Thomas Jefferson once said, “A well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to democracy.” Yet in today’s digital age, the abundance of information often leaves the public ill-informed or misinformed. Citizens now act as reporters, algorithms function as editors, and botnets amplify influence—transforming how information is created, shared, and consumed. These shifts pose significant challenges to democracy, threatening our institutions and the future of journalism itself.
The Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation was founded to confront these challenges by researching the roots of misinformation and disinformation, fostering solutions, and empowering citizens to discern credible information. Journalists are not just storytellers—they are lifelong educators, essential to cultivating a more informed and engaged society.
To advance these goals, the Jordan Center is proud to host its inaugural symposium, Addressing the Impact of Social Media and AI on Democracy, on April 1-2, 2025, at the University of Mississippi. This landmark event will bring together leading experts, authors, and practitioners to explore the intersection of technology, journalism, and democracy—and to chart a path forward.
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| 2025 | ||
| Tuesday, April 1st | ||
| 8:00 AM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM |
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|---|---|---|
| 9:30 AM |
Andrea Hickerson, University of Mississippi Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM |
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| 10:00 AM |
Why Democracy Depends on a Healthy Social Fabric danah boyd, Data & Society Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM |
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| 11:00 AM |
Beyond the Big Lie and the Assault on Truth Bill Adair, Duke University Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
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| 12:00 PM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
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| 12:15 PM |
AI, Disinformation, "Censorship," and the Next Five Years Justin Hendrix, Tech Policy Press Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM |
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| 1:15 PM |
Panel Discussion: Where Artificial Intelligence and the Law Collide Andy Kroll, ProPublica Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM |
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| 2:30 PM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
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| 3:00 PM |
Charles Blow Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
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| 4:00 PM |
The Real Threat to Personal Liberties Dana Millbank Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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| 5:00 PM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM |
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| 5:30 PM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM |
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| 6:30 PM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM |
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| 7:30 PM |
Richard Lui, NBC/MSNBC Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
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| Wednesday, April 2nd | ||
| 7:30 AM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM |
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| 8:30 AM |
Andrea Hickerson, University of Mississippi Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM |
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| 9:00 AM |
The Looming Tech Dystopia and How to Avoid It Kashmir Hill, New York Times Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM |
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| 10:15 AM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM |
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| 10:30 AM |
Social Media, Ethics and the Implications of New Technologies Zeynep Tufekci, Princeton University Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM |
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| 11:45 AM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM |
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| 12:00 PM |
The Death of Truth and Post-Mortem Activism presentation and panel Steven Brill, NewsGuard Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM |
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| 1:15 PM |
Conference Participants Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM |
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| 1:30 PM |
Artificial Intelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World Meredith Broussard, New York University Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
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| 2:30 PM |
Flooding the Zone: Media and Democracy in the Digital Age Elise Jordan Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM |
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| 3:30 PM |
Andrea Hickerson, University of Mississippi Inn at Ole Miss. Ford Ballroom, Conference Room A-B. 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM |
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