We are the Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life.
The Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP) is an interdisciplinary research center housed in the School for Information and Library Science (SILS) at UNC Chapel Hill, with researchers from SILS, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, and the School of Law.
UNC School of Information and Library Science
The UNC School of Information and Library Science (SILS), also known as the iSchool at Carolina, offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. SILS is consistently ranked as one of the top schools of library and information studies by U.S. News & World Report. SILS is a bustling hub of research, innovation, and learning, not to mention a supportive and collegial community that many people think of as “home” long after they leave campus. Information is our focus and our passion, and we approach its study from a variety of perspectives with a goal of developing theories, practices, and systems that can lead the world to higher levels of prosperity, equity, and understanding.
UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
The mission of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media is to prepare students to ignite the public conversation in our state, the nation and the world, and to understand the role of communication in fostering democracy. The school offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, and administers a variety of professional development and distance-learning programs. Through a revamped curriculum, students learn the skills they need to succeed in the new media environment, whether they pursue careers in journalism, advertising, public relations or other communications fields. Our faculty members are international thought leaders whose scholarly and creative activities are visible and respected in the public realm.
UNC College of Arts and Sciences - Department of Communication
Through teaching, research, and service, the Department of Communication addresses how communication functions to create, sustain, and transform personal life, social relations, political institutions, economic organizations, and cultural and aesthetic conventions in society. The Department of Communication develops competencies required for mediated and non-mediated communication. Overall, it develops skills for analyzing, interpreting and critiquing communication problems and questions.
CITAP is a proud collaborator with the following centers:
UNC Center for Media Law and Policy
The UNC Center for Media Law and Policy is an interdisciplinary research center run jointly by the UNC School of Law and UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. The center’s work ranges from the legal and policy issues affecting traditional media organizations to the challenges posed by new communication technologies, including social media, the Internet, and mobile technology, and the impact they are having on governments, on the economy, and on cultural and social values throughout the world. The mission of the center is twofold: (1) to provide a forum for study and debate about the critical media law and policy issues facing North Carolina and the nation and (2) to have an impact on these issues by supporting the development of legal and policy initiatives that help the traditional and new media meet the information needs of all Americans.
UNC Center on Technology Policy
UNC’s Center on Technology Policy seeks to craft public policy for a better internet. Utilizing an interdisciplinary academic framework, CTP works to identify knowledge gaps and develop actionable policy frameworks that will enable them to realize the potential benefits of technology while minimizing its harms. By working closely with students and expanding the University’s offerings in technology policy analysis, CTP seeks to cultivate and train the field’s future practitioners.
Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission
We research at the intersection of platforms and democratic society, prioritizing questions of power, social differences, and unequal dynamics to inform a digital future grounded in justice and equality.
Vision
To create and foster a collaborative, interdisciplinary research network, supporting academic work, public scholarship, and policy translation in pursuit of a just digital future.
Values
- Commitment to Justice: We are dedicated to conducting research that uncovers and addresses injustices within digital platforms, aiming to create a fair and equitable digital society.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: We value collaboration across diverse academic disciplines and sectors to enrich our understanding of the complex interactions between platforms and democratic society.
- Inclusivity and Diversity: We recognize the pivotal role of inclusivity and diversity in shaping a just digital future, striving to create a research network that reflects a variety of perspectives and experiences.
- Public Engagement: We believe in the transformative power of public scholarship, actively engaging with and disseminating research findings to foster an informed public discourse and promote decision-making on digital issues.
- Policy Impact: We are committed to translating our research into actionable policy recommendations, aiming to influence and shape policies that foster a more just and equal digital landscape.
- Empowerment and Advocacy: We advocate for the empowerment of marginalized communities within the digital realm, working towards dismantling systemic barriers and promoting digital spaces that empower individuals across social strata.
Funding and Support
Our work is made possible by the support of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and philanthropic support. Outside gifts contribute to CITAP in three ways:
Contributions to the Center. These grants may support CITAP staff, policy- or public-facing projects, conferences and events, or multiple research projects. The breadth of support makes these grants core to CITAP’s operations.
Project-specific funding. These grants or gifts support one research question through support for the researcher(s) and their collaborators, for the duration of that inquiry, or a specific event. This support does not extend beyond the specified project or contribute to CITAP’s core operations.
Data access. Our research depends on access to platform datasets, many of which are restricted by the platforms and available only at their discretion. Where our work depends on negotiated data access, we track this as a form of in-kind support.
CITAP core supporters
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The Knight Foundation helped establish CITAP with a five-year operating grant as part of the Knight Research Network.
Luminate
Luminate is the second founding supporter of CITAP as part of its Data & Digital Rights program.
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
The Hewlett Foundation contributed to establishing CITAP through an initial three-year grant as part of their U.S. Democracy program and renewed their support in 2022.
Project supporters
Multi-year projects are listed by the year in which the project ended, with ongoing projects listed in the current year.
2022
- Hewlett Foundation – Organizational Effectiveness grant supporting research communications at CITAP.
- Siegel Family Endowment – Siegel Fellowship supporting the work of Rachel Kuo.
2021
- Carnegie Corporation of New York – Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. Supporting research by Alice Marwick.
- Social Science Research Council – An Ecological Approach to Disinformation Spread on Social Media. Supporting research by Alice Marwick, Deen Freelon, Daniel Kreiss, and Shannon McGregor.
- Facebook – Political Identity Ownership. Supporting research by Shannon McGregor.