Rider University Takes Aim At Fake News With Free Event

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Best-selling author, strategic advisor and award-winning columnist Kevin Maney will discuss how rapid advancements in technology have contributed to a splintered media environment at Rider University this week.

"Fake News & Fractured Audiences: Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. in the Bart Luedeke Center’s Cavalla Room.

“Today, companies can target information based on our personal preferences, which are primarily observed through our online behaviors,” said Dr. Allison Weidhaas, an assistant professor of communication and journalism. “As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, the targeted campaigns can also become more specialized.”

Maney currently writes for Newsweek about technology and society. He will discuss the deconstruction of mass media into micro-targeting practices in the age of data collecting and artificial intelligence.

“This is a dramatic shift from just a few decades ago, when we all received the same information via traditional media sources because we lacked the ability to communicate with specific audiences,” Weidhaas said. “Kevin Maney will explore what this means for not only the news media, but also our personal understanding of world events, discussions with like-minded friends, and the way we share and promote our versions of ‘news.’”

This event is part of an annual speaker series sponsored by Rider University alum Rob Hagedorn, who wants students and the community to better understand how an evolution of technology and business models can impact the media they consume. Hagedorn graduated from the school in 1981.

“As media continues to evolve, these events offer opportunities to have conversations about what these changes mean for individuals and also to hear from industry professionals who can share their insights with the greater Rider community,” Weidhaas said.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is strongly suggested by visiting www.rider.edu/maney.

Patch file photo