The event, organized by the Department of International Studies, was supported by CESCOS, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and the newspaper El País.
In a world where social media, fake news, and post-truth are the order of the day, this event aimed to provide tools for understanding and navigating the complexities of the digital landscape.
A day of learning and reflection
This event gave attendees the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences.
It was organized into three sections, each with a specific focus, but all linked by a common goal: to understand how digital technology influences people’s daily lives.
Digital journalism
https://youtu.be/dbrXf1JPQrU?si=6RShbd9CeQYhic8l
The first session, titled “Navigating the Digital World: Essential Skills for Digital Citizenship,” was presented by Delfina Milder—a journalist in the International section of the newspaper El País—and Faustina Bartaburu—a communications graduate and member of the Visual Narratives team at the same newspaper—who shared essential tools for developing critical digital skills.
Bartaburu said, “We’re both digital journalists, and we joined the media industry during what is still referred to as the digital transformation. In the late 1990s, media outlets began launching digital versions, but they were simply replicas of the print editions. Now, reader demand is much higher, and there’s been a shift in mindset in that regard.”
Milder added: “We don’t just work for print. Now we’re talking about new newsrooms, in light of how everything has been changing in terms of technology. Today we talk more about audiences than about newspaper readers. We don’t just write articles; we also seek to generate a certain level of interaction. We also talk more about products or productions than about articles.”
Artificial intelligence
https://youtu.be/fNP-V3A3OZ8?si=b6mweZqYROOO_zoi
The second session, titled “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Media,” was led by Eduardo Mangarelli, Ph.D.—dean of the School of Engineering at Universidad ORT Uruguay—who highlighted how AI technologies are transforming the media ecosystem.
“Artificial intelligence has its roots in a time that goes far beyond the historical milestone of November 2022, with the emergence of ChatGPT,” the expert noted.
A New Reality
https://youtu.be/Z3lrksVCYD4?si=jQ9owIGJ2ng9FvKe
Finally, Dr. Martín Aguirre—editor-in-chief of the newspaper El País—wrapped up the day with the third session: “Challenges Facing the Media in the Digital Age.”
Aguirre stated: “The impact of technology is clearly evident. There has been a fundamental shift in the consumption and generation of information. In the past, a newspaper was a snapshot of reality. It allowed readers to see what was important on that particular day. Information is no longer a snapshot; it is a constant stream, and consumption is constant. That brings about a very drastic change.”
Finally, he addressed the challenges facing traditional media in the face of the digital revolution.