Center for Media Innovation & Social Impact

Advancing research and practice at the intersection of media, technology, and democracy.

Trust doesn’t emerge by accident. We study how media and algorithms shape it—and how it can be rebuilt.

MISI investigates how media systems, stories, and algorithms influence what people see, believe, and trust—and how those dynamics shape democratic participation. We work alongside communities most affected by social and institutional breakdown to test new models of communication that are more accountable, inclusive, and worthy of public trust.

We need to be experimenting with technologies and approaches to storytelling that are in support of democratic movements, institutions, and people who are working towards a more just and equitable society.

Eric Gordon, Director

Now Hiring: Postdoctoral Fellow

We are recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to play a central role in a multi-year study of public trust across New England. The project examines how residents of urban, suburban, and rural communities make sense of information in their daily lives — from local news to institutional messaging and algorithmically curated feeds. We are investigating how trust forms, erodes, and gets repaired, and how technologies, institutions, community relationships, historical context, and physical environments shape the information ecologies people rely on.

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Upcoming Events

FEBRUARY 6, 2026

Community Voices: Building Stronger Partnerships

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Latest News & Features

Book Talk: Content Confusion: News Media, Native Advertising, and Policy in an Era of Disinformation

December 17, 2025

‘We need better communication’: MISI summit tackles climate communication crisis, marks center’s opening

December 8, 2025

Climate Stories & Shared Futures: MISI Launches with Landmark Summit

November 14, 2025