The Center on Media, Technology and Democracy
We work to better understand the information ecosystem through cutting-edge science.
And leverage that research to strengthen the foundations of democracy.
Knight Postdoctoral Fellow Posting
Launching the Research Compendium
Our new research compendium—live but still in development—is a one-stop shop for Penn research on the quantitative study of the information ecosystem.
Media Fragmentation & Democracy
A Welcome from the Center Directors
Co-Directors Duncan Watts and Christopher Yoo present their vision for the Center, and for the future of research of the information ecosystem.
Penn Media Accountability Project
Info & Democracy Research Grants
Welcoming Our New Staff
We are thrilled to welcome Prithvi Iyer as Communications and Research Manager!
Our Work
Using Cutting Edge Data Science
Expanding Access to Media Data
The Penn Media Accountability Project is enhancing transparency at the scale of the information ecosystem.
LLMs Disagree on What Constitutes Hate Speech
Professor Yphtach Lelkes evaluates a range of LLMs, which disagree on what constitutes hate speech – a key finding for content moderation online. Read more in the coverage from Fast Co.
Researching Media and Information Ecosystems
Cable News Diverges from Broadcast Television
Center Co-Director Duncan Watts demonstrates how cable news has become more biased – during both hards news and opinion shows.
Using Generative AI May Undercut Learning
Professor Shiri Melumad finds that learning through LLMs leads to shallower knowledge than using traditional search.