This audio post of Perspective Agents explores the breakdown of institutional media control and how podcasts, prediction markets, and networked sources reshape news and political power.
To help make sense of this break, I’m joined by John Wihbey, professor of media innovation at Northeastern University and head of the Northeastern Internet Democracy Initiative. As the author of The Social Fact, and with a new book on tech policy and algorithmic governance coming soon, John brings a depth of perspective on this pivotal moment.
Recorded just after the election, several themes we touch on include:
Americans’ deep dissatisfaction with corporate news sources.
Data and peer corroboration challenging expert credibility.
New information exchanges—podcasts, Perplexity, Polymarket—gaining trust.
A "post-news" world where traditional journalism is just one voice among many.
We also explore how technology’s influence likely shaped outcomes in ways we can't yet see. This raises questions about how politicians adapt to AI, persistent diversity gaps in tech development and adoption, and the growing need for regulation that keeps pace with algorithmic advances.
Links to items discussed include:
Research
Sources
Studies & Books
Donald Hoffman. Interface Theory of Perception and The Case Against Reality
Russell Hardin. How Do You Know? (Economics of Ordinary Knowledge)
Daniel Bell. The Coming of Post-Industrial Society
Tech Policy & Regulation
In future episodes, I’ll invite leading thinkers to help decode social and business change shaped by digital media, technology, and culture. If you like it, please give it a plug. Thanks for listening.
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