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Event

The Future of the Information Sphere and Journalism Intelligence
Over the past decades, big technology companies have positioned themselves at the center of our information systems, while challenging the very existence of traditional media and journalism and also increasingly aligning with political power. While these threats have also sparked creative resistance, and some of the most remarkable journalism in recent years, the profession has simultaneously experienced a rapid decline—both in terms of a sustainable business model and its reach, particularly among young audiences who primarily access news through online platforms.

Big tech companies have expanded their reach and diversified their offerings, including generative and general AI applications. This has enabled an entirely new ecosystem of communicators and opinion-influencers who are not journalists in the traditional sense but may play a similar or more persuasive role. In some cases, these voices disrupt the information sphere rather than enriching it.

The 13th edition of the CMPF Summer School for Journalists and Media Practitioners (23-27 June 2025) will explore what these changes, along with the fact that private corporations with very limited liability control the infrastructure of the contemporary information sphere, mean for the future of journalism and a democratic information landscape.

With renowned scholars and experts, we will examine opportunities for innovation and strategies to level the playing field between technology companies and journalism, ensuring the economic sustainability of the profession, particularly for investigative journalism. We will also discuss major regulatory interventions (at the EU and global levels) aimed at protecting and strengthening the integrity of the information space, enhancing the accountability and transparency of major online platforms, and safeguarding media freedom, with due consideration to geopolitical developments.

A unique aspect of this year’s summer school will be a Practice Day, featuring a creative expression lab where journalists and artists can collaborate to imagine new, technology-assisted formats that may help revive the connection between journalism and its audience.

The CMPF Summer School offers journalists and media practitioners an opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, and discuss key issues shaping journalism and informed citizenship. The programme will feature presentations by distinguished experts, followed by interactive sessions designed to enhance participants’ understanding, engagement, and networking.

Key topics

  • Big Tech, AI, and journalism: practices within and beyond journalism
  • Mental well-being and safety of journalists
  • AI and media business: copyright, innovation, transformation, monetisation
  • EU Regulatory framework and global standards (Focus on the European Media Freedom Act, but also the Artificial Intelligence Act, Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, and Code of Practice on Disinformation)
  • Geopolitics of freedom of expression and freedom of the media
  • Key international developments in Internet governance and their potential impact on the future of journalism and the media sector
  • Creative resistance in journalism and by journalists, including strategies to protect journalists and media actors

The deadline for submitting applications is 4 May 2025.

Find more information here: https://cmpf.eui.eu/2025-summer-school-for-journalists-and-media-practitioners/