Shows
The Conversation PieceElizabeth Dubois: Digital CitizenshipEvery click, swipe, and like we make in online spaces leaves a digital trace that can influence government and shape our ability to participate in political life.Elizabeth Dubois, associate professor and University Research Chair in Politics, Communication and Technology at the University of Ottawa, highlights the importance of thinking critically about internet accessibility, data transparency, and digital citizenship.Dubois spoke at The Walrus Talks We Desire A Better Country, in Winnipeg, on March 16, 2017.To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch...2025-02-1308 min
Wonks and War RoomsSeason 7 Episode 6 - Canadian Election Laws with Mike PalIn this episode, Elizabeth talks to Mike Pal, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, about election laws in Canada. Elizabeth and Mike discuss the laws and institutions that govern elections in Canada, including the Canada Elections Act and Elections Canada. They discuss threats to election integrity and security posed by new technologies in an age of democratic decline. Elizabeth and Mike also delve into the threat of foreign interference, voter privacy in big data elections, and a changing media environment prone to misinformation and disinformation. They close out by talking about artificial intelligence (AI), specifically its potential t...2024-11-2740 minWonks and War RoomsNewsletters in a High-Choice Media Environment with Nick Taylor-VaiseyIn this episode, Elizabeth talks to Nick Taylor-Vaisey, a journalist for Politico who works on the Ottawa Playbook, a free daily morning newsletter decoding Canadian politics. Nick and Elizabeth discuss the role of newsletters in curating information in a high-choice media environment and the way journalism has adapted to becoming digital. They discuss newsletters as a form of political information sharing and how this type of media can facilitate a direct relationship between author and reader. Elizabeth and Nick close out the show by chatting about the different reasons that individuals might subscribe to a political newsletter, the role o...2024-11-1332 minWonks and War RoomsForeign Interference at the Nomination Level with Conner ColesIn this episode, Elizabeth is joined by Conner Coles, a former lobbyist with experience working in and around politics, including during the political party candidate nomination process. Conner walks us through the issue of foreign interference in nomination races , how a lack of federal oversight in these contests exacerbates the problem, and the impact this can have on our democratic systems. Conner and Elizabeth dive into examples of foreign interference through news and government reports and discuss the implications of candidates being responsible for carrying the burden of foreign interference unknowingly. This episode closes with some of Conner’s re...2024-11-0631 minWonks and War RoomsAstroturfing with Patrícia Campos MelloIn this episode, Elizabeth interviews Brazilian journalist and columnist Patrícia Campos Mello, who first exposed the illegal use of WhatsApp mass messaging in Brazil's 2018 presidential elections. Together, they examine how politically motivated groups orchestrate fake grassroots movements—known as astroturfing—to manipulate public opinion and influence media coverage. Patrícia shares Brazilian examples to highlight the evolution of these tactics, from mass messaging operations to highly coordinated content promotion strategies. They also delve into the ethical and regulatory challenges that astroturfing presents for democracy. Additional resources: Elizabeth defines astroturfing based on Digit...2024-10-3029 minWonks and War RoomsTheory of Planned Behaviour with Melanie ParadisIn this episode, Elizabeth Dubois chats with Melanie Paradis, President of Texture Communications, to dissect the theory of planned behaviour and its application in political communication. With Melanie’s extensive background in political strategy and public relations, and her roles on high-profile political campaigns, this discussion explores how psychological principles underpin effective political messaging and voter engagement strategies.Additional Resources: Elizabeth relies on The Theory of Planned Behaviour: Reactions and Reflections and Knowledge and the Prediction of Behavior: The Role of Information Accuracy in the Theory of Planned Behavior to explain the...2024-10-2333 minWonks and War RoomsElections and Our Digital Media EcosystemWonks and War Rooms is kicking off season 7 with all things elections! With 73 elections worldwide, 2024 is being called a “global elections supercycle”. Elizabeth introduces the headlining topics listeners can get excited to learn about this season, including the theory of planned behaviour, astroturfing, foreign interference at the nomination level, and election laws. Elizabeth also talks about the land acknowledgement you hear at the end of each WWR episode, she explains how Wonks and War Rooms is working towards reconciliation through research, guests and other initiatives and contextualizes this effort within the University of Ottawa’s broader Indigenous Affirmation 2024-10-1705 min
La Fayette, We Are Here!La Fayette's USA Tour of 1824 - The Hero Returns. With Elizabeth Reese.To commemorate the 200th anniversary of La Fayette's grand tour of the USA in 1824, we have a special episode featuring guest Elizabeth Reese. Elizabeth is a public historian whose work focuses on the American Revolution and the Early Republic.She recently published a book on the famed Marquis' visit to America: "Marquis de Lafayette Returns - A Tour of America's National Capital Region". Join us as we discuss the circumstances, unfolding, and consequences of this great endeavour.TimecodesIntroduction04:23 - Brief overview of La Fayette...2024-08-1348 minWonks and War RoomsSeason 6 Episode 10: AI and Democracy with Seher ShafiqThis week Elizabeth talks with Seher Shafiq, a program manager at the Mozilla Foundation and expert in civic engagement, particularly in the context of elections and engaging marginalized people in the vote. They discuss how AI is impacting Canadian elections, civic engagement, and democracy. They look at helpful and not so helpful uses of AI tools in elections and chat about ways these tools could be used to increase voter engagement. Seher concludes the episode with suggestions for how we can deal with the lack of trust in AI, including an emphasis on digital literacy. Side note: W...2024-04-1033 minWonks and War RoomsCounter-speech as Content Moderation with Kesa WhiteIn this episode Elizabeth discusses the idea of counter-speech as content moderation with far right extremist researcher, Kesa White. Kesa describes her work on “dog-whistling,” talks about how counter speech can be helpful but doesn’t solve the problem of hate speech online, and explains some of the challenges tech companies face with content moderation. Drawing on her own experience with hate-speech she emphasizes how important it is for us to keep being “in the know” about social media and what is being said.We are doing a call-out for people who have had some kind of impact or...2024-04-0334 minWonks and War RoomsCollective vs Connective Action with Michael Redhead ChampagneThis week Elizabeth talks with Michael Redhead Champagne, a community organizer in Winnipeg working to dismantle harmful systems and build better ones through Indigenous practices and knowledge. They discuss collective and connective action logics, and the importance of creating networks of people to promote and sustain change. Michael talks about building a spider web or network to help advance change, highlighting how essential fostering social connections is for pushing for political change. Elizabeth also asks Michael about the ways he uses social media to get information out and get people in. Side note: We are collecting examples o...2024-03-2739 minWonks and War RoomsParasocial Relationships with T.X. WatsonIn this episode Elizabeth chats with TikTok creator and researcher T.X. Watson about parasocial