Claes de Vreese, University of Amsterdam, Digital Democracy Center at SDU
Public Values in the Algorithmic Society

This presentation unpacks the centrality of and contestation over public values in the algorithmic society. It focuses on conditions for centering public values and it analyses which public values are central to different citizens across different societal sectors.

Keren Tenenboim-Weinblatt, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Reluctant prophets and polarized outlooks: The values and risks of future projections in public spheres

Amid crises and uncertainty, projecting possible futures enables individuals and societies to navigate toward valued outcomes. This talk examines how collective futures are constructed and evaluated within and through the news media, drawing on case studies of election coverage and the Israel-Hamas war. Illuminating the perspectives of both journalists and audiences and the values underlying them, it unpacks the ambivalence of engaging with the future and the interplay between public discourse, social optimism, and political behavior. Addressing the promises and perils of projections in polarized public spheres, the talk concludes with reflections on constructive paths the media can take to help societies orient toward shared futures.