Objective
The transition from traditional journalism to algorithm-driven digital media has intensified existing chal-lenges such as news bias, selective exposure, and polarization, which threaten democratic engagement. An optimally constructed news environment enables an informed and engaged citizenry, which forms the foundation for the socio-political interactions that take place within democracies. This project introduces Public Sphere Systems (PSS), a groundbreaking framework that reimagines how news supply can foster democratic public spheres. Building on insights from communication studies, political theory, and computer science, it operationalizes normative ideals of public spheres into algorithmic systems that disseminate news. By (i) conducting systematic literature reviews and multilingual news corpus analysis, (ii) implementing distinct PSS models that align with democratic public-sphere principles through News Recommender System (NRS) techniques, and (iii) rigorously testing these PSS models through longitudinal field experiments in diverse Western media systems (Norway, Poland, the United States, Germany), the project bridges theory and practice. Public-sphere news supply systems will be constructed, and, for the first time, their effects demonstrably evaluated.
Key outcomes include open-source PSS prototypes, comprehensive performance criteria for news environ-ments, and evidence-based policy recommendations tailored to the EU Digital Services and AI Acts. These outcomes promise to reshape the relationship between technology and democracy, offering a blueprint for how media systems can be both technologically advanced and normatively aligned with societal goals.
This project redefines the role of digital news environments in the 21st century. It establishes a groundbreaking path for aligning technological innovation with democratic ideals, ensuring that ideal public spheres do not remain theoretical constructs but become tangible systems for democracy.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences media and communications journalism
- humanities philosophy, ethics and religion philosophy political philosophy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
20148 Hamburg
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.