relationships and how this term created in the 1950s applies, or not, to digital content creators. T.X. talks about relationships between influencers and their followers and how both research and popular culture still don't have words to properly describe this new form of connection. They discuss important topics that show up throughout this season of Wonks and War Rooms, such as authenticity, ethics, co-creation and measuring influence.Side note: We are collecting examples of impacts of the podcast and we’d lo...2024-03-2034 minWonks and War RoomsOne-Step Flow with Hamish MarshallIn this episode Elizabeth delves into the fascinating world of data and personalization with Hamish Marshall, former National Campaign Manager for the Conservative Party of Canada and seasoned expert at the crossroads of data and politics. They explore the evolution from the Two-Step Flow to the One-Step Flow of Communication, examining how data personalization and the changing media landscape have shifted the way information is disseminated in political campaigns. Hamish shares real-world insights into the practicalities and challenges of data-driven campaigning, touching on the nuances of voter targeting, the effectiveness of door-knocking, and the potential of personalized campaign strategies.2024-03-0633 minWonks and War RoomsPolitical Influencers with Nate LubinIn this episode, Elizabeth chats with digital communication strategist and experienced political campaigner, Nate Lubin about social media content creators in politics. Nate draws on his experience with the Better Internet Initiative which helps influencers make educational content related to progressive issues as well as his past experience as Director of the Office of Digital Strategy at the White House and Director of Digital Marketing at Obama for America. They talk about what constitutes a political influencer, how content creators engage in politics, and different models of influencer engagement.Additional Resources:Elizabeth relies on...2024-02-2833 minWonks and War RoomsNews influencers with Rachel GilmoreIn this episode Elizabeth chats with journalist Rachel Gilmore about what counts as journalistic content and how to navigate the intersection of journalism and the social media influencer industry. Rachel is a freelance journalist who posts regularly on TikTok (@rachel_gilmore), Instagram (@r.gilmore), and X (@atRachelGilmore) having previously worked in organizations such as CTV and Global News.Additional Resources:In this episode, Elizabeth and Rachel discuss the blurred boundaries between traditional media and new media platforms. Learn more about this from Phoebe Maares’ article: Exploring the boundaries of journalism: Instagram micro-bloggers in the tw...2024-02-2139 minWonks and War RoomsSocial Media in Politics with Dave SommerThis week Elizabeth chats with Dave Sommer, Vice President of Strategic Communication at Enterprise Canada, former Head of Politics and Government at Instagram in Washington, D.C., and former Deputy Director of Communications, Digital, for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. They chat about the use of social media in political campaigning, where personal influence fits in, and how it has evolved over time.Additional Resources:Elizabeth and Dave discuss how social media can be a tool to help connect with existing political audiences and potentially mobilize folks who are on your side. Learn...2024-02-1432 minWonks and War RoomsInfluencers with Taylor LorenzThis week Elizabeth chats with tech culture reporter and Washington Post columnist, Taylor Lorenz about influencers and the influencer industry. Taylor takes us from Ce-web-reties to influencers to content creators, telling us a bit about the history of folks who monetize their online presence. The two chat about the influencer industry beyond social media influencer marketing, the unique dynamics of political campaigning, smaller scale content creators as opinion leaders, and the ways in which having a perspective in the content you create meshes with expectations for authenticity and objectivity.Additional Resources:Check out Taylor’s...2024-01-3134 minWonks and War RoomsPersonal Influence in PoliticsPrepare for an intriguing journey in Season 6 of Wonks & War Rooms! Join Elizabeth Dubois as she unravels the dynamics of personal influence in politics, especially as it evolves with new technologies. In this episode Elizabeth talks about her experience working in politics and how it has pushed her to question what counts as personal influence and what roles technology plays in political communication.She also gives a peak at what to expect this season. New episodes drop Wednesday mornings.Additional Resources:Elizabeth highlights how new technologies a...2024-01-2419 minWonks and War RoomsSeason Six! Personal Influence in PoliticsGet ready for Season 6 of Wonks & War Rooms! This season, we're looking at personal influence in politics and how it evolves as new technologies are integrated into campaign strategies.Host Elizabeth Dubois will talk to journalists, campaigners, content creators, activists and more to discuss everything from opinion leaders to social media influencers to personalization and augmented analytics to generative AI and how all of those things impact the way personal influence plays out in politics.As always, episodes will drop Wednesday mornings every week or two. Our first episode...2024-01-1701 minWonks and War RoomsSeason 5 Wrap UpIn this final episode, our host Elizabeth reflects on the six episodes of Season 5, which dug into tech, politics, and policy with guests from the Berkman Klein Centre at Harvard and Center for Information Technology and Public Life (CITAP) at UNC-Chapel Hill. She recaps highlights of each episode, looks at what they had in common, and where we need to dig a little deeper.Additional resources:Here are direct links to this season’s episodes, including show notes and annotated transcripts:Episode 1: Knowledge Mobilization for Policy Impact with Petra MolnarEpisode 2: Image Manipulation wi...2023-05-2410 minWonks and War RoomsAntitrust and Big Tech with Matt PeraultMatt Perault is the director of the Center on Technology Policy at UNC Chapel Hill, and previously worked at Facebook, as the head of the global policy development team. This episode he and Elizabeth get into the weeds on antitrust competition laws, monopolies and big tech. They talk about how monopolies can be both good and bad, the goals of antitrust laws, and the complication of these laws applying across different regions of the world. They also discuss some of the antitrust lawsuits in big tech right now, and the various stakeholders involved.Additional resources: 2023-05-0332 minWonks and War RoomsThe Uses of AI in Canadian PoliticsIn this special episode Elizabeth is joined by our panel of experts — Samantha Bradshaw, Wendy Chun, Suzie Dunn, Fenwick McKelvey and Wendy H. Wong — for a roundtable discussion on how artificial intelligence is being deployed in Canadian political contexts. The topics range from mis- and disinformation, facial recognition, synthetic media, deep fakes and voice cloning to technical terms like GANs and large language models. We discuss the ways identities can be manipulated through AI, how generative AI creates content that dilutes our trust in images and media, and how AI relies on past data to make decisions about our futur...2023-04-1253 minWonks and War RoomsTrailer: April 3 Live event on the use of AI in Canadian politicsGet ready for a special live edition of Wonks and War Rooms! From deep fakes to detecting disinformation or harassment to voting predictions and sentiment analysis, AI-enabled technologies are playing an increasing role in democratic election processes. Join us on April 3 at 12 p.m. ET for a roundtable discussion on the use of artificial intelligence in politics. Our host Elizabeth Dubois, and a panel of experts in the fields of politics, public policy, and new technologies will help break down how artificial intelligence is being deployed in Canadian political contexts. Find out