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< Back Wendy Van den Broeck Associate professor wendy.van.den.broeck@vub.be As the world of media and television is ever changing, it’s something I’ll never grow tired of. My first research project was on interactive digital television and it is unbelievable how rapid the industry and the technology have evolved since. New services like time-shifted viewing, Netflix, personalised advertising and immersive media applications have entered our everyday lives. At the same time, these trends are often not as disruptive as expected. For example when iDTV was introduced, it was announced that broadcasters would disappear and the 30 second commercial would die a silent death. Users are often surprising in their habits and practices. On the one hand, old habits die hard and user patterns tend to change slowly. On the other hand, surprising or unexpected usage of technology can lead to fascinating new developments. That is why user research is my biggest passion. I like to interact with users and unravel their motivations and expectations. I really believe in our living lab approach that puts the user in the centre of the design and development process. By involving users from the very early stage of an innovation process, we can help to develop technological services and products that are really user-friendly and society proof. This also helps the media industry to face the different challenges and disruptions they have to cope with today. I am currently head of the Living Lab cluster at SMIT and assistant professor at the communications studies department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel where I teach several international and national courses, most of them related to research methodology. My current research projects relate to personalised and immersive media and include the EU projects Immersia TV , CPN and HRadio. I joined SMIT in 2003, after completing a master in communication sciences (VUB-2002), and obtaining a postgraduate diploma in management and economics (VUB-Solvay-2003) and a teaching degree (VUB-2003). During my time at SMIT, I finished my PhD in communication sciences in 2010 entitled: “From analogue to digital: the silent (r)evolution? A qualitative study on the domestication of interactive digital television in Flanders”. Visit my research profile

< Back How Should We Measure Filter Bubbles? Michiels, L., Vannieuwenhuyze, J., Leysen, J., Verachtert, R., Smets, A., & Goethals, B. 2023. How Should We Measure Filter Bubbles? A Regression Model and Evidence for Online News. In Proceedings of the 17th ACM Conference on Recommender Systems. News media play an important role in democratic societies. Central to fulfilling this role is the premise that users should be exposed to diverse news. However, news recommender systems are gaining popularity on news websites, which has sparked concerns over filter bubbles. More specifically, editors, policy-makers and scholars are worried that these news recommender systems may expose users to less diverse content over time. To the best of our knowledge, this hypothesis has not been tested in a longitudinal observational study of real users that interact with a real news website. Such observational studies require the use of research methods that are robust and can account for the many covariates that may influence the diversity of recommendations at any given time. In this work, we propose an analysis model to study whether the variety of articles recommended to a user decreases over time in such an observational study design. Further, we present results from two case studies using aggregated and anonymized data that were collected by two western European news websites employing a collaborative filtering-based news recommender system to serve (personalized) recommendations to their users. Through these case studies we validate empirically that our modeling assumptions are sound and supported by the data, and that our model obtains more reliable and interpretable results than analysis methods used in prior empirical work on filter bubbles. Our case studies provide evidence of a small decrease in the topic variety of a user's recommendations in the first weeks after they sign up, but no evidence of a decrease in political variety. Recommender Systems Previous Read the article Next

< Back Join ALGEPI's workshop on Epistemic Welfare! 21 Mar 2024 What are the conditions under which the use of algorithms can contribute to, or threaten, epistemic welfare? “Epistemic Welfare“ stands as a cornerstone concept for understanding how individuals and groups interact with knowledge in today’s digital society. How do we define it? What is the conceptual and methodological framework for the concept? ALGEPI is organising its first annual workshop on the 12th of April 2024 from 10:00h to 13:00h CET to discuss what are the conditions under which the use of algorithms can contribute to, or threaten, epistemic welfare and how can we translate this into actionable parameters or metrics. Join us in the discussion! 🕙 Time: 10:00h to 13:00h CET. 🗓️ Date: 12th of April 2024 📍 Venue: Collegium Veteranorum (109-20) – Sint-Michielsstraat 2-4 , 3000 Leuven ( 02.10 – MGR. O. ROMEROZAAL ). Are you planning to attend? Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis so please let us know by sending us an email ! Registrations will close on the 5th April 2024. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more, have a look at our concept note dissecting the concept of epistemic welfare ! ➡︎ Read the full programme here . Previous Next

