At the end of March, the Jožef Stefan Institute, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), and the University of Maribor hosted a joint event exploring how modern AI tools can be integrated into the media landscape and how they can support journalistic work in an increasingly complex information environment.
The event brought together journalists, researchers, and media professionals to discuss how technology can help navigate challenges such as information overload, disinformation, and the changing dynamics of digital communication. Through presentations and discussions, participants examined how AI can provide new analytical perspectives while maintaining the core principles of responsible journalism.
Several projects and tools were presented, offering different approaches to analysing digital media environments. These included our project TWON and PERISCOPE, which developed a digital twin of online social networks, enabling the simulation of information diffusion and the effects of algorithmic systems; Between the Lines, developed by the Jožef Stefan Institute, which compares how different media outlets report on the same event; Solaris, which analyses the impact of AI on democratic processes; and Event Registry, a platform for monitoring and analysing the global media landscape in real time.
Discussions throughout the event highlighted both the opportunities and limitations of AI in journalism. While these tools offer valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of social media and information flows, they are best understood as supportive instruments that complement, rather than replace, professional journalistic work.
The exchange also underlined the growing importance of media literacy and the need for robust, transparent analytical tools to strengthen democratic discourse in digital societies.
We would like to sincerely thank all organisers and participants for making this event such a valuable and inspiring exchange.