more and register for this f...2023-03-2901 minWonks and War RoomsBig Tech and Political Campaigns with Becca RinkevichBecca Rinkevic is the Director of the Institute for Rebooting Social Media and formerly the Deputy Director of Digital Strategy at the White House under President Joe Biden. This week she and Elizabeth are tackling the role of big tech in election campaigns and political advertising. They talk about the involvement of representatives from social media companies in election advertising campaigns, the changes in these relationships before after the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and what these relationships might look like in the future. They also talk about ways to report disinformation and harassment, guidelines around political advertising on social...2023-03-2237 minWonks and War RoomsMeta Oversight Board with Julie OwonoJulie Owono is the executive director of Internet Sans Frontières (Internet Without Borders) and a fellow at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University. She is also an inaugural member of the Meta Oversight Board, an independent group of experts who review appeals of content moderation decisions on Facebook and Instagram, which is the topic of today’s episode. Elizabeth and Julie talk about the background of the board and the appeals process, how cases are chosen, the possibilities and limits of what can be accomplished with content moderation, and the lesson Julie has learned in her...2023-03-0840 minWonks and War RoomsImage Manipulation with Juliana Castro-VarónJuliana Castro-Varón is the founder of the digital open access publisher Cita Press, and a fellow at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University. This episode she and Elizabeth discuss the historical examples of image manipulation, how photographic manipulations can mislead the public and the impact of images on our memories. They also talk about ways to spot fakes.Additional resourcesEarly in the episode Juliana mentions this article about Photoshop in The Verge about the history of this photo editing software.Juli talks about one of the very first known examples of i...2023-02-2234 minWonks and War RoomsKnowledge Mobilization for Policy Impact with Petra MolnarPetra Molnar is a lawyer and anthropologist, and co-director of York University’s Refugee Law Lab. This episode she and Elizabeth talk about how researchers get their expertise into the hands of people who shape the world we live in, like policymakers, politicians and journalists. They talk about what it means to know something, as well as different approaches to sharing knowledge, like co-production and co-learning. They also consider the power imbalances of knowledge and how to make sure that knowledge is being shared equitably, and inclusively.Additional resources:One of the academic papers we...2023-02-0836 min
Oh, My Health...There Is Hope!Episode 449: Breaking up with the mean girl in your head with Dr. Elizabeth DuBoisIn this episode of Oh My Heath ... There's HOPE! Jana talks with Dr. Elizabeth Dubois. Dr. Liz is an executive coach and high-conflict divorce coach. Her work focuses on helping leaders in diverse sectors and high-performers going through divorce deepen their sense of self-worth, get clear on tangible objectives so they can stop wasting time and energy obsessing about what society says they “should” be doing, and focus on their own intuitive guidance as they uplevel professionally and personally. Dr. Liz holds an MA in Sociology, a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and is a...2023-01-2131 minWonks and War RoomsSeason 5: Technology, Politics & PolicyGet ready for Season 5 of Wonks & War Rooms! This season we’ll be diving into tech, politics, and policy. Host Elizabeth Dubois will talk to public policy managers, technologists & campaigners to discuss how technology policy is shaped, how technology is used in political campaigns, and what that means for political communication research and practice. As always, episodes will drop on Wednesday mornings each week starting Wednesday, February 8. Mark your calendars! Get caught up on past episodes and find fully annotated transcripts in English and French at https://www.polcommtech.com/. Check out www.polc...2023-01-1801 min
Saint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishPentecost Sunday: Father Dubois(June 5, 2022) "What mission in life am I given?" is the question and the heart of Father Samuel Dubois's homily on this Pentecost Sunday.The Holy Spirit gives us all different gifts and talents. The question we need to ask of ourselves is, "How is the Holy Spirit calling me to serve here and now and in this moment?""The Holy Spirit is always at work within us," said Father Dubois, "but it is up to us to allow that work to bear fruit. The Spirit does not force this to happen, but He will always...2022-06-0505 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish3rd Sunday of Easter: Father Dubois(May 1, 2022) We have the privilege of proclaiming our love for God, Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, said in his homily this weekend. And in doing, we bring God glory and honor. 2022-04-3004 minWonks and War RoomsPost-Truth Politics with Vinita SrivastavaVinita Srivastava is the senior editor of culture and society for The Conversation Canada, and host of the podcast Don’t Call Me Resilient, as well as a research associate with the Global Journalism Innovation Lab. This episode, Vinita and Elizabeth chat about post-truth politics and the idea that how people feel about information is sometimes more influential than the actual facts. They discuss differences between the facts contained in a story versus the perspective of who is telling a story, as well as the question of which stories get told, who gets to decide that, and the idea of...2022-04-2733 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish2nd Sunday of Easter: Father Dubois(April 24, 2022) Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, contrasts human mercy with God's mercy in his homily for Divine Mercy Sunday. God's mercy is so much more amazing and powerful than anything we can come close to offering to another, Father Dubois says, because Divine Mercy heals us and raises us to new and eternal life.2022-04-2406 minWonks and War RoomsRegulating Big Tech with Taylor OwenTaylor Owen is a professor of public policy at the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill university, and his research focuses mainly on tech regulation. This episode, he and Elizabeth define and categorize types of regulation. They discuss what tech regulation looks like, how lobbying impacts tech regulation, why regulation of tech is difficult, and the balance governments (both in Canada and internationally) must grapple with between regulation options and public good. This episode, recorded in January 2022, does not explore current legislation or the nitty gritty of the regulatory options. However, Elizabeth and Taylor provide the background f...2022-04-2035 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishEaster Sunday: Father Dubois(April 17, 2022) Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, invites us to rejoice in Christ's victory over death and His message that we no longer have anything to be afraid of. Renewing our baptismal promises is our acceptance of the reality of the Kingdom of God that is to come.2022-04-1703 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishGood Friday of the Lord's Passion: Father Dubois(April 15, 2022) Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, reminds us that Jesus' love for us transcends any love which our rational minds could grasp. Sacrificing Himself, He did so that our lives would be eternal, with Him, and not lost in the darkness. "Out of love for us," Father Dubois says, "Jesus freely embraced His cross. It is His gift for us, so that we might be free, so that we might be loved, so that one day we might return home."2022-04-1604 minWonks and War RoomsJournalism and online harassment with Rosemary Barton, Fatima Syed and Mark BlackburnThis episode is an audio version of a special live taping of Wonks and War Rooms, in partnership with uOttawa’s Centre for Law, Technology and Society, where Elizabeth is joined by a panel of journalists to tackle a tough topic: online harassment of journalists and what it means for our democracy. Rosemary Barton is the Chief Political Correspondent for CBC News; Fatima Syed is a reporter for the Narwhal and host of Canadaland podcast The Backbench; and Mark Blackburn is the social media and online producer at APTN. Elizabeth and the panel look at different types of...2022-04-1348 minWonks and War RoomsBackfire Effect with Riyadh NazerallyRiyadh Nazerally is the Director of Communications for the Hon. Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, and is the former Director of Communications for Capital Pride in Ottawa. This week he and Elizabeth discuss the backfire effect and its three types: familiarity, overkill and worldview. They talk about how to understand and handle the backfire effect when it happens. Riyadh explains how comms and policy teams figure out how much information to send, who to send it to, and when. Additional resources:Elizabeth uses this article from Lewandowsky and this a...2022-04-0635 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish5th Sunday of Lent: Father Dubois(April 3, 2022) Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, invites us today to be more open and introspect of our own sins and mistakes. He also asks us to be to be more merciful and Christ-like to others. Emphasizing the today's Gospel message from John 8: 1-11, Father Dubois says that focusing on the mistakes of others, "no one has to look at their own." We, therefore, need to focus "on the things that matter."2022-04-0206 minWonks and War RoomsEcho Chambers and Filter Bubbles with Adi Rao (re-release)Adi, a lawyer and campaigner, explains how campaigns are often thinking about how they can crack into people's filter bubbles in order to raise awareness and find new supporters. During the conversation Elizabeth and Adi tease apart the difference between algorithmically driven filter bubbles and echo chambers which come about as a result of individuals choices in their media environment.Additional Resources:Eli Pariser has a helpful Ted Talk about his notion of the Filter Bubble: Beware online “filter bubbles”.This academic article by Dubois (yes, your host) and Blank breaks down the theory of ec...2022-03-3027 minWonks and War RoomsLive Recording Alert! March 22 at noon with Rosemary Barton, Fatima Syed and Mark BlackburnJournalists Facing Mean Tweets: What It Means for Our Democracy - Join us Tuesday, March 22 at noon ET for a live virtual event! Register here.In this special live recording of the podcast, Elizabeth will chat with Rosemary Barton, chief political correspondent for CBC, Fatima Syed, host of The Backbench podcast (Canadaland) and vice-president of the Canadian Association of Journalists, and Mark Blackburn, online producer for APTN. They will talk about increasingly toxic online spaces and tackle tricky questions: What can we do to cultivate civic engagement between individuals and news media? What...2022-03-1802 minWonks and War RoomsPolitical Polarization with Sean SpeerSean Speer is the Editor-At-Large at The Hub, a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and previously served as Senior Advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He and Elizabeth chat about political polarization and dig into the different theories of polarization including elite polarization and mass polarization, as well as ideological versus affective polarization. They discuss the idea of politics as a left-to-right spectrum, polarization causing artificial divides, the rise of populism, and the idea that polarization can be used as a tool for meaningful progress.Additional ResourcesInterested...2022-03-1638 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish2nd Sunday of Lent: Father Dubois(March 13, 2022) Have you ever asked yourself what the Covenant, listening, and prayer have in common? Father Samuel Dubois, parochial vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, reminds us that our God is the faithful God who keeps His promises even when we are unfaithful. This season of Lent is a perfect time to look back at our lives and make an attempt to get closer to Him. The starting point is listening carefully to His voice, and then joining-in in prayer. Be the joy of our Lord, who always wants to be with each one of us. 2022-03-1407 minWonks and War RoomsPropaganda, Government Comms, and Disinformation with Shuvaloy MajumdarShuvaloy Majumdar is the Foreign Policy Director and Munk Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and this week he and Elizabeth tackle propaganda, government communication and mis/disinformation. They discuss the blurry line between government messaging and propaganda, and what they can look like in authoritarian versus democratic regimes. Shuvaloy also speaks to his experiences of government communications as a former policy director to foreign ministers.Additional Resources Elizabeth draws on this article by Aaron Hyzen for her definition of propaganda.Elizabeth mentions this episode from season one about the high choice media environment w...2022-03-0934 minWonks and War RoomsInformation Disorder with Claire WardleClaire Wardle is a professor at Brown University and the co-founder of First Draft, a non-profit that focuses on misinformation and the tools needed to fight it. She and Elizabeth chat about information disorder, a term Claire helped coin. The term helps us think about issues related to mis- and dis- information as bigger than being about fact or not. Claire explains how it is actually much more important to think about the information environments people find themselves in, how they might be different from other people’s information environments, and how things like emotion and sense of community co...2022-02-2332 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish7th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Father Dubois(February 20, 2022) Are you burdened with hurt or injustice done unto you? Or, perhaps, because you sinned against someone? Have you tried handing over that burden and inviting the love of Jesus to help you heal your heart? Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, invites us to do exactly that: "Hand your burden over to Jesus; ask Him to set you free. It may not happen overnight -- or in a moment -- but healing is possible; freedom is possible. Because God gives without measuring, without counting the cost; He gives of His li...2022-02-1909 minWonks and War RoomsRebroadcast of Mis- and Dis- Information with Nasma AhmedTo kick-off our season on mis- and dis- info we are rebroadcasting this great conversation with Nasma Ahmed who is the Director of the Digital Justice Lab. In this episode, recorded in 2019, Nasma helps Elizabeth unpack what exactly mis- and dis- information are, why we need to question content we see online, and how a lack of trust in larger political systems plays in. Additional Resources:First Draft has a number of very useful resources. Find some key definitions in Wardel's Fake news: It's complicated and check out this three part se...2022-02-1635 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishSolemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God: Father Dubois(January 1, 2022) Today is the time when we think about our New Year’s resolutions. And about our plans and intentions. But, do we see the big picture? Father Samuel Dubois takes a step back and clarifies for us that, “Today is all about dwelling with the Lord: starting that year with Him and recognizing that each day and each year belong to Him. He is the Lord of all, and He loves us, so we are called to offer each day of each year to Him in His honor, to love Him in return.” Therefore, Father Dubois says, “Truly, the New Ye...2021-12-3103 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishNativity of the Lord: Father Dubois (10 a.m.)