Senior Kate D'Arcy talks about her research into librarians' efforts to combat misinformation about books and book bans. (Photo by Terry Bryant)

Aram Sinnreich's new book The Secret Life of Data (MIT Press) received a rave review in the journal Information & Culture. As the opening paragraph says, "Sinnreich and Gilbert ... aimed to write a book about algorithmic surveillance that carves a middle way between 'sensationalistic or overtly partisan' work written for a general reader, on the one hand, and scholarship that 'dives deeply into a specific aspect of the larger issue,' on the other. Readers of this journal will be no stranger to either type of book, but there are very few books that attempt to provide a ten-thousand-foot view while also offering some depth and theoretical sophistication. Sinnreich and Gilbert take on the task and succeed." The entire review is available here.

On the latest episode of Media in the Mix, we sat down with Bill Gentile, a veteran war photographer, journalist, and professor in SOC. Bill shared not just stories from his storied career but also his heartfelt commitment to mentoring the next generation of journalists, guiding them to navigate the ever-evolving challenges of the field.

One of the documentaries in which Bill is featured, titled Kill the Messenger, examines the dangers journalists face while covering conflict zones. Bill highlights that decades later, the parallels are striking. Young journalists today encounter many of the same risks—hostility, misinformation, and the physical dangers of reporting in unstable regions. Through this lens, Bill reflects on how his experiences shaped his approach to teaching, equipping students with the resilience and integrity needed to thrive in a complex media landscape. To see Bill be just as dedicated to journalism as he is now with his students is an honorable trait—a testament to his unwavering passion for storytelling and truth-seeking. 

Listen to the podcast for an inspiring conversation about storytelling, the evolving nature of journalism, and the profound responsibility of passing hard-earned wisdom to the next generation with Bill's episode: The Truth in Focus. 

Moments from Bill Gentile's career to promote the latest Media in the Mix episode

Filippo Trevisan and co-authors Dan Jackson (Bournemouth University) and Andrea Carson (LaTrobe University, Melbourne) published an article about how media fragmentation helped Donald Trump return to the White House on the London School of Economics’ U.S. Politics and Policy Blog. You can read the article here.

Jane Hall was the interviewer and moderator for a timely American Forum, co-produced with KPU and SOC, with Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court same-sex marriage decision, Obergefell v. Hodges, in 2015 and marriage equality today. Obergefell was inspiring, and Jane talked with him and students about the campaign and case 10 years ago, the Supreme Court today, the Tennessee ban on some gender-affirming care for minors being argued before the Supreme Court at the same time, last week in DC--and the role of anti-trans ads in the 2014 election. It was a moving, impactful event--standing-room-only with students in Doyle/Forman. Thanks to Aidan Skidds, the KPU political director, and his team; and, in SOC, Kati Vera; Jacob Audouin, Mads Wooten and Tom Fish; Tia Milledge, Veronica Castro and Grace Ibrahim; Lindsay Zimnoch, Victora Black and Jake Bridges; Mateo Guevara, Arpitha Sistla, Maddie Gerber and Todd St. Hill; and SOC Dean Marnel Niles Goins. We were recording and we will have excerpts later.