Jack Brewster

Information Devolution: How Cellphones, Social Media, and AI Shape Politics and Us – A multimedia program

Jack Brewster, CEO of Newsreel, an app designed to make news accessible for young people and the digitally exhausted, explores how the internet and social media are reshaping the way we interact and consume news, and the profound impact this has on our politics. Jack delves into the latest research on how social media, AI, and the internet are changing the way we think—or at the very least, act—and how they amplify the spread of misinformation while bringing out the worst versions of ourselves.

In addition to his work at Newsreel, Jack brings a wealth of experience to his presentations, including appearances on BBC News, bylines in The Wall Street Journal, and research on QAnon, AI, and misinformation on ChatGPT’s propensity to spread misinformation was cited by The New York Times and The Washington Post. Until recently, Jack was the Enterprise Editor for NewsGuard where he broke the story uncovering the source of the viral false claim that Haitian migrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.  He also conducted a landmark 2022 study on TikTok’s algorithm, which revealed its propensity to feed misinformation to young users. Previously a reporter at Forbes Magazine where he covered politics, misinformation, and extremism, he has also written about politics for TIME Magazine, Newsweek, Vice News, and the New York Daily News. As a Fulbright scholar in Munich, Germany, he conducted a research project about the role of journalists in the digital age. Jack writes the weekly Substack newsletter "Information Devolution".

Jack offers insights on how we can navigate this new digital landscape responsibly, addressing the rise of news avoidance, where many are turned off by negativity and extremism in the news. He also presents solutions, including improvements to how we consume news and how platforms like Instagram and TikTok can be used more effectively as a news source. His talk will help you understand how we can all contribute to a healthier democracy by staying informed and engaged in the age of the internet, social media, and AI.

THE NEWSREEL APP – A Campus Media Literacy Pilot Campaign

This semester, Newsreel is launching a pilot program to bring the first version of its app to campuses across the country. Newsreel simplifies news consumption by delivering daily interactive briefings and timelines, produced by our dedicated team of journalists, to help students stay informed and engaged with the world around them. By focusing on attention spans and integrating cognitive science principles, the app empowers users to build sustainable news habits while avoiding the overwhelm of traditional media.

In addition to the talk, a class may be scheduled.