(December 25, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, shared with us what stands at the heart of Christmas: love."Being loved is the beauty of Christmas: it awakens in our hearts a simplicity of life. All God needs from us is not our stuff or accomplishments, but our love. Let us, then, open our hearts to the love of God: return that love to Him and give Him thanks for the joys and blessings that we share. Our God could rule with power and might, but He prefers to rule by a...2021-12-2504 minWonks and War RoomsMapping theories for media and digital literacyThis week Elizabeth wraps up season 3! This season was focused on Media and Digital Literacy, and Elizabeth runs through all the concepts we covered to help you gain a greater understanding of how these concepts are interrelated. Elizabeth also takes a look back at some concepts and episodes from previous seasons, and looks to the future for our next season on mis and dis-information.Additional Resources: Remember Season 3, Episode 1 with Matthew from Media Smarts? This excellent resource from Media Smarts provides an overview of digital literacy fundamentals.Check out this report to understand more a...2021-12-1514 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish3rd Sunday of Advent: Father Dubois(December 12, 2021) Have you ever wondered how Mary Magdalene overcame the mistakes she made? This theme is at the heart of Father Samuel Dubois’s homily today. Mary Magdalene was a sinner who encountered Jesus; Jesus reminded her that she was more than her past and her mistakes. Through a “beautiful adventure with this mysterious Jesus,” Father Dubois said, “Mary Magdalene got a chance for a new start.” This situation may be applicable for us as well. Let us relate to it as “the beauty of the Sacrament of Confession. We go in one person, and we come out so...2021-12-1108 minWonks and War RoomsSurveillance Capitalism with Vass Bednar (re-release)Elizabeth chats with public policy expert Vass Bednar about surveillance capitalism. Taking a few Canadian examples, they talk about how tech companies collect and use data about their users, how privacy policy might be a red herring and how incentive structures in the tech industry contribute to the system of surveillance capitalism.Additional Resources:Shoshana Zuboff's The Age of Surveillance Capitalism is the key text. There are also a lot of summaries of the book in blog posts, podcasts, and videos. One of my favourite short reviews of the concept comes from the Fortune...2021-12-0832 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish1st Sunday of Advent: Father Dubois(November 28, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois, parochial vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, welcomes us to the season of Christmas. All other worldly things set aside, this Advent season should be the time of "preparation, time of centering our lives and focusing on Jesus." 2021-11-2702 minWonks and War RoomsTechnological Affordances with Rachel AielloThis week Elizabeth chats about technological affordances with Rachel Aiello, an online politics producer for CTVNews.ca and a member of the parliamentary press gallery. They chat about how technology is changing how journalists report and how audiences receive information, from politicians on social media to journalists working from their phones. They also talk about technological determinism in order to highlight why it is important we think about affordances in the first place. Additional ResourcesElizabeth uses this article by Butcher & Helmond and this article by Nagy & Neff to b...2021-11-2431 minWonks and War RoomsContent Moderation with Andrew Strait (re-release)Former content moderator and current director of the Ada Lovelace Institute, Andrew Strait and Elizabeth chat about what content moderation is, why it is always flawed, and how the way in which platforms are constructed impact the flow of content. They talk about a bunch of related issues including how to (and how not to) regulate tech companies in order to minimize harms.Additional ResourcesAndrew recommended two great books that look at content moderation and content moderators: Behind the Screen by Sarah T. Roberts and Custodians of the Internet by Tarleton Gillespie. 2021-11-1733 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Father Dubois(November 14, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois, parochial vicar for Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, took a deep look at today's Gospel message. Father Dubois emphasized that we, despite not knowing when the Second Coming will exactly take place, need not be worried and afraid. Our human nature does makes us worried, afraid, and stressed, but we need to remember that Jesus is always with us, now and forever. 2021-11-1306 minWonks and War RoomsPolitical Satire with Tim Fontaine (of Walking Eagle News)Tim Fontaine is a former journalist who founded the satirical news website Walking Eagle News. He and Elizabeth chat about the role of political satire in peoples’ information diets. Political satire can provide an audience with a different perspective, help people understand the dominant narratives, and highlight gaps in dominant discourses. Elizabeth and Tim cover everything from the role of political satire, to critiques of political satire, to the difference between political satire and “fake news”.Additional ResourcesElizabeth uses this article from Hill to inform her definition of political satire.T...2021-11-0334 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish31st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Father Dubois (October 31, 2021) At the heart of Father Samuel Dubois’s homily is the message that our Church is not an entity that restrains Her faithful. Rather, our Church is all about saying “yes” to many things in our lives. She calls us to holiness by saying “yes” to God, “to the dignity, the honor, the beauty that we are called to hold and have,” Father Dubois said.By saying “yes” to these things “we are called to hold and have,” Father concluded, “we will be very close to the Kingdom of God in this life; and in the life to come, we will dwe...2021-10-3007 minWonks and War RoomsSafe Spaces with Erin Gee (of the Bad + Bitchy Podcast)Erin Gee is a policymaker, specialist in gender-based analysis, and Co-Founder of the Bad + Bitchy Podcast, and this week she discusses safe spaces with Elizabeth. Safe Spaces are online or physical spaces where historically marginalized groups might connect, share information and ideas, and mobilize. How does the idea of safe spaces connect to media and digital literacy? We consume information in social contexts, safe spaces can be one of those contexts. Erin and Elizabeth cover types of safe spaces, critiques of safe spaces, free speech, equity, and intersectionality.Additional ResourcesElizabeth...2021-10-2735 minWonks and War RoomsSelective Avoidance with Jen GersonThis week Elizabeth chats with Jen Gerson, a freelance journalist and co-founder of The Line, about selective avoidance. Whether it be blocking someone on Twitter, unfriending someone on Facebook, or just carefully choosing from which sources we get our news, selective avoidance is an everyday occurrence. They discuss topics like the role of emotion in selective avoidance, fragmented media environments, political polarization, and hyper engagement.Additional Resources:Elizabeth uses this article by Parmalee and colleagues to help define selective avoidance.Check out this article to learn more about the role of...2021-10-2034 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Father Dubois(October 16, 2021) Reflecting on today's Scripture readings, Father Samuel Dubois reminds us that there is nothing we have gone through or will ever go through that God has not shouldered. "So, if we unite ourselves to Him, we unite ourselves to His saving cross.”Jesus walked in "our very steps," Father Dubois said. He "suffered as we suffer" so that, when we suffer, "we know we have a companion, someone with us." This is all part of God's love for us, he said. "There is no more powerful testament