Institute at a glance
The Institute for Digital Communication and Media Innovation (IDCMI) is an interdisciplinary institute of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Fribourg, which is managed interinstitutionally by the UAS Grisons together with the University of Fribourg. The institute is headquartered in Chur and has a branch office in Fribourg.
The institute is currently under construction and further information will follow in due course.
Research
The platformization and datafication of communication have radically changed media use and reception. Users are confronted with an ever-increasing selection of media and information sources. AI and algorithms can help users to find their way through this wealth of information, but have also triggered debates about users' media literacy and the potential of digital media to promote fragmentation or polarization of society. How do users inform themselves in digital information environments and what are the possible consequences for the public? How aware are users of the use of AI by media organizations and how does this affect trust in media?
The digital transformation has also profoundly changed journalism and media production. While users have new ways to discover and consume content online, traditional news media must adapt and innovate to engage and retain their users. To meet the specific needs, interests and habits of users, news media are increasingly relying on algorithmic and AI-driven tools. These technologies not only raise questions about the quality and diversity of the information on offer, but also about how they affect media production and the role of media professionals.
In addition, AI and other technological developments are leading to a structural change in interaction with the audience and an increasing interweaving of the supply and demand sides of communication. The increasing opportunities for direct feedback and engagement in digital media have potentially shifted power towards the audience. What consequences do these changes have for the production, distribution and use of media content and what role do the audience perceptions of media professionals play in this?
These and similar questions are the focus of IDCMI's research.
Main research areas
- The use of data, algorithms and AI in the production and distribution of media content
- The information and usage behavior of users in digital "high-choice" media environments
- The interaction between supply and demand of digital communication and the changing role of users
At IDCMI, these key research areas will be investigated by integrating supply and demand perspectives of communication research, based on cross-platform, cross-country and cross-temporal comparisons and using a combination of qualitative, quantitative and computer-aided methods in mixed-methods approaches. Such integrative and comparative approaches also require interdisciplinary and international collaborations, which should play a central role in the establishment and further development of the IDCMI.
Competence center for responsible digital communication and media innovation
The focus will also be on how such technologies can be used responsibly in media production so that they bring added value to media organizations as well as to users and society as a whole.
The IDCMI aims to develop solutions for the profound sector-specific and democratic challenges in the media and communications industry - at regional, national and international level. In connection with this, the institute will establish and further develop infrastructures and methods for researching digital communication. In addition, the IDCMI will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to critically understand developments in today's digital society.
Study
The IDCMI offers the Digital Communication and Creative Media Production Joint Master's program, which is unique in Switzerland. In the Master's programme, you will face the challenges of digitalization in the world of work; the focus is therefore on innovative, creative and independent learning formats and the joy of learning. You can adapt your studies to your needs and help shape your timetable. With the mix of scientific principles and active use of the latest technical tools, it always remains exciting.
Contact us
University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons
Institute for Digital Communication and Media Innovation (IDCMI)
Sommeraustrasse 32
7000 Chur
Switzerland
E-Mail: dcm@clutterunifr.ch