WRT 205

What role do algorithms play in shaping public narratives (in journalism)? During an era in which digital platforms increasingly mediate news consumption, algorithms have become central to shaping public narratives in journalism. These automated systems—designed to filter, prioritize, and recommend content—influence which stories gain visibility, how they are framed, and how audiences engage with them. Whilst these algorithms are optimized for engagement and personalization, they also introduce biases that can amplify certain narratives while marginalizing others. This raises pressing concerns about editorial control, misinformation, media pluralism, and public discourse. Through Unit 2, I aim to explore the mechanisms through which algorithms curate news, analyzing their impact on journalistic integrity and audience perception. This project will examine how algorithmic preferences (driven by factors such as user behavior, platform incentives, and data patterns) affect the diversity an...

Q1. What are the cognitive effects of relying on AI for written communication? Person #1: I think that relying on AI too much for written communication may make our critical thinking skills worse/weaker. If we rely on AI too frequently and use it for constantly for our daily tasks or for school work, such as to refine our language in essays or even to generate ideas or brainstorm, we can risk losing the ability to articulate thoughts by ourselves. And possibly over time, this could lead to our creativity skills and problem-solving capabilites declining, because we are no longer encouraged to required to develop and express ideas independently. Person #2: I actually feel more positive about AI than most. I think it can enhance your cognitive abilities and make it easier to streamline the process of writing, studying, creating -- and can overall start saving us valuable time. I don't think it needs to necessarily replace human thought, nor do I think it actually can . Humans are sm...

My workspace: where I interact with technology on a daily basis! Following the completion of my curated source collection, I feel that the three sources I chose were all high quality. Each of them was produced by experts and researchers within their respective fields, and they all referenced/linked additional media to support their work. This interconnectivity among sources reassured me of their credibility. The first source, a Vox YouTube video exploring the rise in subtitle usage, I found to be particularly well-researched and presented in a unique, engaging, and graphic manner. The video creators conducted their own research, utilizing both physical and digital sources. Additionally, they collaborated with long-term professionals in various industries, each offering their expertise on different aspects of the story. For instance, the video featured a sound engineer who explained how modern audio mixing affects dialogue clarity in movies and television. By compling these expert insig...

  Source 1: A Pencil Shop, for Texting the Old-Fashioned Way https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/21/fashion/a-pencil-shop-for-texting-the-old-fashioned-way.html Molly Young’s article explores the revival of analog writing tools, specifically pencils, in an era very much dominated by digital communication. In doing so, she focuses on Caroline Weaver’s boutique, CW Pencil Enterprise, which is dedicated to selling high-quality pencils from around the world. The article was written in 2015 -- a time when digital technology had already become the primary mode of communication. Despite this, many felt that there was a growing nostalgia for traditional writing tools. This resurgence of interest in analog methods (such as vinyl records, film photography, and now pencils) aligns with a broader cultural shift toward valuing craftsmanship and tangible experiences. Young’s tone is lighthearted and almost whimsical, reflecting the seemingly paradoxical nature of a pencil shop thriving in a digital ...

  Source 1: A Pencil Shop, for Texting the Old-Fashioned Way https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/21/fashion/a-pencil-shop-for-texting-the-old-fashioned-way.html Molly Young’s article explores the revival of analog writing tools, specifically pencils, in an era very much dominated by digital communication. In doing so, she focuses on Caroline Weaver’s boutique, CW Pencil Enterprise, which is dedicated to selling high-quality pencils from around the world. The article was written in 2015 -- a time when digital technology had already become the primary mode of communication. Despite this, many felt that there was a growing nostalgia for traditional writing tools. This resurgence of interest in analog methods (such as vinyl records, film photography, and now pencils) aligns with a broader cultural shift toward valuing craftsmanship and tangible experiences. Young’s tone is lighthearted and almost whimsical, reflecting the seemingly paradoxical nature of a pencil shop thriving in a digital ...