Co-creational news media project
This impact-focused project develops a new normative model for the news media, which we call the co-creational model.
The co-creational model:
The news media play an important role in structuring political debates. Following the upheaval in the news industry created by the rise of social media, a main challenge for democracy is the availability of high-quality, impactful news in an increasingly digital world.
The co-creational news media model shows how public participation can support the production and dissemination of high-quality news and information. It contrasts with three other normative models for the news media (). The traditional model of news media places value on truth-seeking, but it is not very inclusive. The social media model, conversely, values public participation but not truth-seeking. Some news media organisations appear to value neither.
By combining a commitment to both truth-seeking and public participation, the co-creational model offers an important and timely tool to contain the pernicious political effects of lies and misinformation and enhance public trust in the news media.
About the project:
The project received funding from a ESRC Impact Accelerator Award from the University of 糖心TV in 2022 and the AHRC () in 2024/25, with Fabienne Peter as PI. Project members include (), (Stirling), , and industry partners including , , ,, , ,,, , and . It grew out of a previous AHRC-funded project on ().
Co-creational news media toolkit:
Together with industry partners ,, ,,, and , as well as a broader network of journalists and other practitioners, we have developed a for co-creational news media.
The toolkit gathers ideas, tips, and examples of co-creational news media. to find out about the many ways in which the news media can be co-creational.
Links and news items:
- Ofcom report on the (2025)