Director of the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of Toronto

Karim Bardeesy, Executive Director of the Dais, and Peter Loewen, Director of the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of Toronto

Rebekah Tromble, Director of the Institute for Data, Democracy Politics, drives home a point

Rebekah Tromble, Director of the Institute for Data, Democracy Politics, drives home a point

Anatoliy Gruzd, Co-Director of the Social Media Lab, speaks while Alexei Sisulu Abrahams, Digital Trace Team Lead at MEO, listens

Anatoliy Gruzd, Co-Director of the Social Media Lab, speaks while Alexei Sisulu Abrahams, Digital Trace Team Lead at MEO, listens

Jean-Christophe Boucher, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, responding to a question during his panel

Jean-Christophe Boucher, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, responding to a question during his panel

Journalist Craig Silverman responding to a question during his panel

Journalist Craig Silverman responding to a question during his panel

Ben Steel, PhD fellow at MEO, deep in conversation

Ben Steel, PhD fellow at MEO, deep in conversation

From left to right; Anatoliy Gruzd, Co-Director of the Social Media Lab, John McAndrews, managing director of the Digital Society Lab and Colette Brin, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Laval University

From left to right; Anatoliy Gruzd, Co-Director of the Social Media Lab, John McAndrews, managing director of the Digital Society Lab and Colette Brin, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Laval University

Colette Brin, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Laval University, fields questions during her panel talk

Colette Brin, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Laval University, fields questions during her panel talk

Rupinder Liddar, PhD Fellow at MEO, asks a question while Mathieu Lavigne, postdoctoral Fellow in the Program in Quantitative Social Science at Dartmouth College, listens

Rupinder Liddar, PhD Fellow at MEO, asks a question while Mathieu Lavigne, postdoctoral Fellow in the Program in Quantitative Social Science at Dartmouth College, listens

Aengus Bridgman, Director of MEO

Aengus Bridgman, Director of MEO

Kathryn Hill, Executive Director at Media Smarts, discusses the challenges associated with media literacy

Kathryn Hill, Executive Director at Media Smarts, discusses the challenges associated with media literacy

Karim Bardeesy, Executive Director at the Dais, listens intently to Peter Loewen

Karim Bardeesy, Executive Director at the Dais, listens intently to Peter Loewen

Joan Donovan, Assistant Professor at Boston University, speaks during panel discussion

Joan Donovan, Assistant Professor at Boston University, speaks during panel discussion

Manon Paquet speaking with Mathieu Lavigne, postdoctoral fellow in the Program in Quantitative Social Science at Dartmouth College

Manon Paquet speaking with Mathieu Lavigne, postdoctoral fellow in the Program in Quantitative Social Science at Dartmouth College

Blake Lee-Whiting, interim Managing Director of the Policy, Elections, and Representation Lab (PEARL), University of Toronto

Blake Lee-Whiting, interim Managing Director of the Policy, Elections, and Representation Lab (PEARL), University of Toronto

Joan Donovan, founder of The Critical Internet Studies Institute, speaks during panel discussion

Joan Donovan, founder of The Critical Internet Studies Institute, speaks during panel discussion

Jean-Christophe Boucher, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, raising an important point

Jean-Christophe Boucher, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, raising an important point

Marcus Kolga, Founder of DisInfoWatch, fielding questions

Marcus Kolga, Founder of DisInfoWatch, fielding questions

Fireside chat

Fireside chat

Joan Donovan, Assistant Professor at Boston University, in one-on-one conversation

Joan Donovan, Assistant Professor at Boston University, in one-on-one conversation

Nahlah Ayed, from CBC Ideas, gestures for other speakers during panel discussion

Nahlah Ayed, from CBC Ideas, gestures for other speakers during panel discussion

Panel members keenly listen to Craig Silverman's point

Panel members keenly listen to Craig Silverman's point

Renée DiResta, Associate Research Professor at Georgetown University, drives home a summary of the issue

Renée DiResta, Associate Research Professor at Georgetown University, drives home a summary of the issue

Asking the big questions

Asking the big questions

Wideshot of a panel discussion led by Taylor Owen, Director of the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy

Wideshot of a panel discussion led by Taylor Owen, Director of the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy

Michael Wagner, Director of Graduate Studies at the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, clarifies a point of confusion

Michael Wagner, Director of Graduate Studies at the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, clarifies a point of confusion

Nicholas King, from the Max Bell School of Public Policy, responds to a question while Aengus Bridgman looks on

Nicholas King, from the Max Bell School of Public Policy, responds to a question while Aengus Bridgman looks on

Networking between talks

Networking between talks

John McAndrews, managing Director of the Digital Society Lab, provide clarification during panel discussion

John McAndrews, managing Director of the Digital Society Lab, provide clarification during panel discussion

Derek Ruths, Director of Network Dynamics Lab, provides background during Q&A

Derek Ruths, Director of Network Dynamics Lab, provides background during Q&A

David Morin, Network for Strategic Analysis, listens to a question from the audience

David Morin, Network for Strategic Analysis, listens to a question from the audience

Dr. Alexei Sisulu Abrahams, Digital Trace Team Lead at MEO, speaks about the amount of data collected for his research study

Dr. Alexei Sisulu Abrahams, Digital Trace Team Lead at MEO, speaks about the amount of data collected for his research study

Taylor Owen, Director of the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, engages with fellow panelists

Taylor Owen, Director of the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, engages with fellow panelists

Michael Wagner, Director of Graduate Studies at the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, delves into his point with fellow panelist, Renée DiResta

Michael Wagner, Director of Graduate Studies at the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication, delves into his point with fellow panelist, Renée DiResta

Craig Silverman, journalist, engages with his fellow panelists

Craig Silverman, journalist, engages with his fellow panelists

Philip Mai, Co-Director at the Social Media Lab, explains his research

Philip Mai, Co-Director at the Social Media Lab, explains his research

Karim Bardeesy, Executive Director at the Dais, speaks during a panel discussion

Karim Bardeesy, Executive Director at the Dais, speaks during a panel discussion

Aengus Bridgman, Director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory, presents

Aengus Bridgman, Director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory, presents

oan Donovan, Assistant Professor at Boston University, engages with panel moderator Nahlah Ayed

oan Donovan, Assistant Professor at Boston University, engages with panel moderator Nahlah Ayed

Joan Donovan, Assistant Professor at Boston University, speaks during a live recording of CBC Ideas

Joan Donovan, Assistant Professor at Boston University, speaks during a live recording of CBC Ideas

Joan Donovan, founder of The Critical Internet Studies Institute, asks a question

Joan Donovan, founder of The Critical Internet Studies Institute, asks a question

Colette Brin, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Laval University, shares her perspective

Colette Brin, Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Laval University, shares her perspective

Taylor Owen, Director of Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, smiles while Joan Donovan, founder of The Critical Internet Studies Institute, speaks

Taylor Owen, Director of Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, smiles while Joan Donovan, founder of The Critical Internet Studies Institute, speaks

Thought-provoking questions from the audience

Thought-provoking questions from the audience

Bessma Momani, Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, speaks to her fellow panelists

Bessma Momani, Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, speaks to her fellow panelists

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