Communicating Democracy: the EuroPCom podcast on public communication

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host: Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | PodcasterGuest:  Uli Köppen is chief AI officer for German public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk. She leads AI strategy for BR and is responsible for the journalistic data and AI teams working on algorithmic investigations and journalistic products. As a Nieman Fellow 2019, she spent an academic year at Harvard and MIT, and she was part of Online News Association’s Women’s Leadership Accelerator 2022. Together with her colleagues, she has won national and international awards.In this episode: Major newsrooms across Europe have been designing new initiatives on how to use AI tools while maintaining ethics and editorial standards.The use of AI algorithm is not new in journalism, it already helps in many tasks as tagging, categorizing, headline suggestions, moderating comments, etc. The novelty is that it’s able to produce content. In some use cases, generative AI can help editors and reporters translate and transform their stories for different distribution channels. However, the technology can also be hijacked to produce disinformation and deepfakes, which makes journalists’ jobs harder.Follow us on: EuroPCom 2025 | European Committee of the RegionsHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host: Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | PodcasterGuest:  Reema Patel is a thought-leader in the fields of technology, data and AI ethics, public engagement and participation, and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is an engaging speaker on subjects including technology ethics, diversity, AI-emerging tech, future of healthcare, among others. She presently leads global research agency Ipsos's work on deliberative engagement.In this episode: As AI reshapes the global landscape, the EU stands at a crossroads. With the U.S. and China leading the charge, Europe must decide: remain reactive or define a bold, human-centric AI vision rooted in democratic values and social trust. Can the EU find its voice—and power—in the global AI race? What will it take to ensure that data and AI serve the public good and reinforce societal fairness?Follow us on: EuroPCom 2025 | European Committee of the RegionsHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host: Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | PodcasterGuest:  Natali Helberger, chair of the Council of Europe Expert Group on AI and Freedom of Expression, Advisory Board Member of the Reuters Institute for Journalism at Oxford, member of the scientific board of the German Media Policy Lab, and listed as one of the “100 brilliant women in AI ethics to follow” worldwide.In this episode: AI, particularly generative AI, is having an immediate and dramatic impact on our lives, both personally and professionally. It is already transforming lots of sectors. And with the promise of greater efficiency and effectiveness, we are increasingly delegating things to generative AI tools, outsourcing many tasks to handle the routine, the repetitive, the mundane. But if asking a chatbot how to navigate bureaucracy can foster citizen's engagement, that same technology can threaten our trust in politics and have a disruptive influence on democracies. What are we delegating to AI? And how are we to leverage the benefits of artificial intelligence while minimising the risks? How can we promote a holistic approach to AI ethics that involves not just technical regulation but also a deep understanding of the social, political, and ethical implications of AI?Follow us on: EuroPCom 2025 | European Committee of the RegionsHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host: Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | PodcasterGuest:  Ike Picone is Associate Professor and head of the Department of Communication Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and is also part of the international team working on the annual Digital News Report of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford.In this episode: Technology can improve or undermine democracy depending on how it is used and who controls it. Right now, it is controlled by too few. The collection of vast amounts of information about user preferences and responses, combined with the use of very targeted behavior modification techniques, enable the manipulation of citizens’ choices. Persuasive technologies built using AI are capable of refining and shaping public opinion with a reach and power that has never been seen before. How can democratic institutions counter this dynamic? What is the future of democracy in the digital age?Follow us on: EuroPCom 2025 | European Committee of the RegionsHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host: Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | PodcasterGuest:  Anna Przybylska, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Deliberation, Faculty of Sociology University of Warsaw.In this episode: Trust and confidence in democratic institutions is at an all-time low. To try to improve citizens' trust, city administrators and politicians promote innovative ways to engage with stakeholders, to source ideas and co-create solutions. They develop digital portals for participation, to facilitate collaboration with citizens and stakeholders. Are these platforms providing greater participation or are they simply replicating what is already offered by numerous other digital tools? What do these platforms need to be successful? What would be the key features of sustainable models of online participation?Follow us on: EuroPCom 2025 | European Committee of the RegionsHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host: Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | PodcasterGuest:  Ivana Bartoletti, Global Chief Privacy & AI Governance Officer, Wipro. Ivana is an internationally recognised thought leader in the fields of privacy, data protection and responsible technology. She has many years of experience working for large organizations in privacy policy, strategy and programmes related to digital transformation, cloud and automation. In 2022, Ivana received the Privacy Leader of the Year Award in London.In this episode: No, artificial intelligence is not neutral. Yes, human biases propagate into AI. As humans do, AI systems also mirror gender prejudices and stereotypes in their algorithmic decisions. This is why it is crucial to consider the impacts of human perceptions on data collection. There is a necessity for an intersectional approach to AI development and data training, and for a stronger presence of women in tech and AI. How can we develop AI in a way that promotes equality, transparency, and accountability, with a special focus on women? How can we ensure the protection of gender equality and non-discrimination in AI systems? And how can we empower women in tech and AI?Follow us on: EuroPCom 2025 | European Committee of the RegionsHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | PodcasterGuest Andreea Gorbatai is an associate professor at Vlerick Business School, in Brussels. She has a background as a sociologist and researches and teaches about the impact of technology on entrepreneurship.  