Abstract

Analysis of post-truth and, especially, of the underlying phenomenon of fake news in terms of evaluation and ability to identify reliable sources, and the role of libraries as infomediaries. The main international initiatives proposed by organizations such as IFLA and ALA are discussed. According to the bibliography reviewed, two main kinds of action are proposed: inclusion in informational literacy programs, mainly extending media literacy so that they are oriented from a more civic perspective; and content curation, making thematic guides that are a point of information about the phenomenon and its tools to verify facts. Libraries should act also as a gateway to disseminate information of the library’s collection.

Abstract

Algorithms in the strategies of political parties are becoming increasingly significant, particularly with the use of big data and the inclusion of the automation in the production and circulation of online content obtained from personal data. This paper studies the scope of algorithmic political communication, its strengths, weaknesses and implications in democracy in order to measure the real scenario of robotized information in parties. A qualitative analysis is designed based on in-depth interviews with political advisors and consultants. The results highlight the widespread implementation of algorithmic political communication in the main Spanish parties, although their level of development is irregular. It’s detected that automated information systems are being used primarily in the pre-production and circulation phase of the message and are beginning to be implemented in the production phases. Robots advance in their path as infomediaries between politicians and citizens.

Abstract

The impact of what is known as high technology, which is based on cyber-physical systems that, first and foremost, combine physic infrastructure with software, sensors, nanotechnology and digital technology of communication, sets the different ways of communicative mediation in a new setting. Cybernation has entered the communicative ecosystem and is becoming more and more prominent, which reshapes the models of infomediation (understood as mediation and intermediation) and demands renewed technological competences and skills to the professional profiles of information and communication. In this paper, the context of the technological development in the field of communication is, preferably, analized from the digital origin. The starting point is situated for this new panorama which, parallel to smart automation, can be foreseen for infomediation. Some of the main challenges that are distinguished in the immediate scenario for the professional mediators are also identified.