< Back Streaming Affordances for small media markets Living Lab 2023-2026 Delayed viewing, major ad giants like Google and Facebook, and the rise of American streaming platforms have significantly increased the pressure on local providers. In response, Flemish broadcasters and distribution entities have launched their own streaming services in recent years. Some offer free services, with or without ads (such as VRT MAX, VTM GO, and GoPlay), while others operate on subscription models (like Streamz). The local platforms often adopt the successful features of major streaming services. It is crucial for local providers to differentiate themselves with a wealth of local content, giving them a competitive edge over foreign platforms. However, a key challenge in our market is the limited scale, which necessitates strategic choices in purchasing, production, distribution, and marketing. At the heart of these changes is a shift in our viewing habits. To give Flemish streaming services the best chance in this highly competitive market, it is essential to understand how Flemish consumers watch video content, identify key viewing patterns, know what viewers expect from streaming services, and gauge the effectiveness of brand or content positioning strategies. Our living lab, ‘Streaming Affordances for Small Media Markets,’ seeks to address this through five key deliverables: a (1) SOTA analysis, (2) diary study, (3) viewing survey, (4) a living lab, and (5) experiments. 1. SOTA analysis The SOTA analysis compiles data from recent studies and reports, aiming to provide a clear view of trends impacting our audiovisual sector. It covers international, European, and Flemish media usage, alongside 10 trends in the global streaming market that are likely to influence Flanders. 10 trends in de internationale streamingmarkt .pdf Download PDF • 2.21MB The policy brief (in Dutch) 2. Diary study This deliverable explores the motivations that guide Flemish viewers in their selection of VoD services and content. It draws on a large-scale multifaceted audience study with VoD consumers in Flanders and consists of an exploratory survey (N=77), a diary study (N=62) and semi-structured face-to-face interviews (N=60). Motivaties voor VoD-consumptie in Vlaanderen .pdf Download PDF • 1.26MB 3. Viewing survey Building on the diary study, the SMIT viewing survey (N=2000) serves as larger-scale quantitative research. It explores viewers’ attitudes toward linear TV, their familiarity with and use of VoD services, associations with specific platforms, device preferences, and the dynamic between cinema and streaming. Voorkeuren in VoD-consumptie in Vlaanderen. Resultaten kwantitatieve bevraging. .pdf Download PDF • 1.26MB The policy brief on the diary study and the viewing survey (in Dutch) Future research The living lab and related experiments will take place in 2025-2026. Researchers on this project Jeroen Peeters Senior Researcher Manager Tim Raats Associate Professor Wendy Van den Broeck Associate professor Annelien Smets Research Professor Consortium partners VLAIO.png VLAIO.png 1/1 Tags Platforms, Public Service Broadcasting, Streaming Previous Next

< Back Promoting Fairness of the Music Ecosystem in a Platform-Dominated and Post-Pandemic Europe Fair MusE The overarching goal of Fair MusE is to promote fairness for music creators and stakeholders from an interdisciplinary perspective, thus leading to a more transparent, competitive and sustainable music ecosystem in Europe. Fair MusE focuses specifically on the domination of online platforms and their algorithms and will investigate: the legal responses that have been proposed in the EU the changes these platforms have brought to the music industry and music professionals the impact of such algorithms on music consumption. Fair MusE will provide an interdisciplinary analysis of fairness in the music industry involving music creators and stakeholders in the research; promote and enhance transparency concerning music industry practices and standardisation in data collection in the European music ecosystem; and assess the risks created by the reinforced dominance of the largest online platforms prompted by COVID 19 as well as making policymakers, stakeholders and the general public aware of such risks. To do so, Fair MusE will provide an innovative, strong and future-proof set of co-created responses and solutions: the ‘Music Copyright Infrastructure’, a data-sharing model agreement enhancing transparency; a ‘Music Data Dashboard’ of statistical indicators on the economic and societal value of the European music sector; the ‘Fairness Score’, a tool to assess music services and social media in terms of fairness’ multiple facets; and a ‘White Paper’ embodying policy recommendations to enhance competitiveness, sustainability, transparency and fairness of the EU music ecosystem. Our consortium is a carefully designed interdisciplinary group of academic and industry partners with strong expertise in the fields of law, economics, political science and computer science, supported by an Advisory Board composed of a highly qualified and broadly representative group of industry experts. Researchers on this project Heritiana Ranaivoson Research Professor Consortium partners Universidade Católice Portuguesa Católica Research Center Verifi Media Limited Universidade Católice Portuguesa 1/12 Tags Artificial Intelligence, Copyright, Media Policy, Music Industry, Platforms Previous Next