of God's love than the crucifix . . . no mor...2021-10-1607 minWonks and War RoomsPolitical Information Repertoires with Murad HemmadiMurad Hemmadi is a reporter for The Logic and this week he talks to Elizabeth about political information repertoires. From party campaign material to policy discussions to political memes, political information repertoires can be a mix of a lot of different things. They chat about what makes up a persons’ repertoire, the idea of Slacktivism, the lack of ‘backstory’ in the news, and Jagmeet Singh’s TikTok.Additional Resources:Elizabeth draws on this article by Wolfsfeld et al. to define political information repertoires.Elizabeth uses The Conversation Canada as an ex...2021-10-1334 minWonks and War RoomsCritical Digital Literacy with Matthew Johnson of Media SmartsMatthew Johnson is the Director of Education for MediaSmarts, and he chats with Elizabeth about critical digital literacy. From house hippos to authenticating information online, Elizabeth and Matthew discuss functional and critical aspects of media and digital literacy. They talk about the skills required to use digital and media tools, and the “key concept approach” to digital literacy, and digital literacy in the context of democratic systems.Additional Resources:Check out Media Smarts’ overview of digital literacy fundamentals here. Matthew also discusses the 5 key concepts for Media Literacy which can be found o...2021-10-0641 minWonks and War RoomsSeason Three! Media and Digital LiteracyThis season we are doing things a little bit differently. We are going to spend this season looking at media and digital literacy and a bunch of political communication theories that are related. Next week we kick things off with a run down of what exactly media and digital literacy are. Then we will go week by week talking about things like political information repertoires, selective avoidance, political satire, safe spaces and more. Elizabeth will be chatting with journalists, political campaigners, and folks working in non-profits. Learn more about the podcast and Elizabeth's research team...2021-09-2901 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Father Dubois(September 26, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, asked: "How is Jesus calling you to serve the poorest among us?" The challenge for us, he said, "is to give life to others by the way we live, by the way we love."Father Dubois reminded us that "it is not up to us when God will call us to charity … we must give of ourselves: whether it is just a listening ear; perhaps, it is a prayer for someone in need. If we are blessed with good health . . . place it at the service of...2021-09-2508 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Father Dubois(August 29, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois, the parochial vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, asks what the opposite of hypocrisy is. “That is authenticity, integrity, holiness. Jesus will help us be authentic and integral people if we ask Him for His help,” he said.Every Christian needs to ask themself the following questions: “How do we want to live? Who do we want to be like? Will be we like Christ or like our own distorted image of ourselves?”Of course, Father says, all these are questions we know the answer to. “Each of us has beautiful...2021-08-2806 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishSolemnity of the Assumption: Father Dubois(August 15, 2021) In this week's homily, Father Samuel Dubois focused on the dilemmas and choices our Blessed Mother had to face once she accepted the call to be the Mother of God. “Love calls me to go forth, so I will; trust in God’s grace and all will be well,” is how our parochial vicar encapsuled the outcome of the call. “However, if Mary had allowed worldly concerns and worries and fears to drive her life, to control her heart, the last thing she would have done is to visit Elizabeth. But she allowed herself to be sent, dir...2021-08-1408 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish16th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Father Dubois(July 18, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois invites us to reconsider what our attendance at Mass actually means. As we love our spouse and give selflessly to one another following our marriage vows, how much more grace can we get if we realize that our presence at Mass is a unique opportunity for us to be with our loving God. Father Dubois adds, " (it is) ... an opportunity to love and to be loved by our eternal, unshakable God, who is with us in all things."2021-07-1708 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishGod is on our side: Father Dubois(July 11, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, reminds us of all of the good that the disciples were able to do, despite their fears, when Jesus sent them out to the world. "It's Ok to be afraid," he said, "but we have to remember that God is on our side."2021-07-1005 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishThe Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (06-06-21) Father Dubois(June 6, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois, parochial vicar for the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, reflects on the significance of Transubstantiation -- the change of ordinary bread and wine into the consecrated Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The beautiful words of consecration are both a means of our salvation and of reality; they are true Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ, which we need to honor and give thanks to. 2021-06-0507 min
Trend LineDecoding the Liberals' internet regulation plans with Elizabeth DuboisCTVNews.ca Rachel Aiello and Nanos Research's Nik Nanos are back with another episode of Trend Line. On today's episode Rachel and Nik discuss how military misconduct and Canada’s vaccine rollout have intersected, and how it ranks as an issue of concern for Canadians. And, as economies around the world start to reopen, how do Canadians feel about the strength of Canada's economy? After the break Elizabeth Dubois, a digital media and political communications professor from the University of Ottawa, joins the chat to discuss the Liberal government's Bill C-10 and other online regulation ai...2021-05-2028 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + Parish6th Sunday of Easter (05-09-21) Father Dubois(May 9, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois relates the life story of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a Catholic priest who freely chose to suffer death in place of a fellow prisoner in a concentration camp during World War II. "If we are to be like Christ," Father Dubois said, "we have to be willing to carry the cross: the cross of indifference, the cross of apathy, the cross of the cruelty of others, so that we may be made worthy of the Resurrection, so that we may be raised to glory -- but, most of all -- so that our joy may be in J...2021-05-0809 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishApril Showers and Mayflowers (05-02-2021) Father Dubois(May 2, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois, Parochial Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, reminds us that, just as without April showers there would be no May flowers, so without the times of trial and disappointment in our lives, we might be tempted to choose the temporal over the eternal.2021-05-0106 minWonks and War RoomsWhat's Next for Wonks and War Rooms?Mini-episode coming at you. Elizabeth closes out season 2 with an update on plans for next season and a request to you listeners!While we are away you can follow Elizabeth's work on Twitter @lizduboisCheck out the Pol Comm Tech Lab website: www.polcommtech.ca Check out www.polcommtech.ca for annotated transcripts of this episode in English and French. 