In this episode In our daily lives, our behaviors are guided by norms as well as by ethics, through sets of principles that define what is acceptable or unacceptable, besides the purely legal perspective. Deviating from these codes implies consequences. But what about the digital world? Individuals and companies may not necessarily set out to engage in deliberate unethical behaviors or outcomes. Rather, we observe that, when it comes to ethics, processes in the digital world may contribute to unethical behaviors. Does tech reproduce or even exacerbate discrimination and inequality? How can digital ethics help shaping the online world, giving guidance about what actions are the right thing do to? This is what we want to explore with our guest Andreea Gorbatai, associate professor at Vlerick Business School, teacher and researcher about the impact of technology on entrepreneurship.   Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | Podcaster Guest Cato Waeterloos is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Media Studies at KU Leuven and at the research group for Media, Innovation and Communication Technologie at UGent. Her main research interests include different aspects of the interaction between new media and citizens’ civic and political participation.  In this episode From schooling and education to health and well-being to administration and political engagement, digital technology is increasingly intertwined with everyday life. It has transformed the ways in which we interact, relate to others, and access information. It now also offers new means for citizens to contribute to shaping political debate and drive "real world" change. Petition platforms, e-voting and other online tools expand opportunities to directly participate in civil society action and in democratic processes more broadly. But do these tools really have the potential to reinvigorate a more ‘citizen-powered’ democracy? Can people have a more direct influence on democratic processes? And what would be a strategy for engaging youth in local policymaking? This is what we want to explore with our guest Cato Waeterloos, postdoctoral researcher on interaction between new media and citizens’ civic and political participation at KU Leuven and UGent.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | Podcaster Guest Trisha Meyer is the Director of the Research Centre for Digitalisation, Democracy and Innovation at the Brussels School of Governance of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. She is the Principal Investigator of the EDMO BELUX project, an EU-funded hub to counter disinformation in Belgium and Luxembourg.   In this episode A sound democracy needs informed citizens. A sound democracy can only function well if citizens can obtain proper information on public matters, if they can understand them and of course, if they can deliberate about them, if social media provide citizens with new opportunities to access information, enable them to express their opinions and to participate in democratic processes. But we know it, social media can also undermine democracy by distorting information, promoting false stories and facilitating political manipulation. So are social media a blessing or a curse for democracy, this is what we want to explore with our guest Trisha Meyer, director of the Research Centre for Digitalisation, Democracy and Innovation at the Brussels School of Governance of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | Podcaster  GuestGuillaume Kuster is the founder of Check First, a Finnish software and methodologies start-up that helps journalists, citizens and policy makers fight disinformation all around the globe  In this episode Distortion of electoral processes, incitements to violence, dangerous conspiracy theories… We all know what disinformation is: “false information that is created and spread, deliberately or otherwise, to harm people, institutions and interests”. It is one of the major concerns of democratic countries. Behind false news or fake news, strategies are often articulated to manipulate public opinion and erode the stability of states and their institutions. Hoaxes and disinformation have long been a global threat to freedom and democracy but the development and widespread use of digital media allow for it to spread even more quickly, making disinformation a more pressing problem. What are the key communication tools in the fight against disinformation and the approaches we can take? These are the things that we will explore in this episode with our guest, Guillaume Kuster, founder of Check First, a Finnish software and methodologies start-up that helps journalists, citizens and policy makers fight disinformation all around the globe. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | Podcaster GuestAllison Gilliland is a Dublin City Councillor and member of the European Committee of the Regions  In this episode In every local community, big or small, citizens express their opinion on issues that matter to them. Social media and online consultation tools have made it easier for them to do so. But while online consultation tools can be designed in a way to be specific and structured, the public debate on social media can be many-sided and dispersive, if it's not managed to bring good ideas to the next level, while monitoring and tackling radical behaviors, extremism and hate speech. Managing and driving the public debate online is part of the job of a local councilor, with the aim of making it bearing fruit for the public good. These are the few things that we will explore in this episode with our guest, Allison Gilliland, Dublin City Councillor and member of the European Committee of the Regions.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About the podcastThe EuroPCom podcast series on public communication is produced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in close cooperation with the EuroPCom partners.Host Evi Kiorri, Journalist | Multimedia Producer | Podcaster GuestMarkku Markkula is the President of the Helsinki Region and a member of the European Committee of the Regions  In this episode We have all heard that data is the new oil – a still untapped, immensely valuable asset. Today, in the 21st century, we are witnessing a rise in digital economy, with data becoming more valuable than ever. Technological advancements and utilisation of big data are rapidly transforming businesses and industries. But what about the impact of big data on the public sector? Where does data come into play when it comes to creating more efficient and effective policies? How can governments use data to implement better policies that increase citizens' well being? And, most importantly, how can we make sure that these new processes are happening on citizens' terms? These are the questions that we will explore in this episode with our guest, Markku Markkula, president of the Helsinki Region and member of the European Committee of the Regions.  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.