The connection between technology, journalism, and democracy is a critical area of focus today. As digital platforms and artificial intelligence reshape how we get information and engage with society, new challenges and opportunities emerge. Understanding and shaping this evolving landscape requires collaboration across many fields. The Public Tech Media Lab (PTML) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison offers a unique environment for scholars, researchers, journalists, and technologists to explore these complex issues together.
About the Public Tech Media Lab
The Public Tech Media Lab, located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, acts as a central point for understanding, creating, and using technologies that support journalism, public participation, and the common good. The Lab operates on the belief that no single field can fully address the challenges posed by new technologies and their impact on media and democratic systems. Therefore, PTML brings together experts from various academic and professional backgrounds. This collaboration aims to develop solutions and create new knowledge at the intersection of technology, journalism, media, democracy, public policy, civic engagement, and public interest innovation. The Lab provides chances for people who want to strengthen democratic societies through responsible technology development to work together, experiment, research, and engage practically.
Why the Public Tech Media Lab is Important
Technology plays an increasing role in how people access information, participate in public life, and engage with democratic processes. Societies today face key issues such as the use of artificial intelligence in journalism, maintaining information integrity, combating misinformation and disinformation, holding digital platforms accountable, building media trust, protecting data privacy, involving the public in technology design, developing ethical technologies, and fostering civic technology innovation. Addressing these issues requires knowledge from many different sectors and disciplines. The Public Tech Media Lab serves as a platform where these diverse viewpoints can meet to produce impactful research and practical solutions.
Who Can Join the Public Tech Media Lab?
The PTML welcomes individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. This includes graduate students interested in the connection between technology, media, and democracy, who can join research projects and connect with leading experts. Faculty members whose teaching and research align with the Lab’s mission are also encouraged to apply. Academic staff involved in teaching, research, or public engagement related to media and technology can offer valuable expertise. Journalists looking to understand technological changes and their effects on news can work with researchers and technologists. Technologists interested in public interest technology and ethical design can collaborate with academics and media experts on real-world problems. Community partners and organizations can help ensure that research and technology development meet public needs.
Areas of Expertise and Disciplines Represented
The Lab actively seeks applications from individuals with backgrounds in several key areas. These include media and communication fields like journalism, media studies, and digital media. Social sciences such as political science, sociology, public policy, and international affairs are also represented. Technology and innovation fields like computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, and human-computer interaction are important. Legal and governance fields including law, digital rights, and technology policy are also included. Finally, design and user experience areas such as design research, user-centered design, and civic design contribute to the Lab’s interdisciplinary strength. This variety of perspectives allows members to learn from fields outside their own.
Faculty and Academic Staff Associate Opportunities
The Public Tech Media Lab specifically invites applications from faculty members and academic staff who are strongly committed to the Lab’s mission. Applicants may be considered if they teach relevant courses on topics like journalism, media, technology, democracy, or public interest innovation. Researchers whose work explores the relationship between media, technology, public life, democratic participation, or civic engagement are also strong candidates. Individuals who demonstrate an intellectual, teaching, or practical commitment to advancing interdisciplinary understanding of media and technology are welcomed into the community.
Benefits of Becoming a PTML Member
Membership in the Public Tech Media Lab provides many professional and academic advantages. Members gain access to a diverse community of scholars, practitioners, journalists, policymakers, and technologists. This setting encourages sharing knowledge, solving problems together, learning across disciplines, and forming partnerships across different sectors. PTML members may also become eligible for Lab-supported funding opportunities to advance their research projects and innovative experiments. Members can join collaborative research initiatives that tackle important issues at the intersection of technology, media, and democracy. These collaborations often involve academic researchers, industry professionals, journalists, public institutions, and community organizations.
PTML programming offers chances for members to present their ongoing research, share project findings, and get feedback from peers. Members benefit from direct interaction with journalists, technology experts, government officials, policy leaders, and civic innovators. These connections can broaden the reach and impact of research and public engagement efforts. The Lab hosts various events, such as research seminars, workshops, guest lectures, and networking events, designed to encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. Perhaps the most significant benefit is becoming part of a supportive community of individuals who share a commitment to advancing knowledge and public interest outcomes through innovation in technology and media.
Building the Future of Public Interest Technology
The Public Tech Media Lab aims to foster a future where technological development supports democratic values and public needs. By bringing together experts from different disciplines and sectors, the Lab creates opportunities to develop new research agendas, explore emerging technologies responsibly, strengthen journalism, improve democratic participation, and advance public interest technology for meaningful societal impact. For individuals passionate about shaping the future of media, technology, and democracy, PTML offers a dynamic environment for collaboration, learning, and leadership.
The application deadline is August 1, 2026.
How to Apply
Interested individuals can submit an application through the Public Tech Media Lab’s membership application process. Prospective members should review the Lab’s mission, research priorities, and membership expectations before applying. Faculty, academic staff, graduate students, journalists, technologists, and community partners who share PTML’s vision of advancing media, technology, and democracy through interdisciplinary collaboration are strongly encouraged to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of the Public Tech Media Lab?
The main goal is to understand, create, and use technologies that support journalism, public participation, and the common good, strengthening democratic societies.
Who can join the Public Tech Media Lab?
The lab welcomes graduate students, faculty, academic staff, journalists, technologists, and community partners interested in the intersection of technology, media, and democracy.
What kind of expertise is sought by the PTML?
PTML seeks expertise in media and communication, social sciences, technology and innovation, legal and governance fields, and design and user experience.
What are the benefits of becoming a PTML member?
Members gain access to a diverse community, collaborative research opportunities, potential funding, and networking with professionals and policymakers.