2021-04-2105 minWonks and War RoomsNetworked Fourth Estate with Sherry AskeSherry Aske, former CBC multimedia journalist, and Elizabeth chat about the fourth estate and the networked fourth estate. They dive into the origins of theories and the range of information producers that make up the networked fourth estate. Sherry and Elizabeth also reflect on the power dynamics at play between actors in the networked fourth estate and what that means for who gets heard in the current media environment.Additional ResourcesThis open-access academic journal article by Yochai Benkler (2011) introduces the concept of the networked fourth estate. Wikipedia provides a good sketch...2021-04-1432 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishHoly Hour for Sunday of Divine Mercy (04-11-21) Father Dubois(April 11, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois emphasizes that today's feast of Divine Mercy presents a great opportunity for us believers. "It is the best help for us to grow in holiness that we could ever ask for," adds Father Dubois."Jesus I trust in You" are the words of a short prayer Saint Faustina left us, and we should pray it whenever we can. The prayer entails leading us into the unknown while trusting in God's mercy, not of our own choosing. Father Dubois closes with an invitation to the beauty of today's feast through the words "Jesus, I trust...2021-04-1103 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishDivine Mercy Sunday (04-11-21) Father Dubois(April 11, 2021) Father Samuel Dubois reminds us that only one thing lasts forever: God's love. Everything else fades away and falls apart, except for His grace. Recalling Saint Maria Goretti's martyrdom and the story of her murderer, who repented and eventually became a monk. Father asks, "If God could transform a man with the past like that, what could He do with me?" It is transformation, rooted in the Mercy of God, that is a direct testimony to God's forgiveness and love. Saint Faustina left us a powerful invocation that we can always pray: "Jesus, I trust in You." In clos...2021-04-1107 minWonks and War RoomsDigital Transformation with Shaaz NasirShaaz is a Digital Advisor and Director of Digital Transformation for Microsoft and he chats with Elizabeth about what exactly is digital transformation. They go from academic definition, to business buzz words, to practical applications. Shaaz explains why he puts humanity at the centre of digital transformation and why he always wants to focus on "why" (rather than just what fancy new tech can we use).Additional ResourcesElizabeth uses this academic journal article by Gregory Vial (2019) to define digital transformation. Tip: You can get access to some articles...2021-04-0735 minSaint + Elizabeth + Ann + Seton + ParishEaster Sunday (04-02-2021) Father Dubois(April 4, 2021) Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia! Father Samuel Dubois, parochial vicar of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, invites us to celebrate and live in the joy of the Resurrection.2021-04-0407 minWonks and War RoomsLiquid Politics with Etienne Rainville from the Boys in Short PantsEtienne Rainville of The Boys in Short Pants podcast, former Hill staffer, and government relations expert chats with Elizabeth about liquid modernity. They chat about how the fast-paced nature of politics, how political actors learn about the issues, and the role of Twitter in Canadian politics and policy making.Additional ResourcesChapter 4 in the book Political Communication and Social Theory by Davis is a great place to start to understand liquid politics.Etienne also mentions Policy Options, Canada2020, Canada Strong and Free Network and Parliamentary Committees in this episode....2021-03-3141 minWonks and War RoomsCitizenship and the Digital Context with Anowa QuarcooCo-founder of CivicTechTO and self-declared certified nerd, Anowa Quarcoo chats with Elizabeth about the idea of citizenship. They talk about legal and cultural definitions of citizenship before jumping into a discussion of what counts as a citizen in a digital era. From civic leaders, to publics, to users, to citizens - they talk about how some terms can be empowering while others can be exclusionary. Key take-away? Context matters. You need to ask why you are trying to define a group with this kind of term and pick accordingly.Additional ResourcesThere are...2021-03-1733 minWonks and War RoomsOpen Data with Mor RubinsteinMor is a self-described data geek, she chats with Elizabeth about what open data actually is, how it can be used, and why it isn't always the perfect fix (but still helpful) for increasing government transparency and accountability. Hear about examples from government and philanthropy in Canada, Israel, and the UK.Additional ResourcesTwo useful websites for defining open data are: open.canada.ca and opendefinition.org.In the episode, Mor mentions a McKinsey report that discusses the potential economic value of open data. The episode also includes lots of e...2021-03-1036 minWonks and War RoomsDigital Government with Megan BerettaMegan Beretta is a public servant who is dedicated to digital government. She and Elizabeth chat about the evolution from e-government to digital government, where we find digital gov efforts in Canada (also, who can actually get stuff done), and opportunities for increased accessibility.Additional ResourcesWe've mentioned the Citizenship in a Connected Canada book before - it is the one Elizabeth co-edited. It is available open access (that means free!). There are three relevant chapters for today's episode! Links below are to SSRN which is a repository for pre-prints, you can also...2021-03-0333 minWonks and War RoomsSurveillance Capitalism with Vass BednarVass Bednar is a public policy expert who chats with Elizabeth about the idea of surveillance capitalism. Talking about a few Canadian examples, they talk about how tech companies collect and use data from their users, how privacy policy might be a red herring and how incentive structures in the tech industry contribute to the system of surveillance capitalism.Additional Resources:Shoshana Zuboff's The Age of Surveillance Capitalism is the key text. There are also a lot of summaries of the book in blog posts, podcasts, and videos. One of my favourite short...2021-02-2432 minWonks and War RoomsDecolonizing Digital Spaces with Alexander DirksenAlexander Dirksen, a proud member of Métis Nation BC, researcher and strategist chats with Elizabeth about what it means to decolonize digital spaces and why it is so crucial to re-centre conversations about tech development through the lens of decolonization. Additional ResourcesDecolonizing Digital Space (Chapter 1) - this is the chapter written by Alexander Dirksen that is mentioned throughout this episode. The Citizenship in a Connected Canada book is available open access which means anyone can read it for free!In the episode Alexander mentions nation-to-nation relationships. You can learn more about it in...2021-02-1729 minWonks and War RoomsIntroducing Season 2!Elizabeth here with a quick update on what you can expect from Season Two of Wonks and War Rooms. The first full episode will drop Wednesday, February 17! Check out www.polcommtech.ca for annotated transcripts of this episode in English and French. 2021-02-1002 minWonks and War RoomsSeason 1 complete!That's it for season 1 - thank you so much for joining us! Season 2 will kick off in January. Until then, you can head over to polcommtech.ca to join our mailing list or follow Elizabeth on Twitter @lizdubois. Check out www.polcommtech.ca for annotated transcripts of this episode in English and French. 