Join us on Tuesday, May 5 in Montreal as we explore the growing influence of online personalities on politics and the media ecosystem.
The political information landscape is being reshaped as social media influencers enter the game, from politicians streaming live on Twitch to YouTubers sharing false information about politics. Adept at building audiences on social media platforms, political influencers are increasingly at the heart of changes in how news is produced, how campaigns are run, and how citizens engage with politics. But how much do we know about their roles, and what should journalists, policymakers, and civil society make of them?
The event features two panel discussions with leading international researchers in political communication, each moderated by IRPP president Jennifer Ditchburn. The first panel, Influencers and the Political Information Ecosystem, brings together Dr. Elizabeth Dubois, Dr. Colette Brin, and Dr. Arturo Arriagada to examine how influencers are reshaping the production and flow of political news and information. The second panel, Campaigns and Influencers, features Dr. Katharine Dommett and Dr. Samuel Woolley in conversation about how political campaigns are deploying influencers as tools of persuasion, outreach, and mobilization.
Together, the panels will take stock of what we know, what remains uncertain, and what the rise of political influencers means for democratic life.
Each panel will be followed by a Q&A and there will be a light reception following the event. Please email events@nullirpp.org to RSVP and for any questions.
This event is supported by Concordia University, the Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship, and the Groupe de recherche en communication politique.