2020-12-1800 minWonks and War RoomsContent Moderation with Andrew StraitFormer content moderator, Andrew Strait, and Elizabeth chat about what content moderation is, why it is always flawed, and how the way platforms are constructed impact the flow of content. They talk about a bunch of related issues including how to (and how not to) regulate tech companies in order to minimize harms. Additional ResourcesAndrew recommended two great books that look at content moderation and content moderators: Behind the Screen by Sarah T. Roberts and Custodians of the Internet by Tarleton Gillespie.After the interview Andrew also mentioned the work of Daphne Keller...2020-12-0232 minWonks and War RoomsIssue Ownership with Tiffany GoochTiffany Gooch, Principal at Aurora Strategy and activist, chats with Elizabeth about issue ownership (which, it turns out, is NOT issue management). Issue ownership is this idea that certain political parties will be perceived to be particularly credible or effective on certain issues and they can develop comms strategy based on it. But pandemics change things.Additional Resources:A great place to start is the academic article by Bélanger and Meguid: Issue salience, issue ownership, and issue-based vote choice. Check out www.polcommtech.ca for a...2020-11-1826 minWonks and War RoomsPermanent Campaigns with Kate HarrisonKate Harrison (VP at Summa Strategies) and Elizabeth chat about the permanent campaign, and how political parties and politicians change their communication strategies over time. With so much information out there, politicians have to be communicating with potential voters even outside official election times.Additional resources:In a Policy Options piece, Esselment reviews the Canadian context: Canada’s embrace of the permanent campaignVasko and Trilling have a useful academic article on the topic: A permanent campaign? Tweeting differences among members of Congress between campaign and routine periods...2020-11-1129 minWonks and War RoomsMis- and Dis- Information with Nasma AhmedNasma Ahmed is the Director of the Digital Justice Lab and she helps Elizabeth unpack what exactly mis- and dis- information are, why we need to question content we see online, and how a lack of trust in larger political systems plays in. Additional Resources:First Draft has a number of very useful resources. Find some key definitions in Wardel's Fake news: It's complicated and check out this three part series on The Psychology of Misinformation.Marwick and Lewis with Data & Society also have a helpful report: Media Manipulation...2020-11-0433 minWonks and War RoomsAuthenticity with Kevin Parent from Ottawa Public HealthKevin Parent runs Ottawa Public Health's social media accounts. He and Elizabeth talk about how important authenticity is for communicating health information to the public, especially in a pandemic. Also, humour. Seriously, @OttawaHealth is hilarious on Twitter.Additional ResourcesThis academic article by Gaden and Dumitrica reviews the idea of authenticity: The 'real deal': Strategic authenticity, politics and social media.Check out Ottawa Public Health's COVID Wise website.P.S. #Vaccineswork Check out www.polcommtech.ca for annotated transcripts...2020-10-2131 minWonks and War RoomsEcho Chambers and Filter Bubbles with Adi RaoAdi, a lawyer and campaigner, explains how campaigns are often thinking about how they can crack into people's filter bubbles in order to raise awareness and find new supporters. During the conversation Elizabeth and Adi tease apart the difference between algorithmically driven filter bubbles and echo chambers which come about as a result of individuals choices in their media environment.Additional Resources:Eli Pariser has a helpful Ted Talk about his notion of the Filter Bubble: Beware online “filter bubbles”.This academic article by Dubois (yes, your host) and Blank breaks down the theory of e...2020-10-1426 minWonks and War RoomsPublic(s) and Public Opinion with David ColettoDavid Coletto, pollster and CEO of Abacus Data, chats with Elizabeth about what public opinion polling is, how publics are identified, and why what "the public" thinks is politically useful. They also talk about how social media (and all the data we leave behind as we use them) are changing how we can get to know different publics. David takes a quiz to differentiate between networked publics and calculated publics (spoiler: he passes!).Additional Resources:In the academic journal article: Social media analysis and public opinion: The 2010 UK general election, Anstead and O'Loughlin do...2020-10-0728 minWonks and War RoomsThe Two-Step Flow and Opinion Leaders with Nick SwitalskiNick is a long-time campaigner and former Hill staffer. He and Elizabeth talk about opinion leaders and the two-step flow hypothesis. In theory these opinion leaders use social pressure and social support to influence their friends and family but Nick argues that kind of influence just isn't that useful in most federal campaigns.Additional Resources:Academic journal article by Katz (he and Lazarsfeld first developed the idea): Two-Step Flow of Communication: An Up-to-Date Report on an Hypothesis. The article is from 1957, so it was up-to-date at some point.Academic journal article by Dubois (yes...2020-09-3025 minWonks and War RoomsGatekeepers with Fatima SyedElizabeth chats with journalist Fatima Syed about gatekeeping theory. Gatekeepers control the flow of information but Fatima isn't sure if there really are gatekeepers in a digital media ecosystem. The traditional role of news media assumes journalistic ethics will guide gatekeeping decisions but that doesn't apply to social media companies which are also important information controllers. In the end, it seems like gatekeeping theory still makes sense but the idea of who can be a gatekeeper is definitely a lot broader than it used to be.Additional resources:Wikipedia article on gatekeeping theory...2020-09-2427 minWonks and War RoomsThe High-Choice Media Environment with Jane LytvynenkoElizabeth chats with Buzzfeed disinformation reporter Jane Lytvynenko about the high-choice media environment. In a tweet, Jane tells us the theory is basically information capitalism. They dig into the idea of having lots of choices both about the supply and demand for political information. From audience fragmentation to crisis communication, we question what the theory has to say about the way people access and share political information and news.Additional resources:Academic article by Van Aelst and colleagues: Political communication in a high-choice media environment: a challenge f...2020-09-1627 minWonks and War RoomsAssemblages with Naomi SayersElizabeth chats with lawyer Naomi Sayers about Assemblages. From @IndigiBot to bad date reporting to corporate complaint hierarchies, they've got lots of examples of Assemblages. They show how thinking about the system of people, organizations, tools, technology, and the relationships between each can be pretty useful.Additional resources:This academic article by Chadwick: The political information cycle in a hybrid news system: The British prime minister and the “Bullygate” affairThe Hybrid Media System: Politics and Power, tumblr siteThe Wikipedia article on Assemblages Theory is a start. Follow the references. Check out www.polcommtech.ca f...2020-09-1621 minWonks and War RoomsWonks and War Rooms TrailerWelcome to Wonks and War Rooms, where political communication theory meets on the ground strategy. Each episode Professor Elizabeth Dubois introduces use to a political communication theory and then chats with a with political staffers, journalists, comms experts, lobbyists, activists and other political actors. They talk through examples our in the applied world of politics and communication to illustrate just how ridiculous (or super helpful) that theory actually is.Elizabeth Dubois (PhD, University of Oxford) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Ottawa. Her work examines political uses of digital media...2020-09-1601 min
The Year That WasRadical and Agitator: William Monroe Trotter and the Fight for JusticeWilliam Monroe Trotter was among the richest, best-educated, and most-well-connected African-American men in the United States--and he dedicated every ounce of his privilege into helping his fellow black Americans. By 1919, he had fought with the elder statesmen of his community, been arrested in protests over "Birth of a Nation," and denounced Woodrow Wilson's racial policies to president's face. But 1919 would bring one of Trotter's greatest challenges: he would need to learn how to peel potatoes.
William Monroe Trotter was one of the most significant civil rights leaders in Amerian history, yet he...2020-02-1859 min