< Back Public Service Media and Platformization Pieter Van der Elst PhD Researcher This part of the SRP research project aims to develop in-depth knowledge on how an increasingly algorithmized media industry compels European Public Service Media (PSM) to alter their operational and value-related strategies. During a time period of 4 years, we will scrutinize how PSM’s part in the media value chain is affected and what that means for the company, the content and the end-user. A first phase of the research focuses on the organizational side of PSM. More specifically, we concentrate on the case of Flemish public broadcaster VRT and how they are operationalizing a digital and user-first approach in their digital audio strategy. Complementary analysis of the decision-making behind this organizational shift will be key to developing a thorough understanding of what it means for a public legacy media player to adapt to the ever-changing industry it operates in. In later stages of the project, our focus will shift towards what said transition implies for PSM on the levels of content production, distribution and the societal core values imbued. This part of the research will also broaden our scope geographically by including scrutiny of other European PSM organizations and how their methods compare to one another. Examinations of audience perspectives will conclude our research journey and provide us with indispensable insights on the topic. Through this research programme we aim to consolidate our understandings on algorithm-driven media operations and media-economics and media policy oriented PSM-research, not only serve the academic community, but also to provide small market PSM-organizations with tools to better understand and integrate algorithms, and assist policymakers in developing ways of regulating and measuring the impact of algorithms on media output and audience reach. Publications Catching the waves: The case of VRT's digital-first audio strategy 02/09/2025 Challenges and requirements for implementing due prominence: aligning stakeholder interests in Flanders 18/07/2025 Towards a Pragmatic Approach for studying Normative Recommender Systems 18/09/2023 Supervisors Catalina Iordache Guest Professor Tim Raats Associate Professor Related news 2 Report Published: How to Ensure Visibility and Prominence for Media Services of General Interest in Flanders Commissioned by the Flemish Minister of Media, this research report investigates findability, discoverability, and due prominence for audiovisual and auditive media services. 2 Ciao from EMMA in Rome! Our presentations at the emma Conference 2025 2 Media Industries Conference, London An overview of our presentations at Media Industries in London Previous Next

< Back Close Contact for Context: Qualitative Methodological Considerations for Assessing Prominence and Discoverability Iordache, C., Leiva, M. T. G., & Raats, T. (2025). Close Contact for Context: Qualitative Methodological Considerations for Assessing Prominence and Discoverability. Media Industries, 12(1), 111-132. https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/mij/article/id/7625/ This article advocates for a “close contact for context” approach as a crucial step before, or in combination with, automated data collection and comparative analyses to assess the prominence and discoverability of European works in video-on-demand (VoD) catalogs. Grounded in media industries research, the method emphasizes the importance of close observation within the dynamic interface environments of VoD services. To this end, we present a set of reflections based on an exploratory study conducted on four US-based subscription VoD services in Spain and Belgium and propose three key sets of methodological considerations to be integrated in future assessments of prominence and discoverability tools and practices. First, a broader analysis of market characteristics and their interrelations is essential for conducting comparative research and understanding the strategies of transnational players within each market. Second, VoD services must be treated as individual cases shaped by specific industry practices and business models. Third, we recommend “getting personal” with the object of study through detailed analyses of interface architectures and consumption affordances, and propose the concept of a title’s discovery arc to analyze its spatiotemporal placement. This approach underscores the value of contextual, qualitative insights to complement quantitative evaluations. Previous Read the article Next

< Back The platformization of Public Service Media. A comparative analysis of five BVOD services in Western and Northern Europe Iordache, C., & Raats, T. (2023). The platformization of Public Service Media. A comparative analysis of five BVOD services in Western and Northern Europe. International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics , 19 (1), 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1386/macp_00070_1 Recent developments in the media industries have signalled the need for public service media (PSM) organizations to reposition themselves in order to reach audiences, and also secure financial sustainability and programming rights. In repositioning themselves, PSM have increasingly embraced some of the core characteristics of platforms by developing a central video-on-demand (VOD) service as portal to PSM services, investing in exclusive content and using data to create richer user experiences and gain insights into audience practices. However, this ‘platformization’ process comes with both challenges and opportunities to reach the public service remit. This article conducts an analysis of the on-demand portals of PSM, to uncover how platformization is reshaping the PSM core remit and values, and how these are transposed in online services and offerings. The research employs a comparative case study analysis of five VOD services of PSM in Western and Northern Europe: Belgium-Flanders (VRT.NU), BelgiumWallonia (RTBF Auvio), Finland (Yle Areena), Ireland (RTÉ Player) and Norway (NRK TV). The results discuss three main categories: interfaces and features, strategies for catalogue and content curation, and tools for discoverability and prominence. Platforms, Public Service Media Previous Read the article Next

< Back New publication: NORMalize Workshop (@ RecSys23) 15 Sept 2023 Exploring Power Dynamics in Digital Platform Markets: A Pragmatic Approach to Normative Recommender Systems We are excited to share that our research team has contributed a paper to the first workshop on Normative Design and Evaluation of Recommender Systems (NORMalize), co-located with the 17th ACM Conference on Recommender Systems in Singapore. Our paper, titled "Towards a Pragmatic Approach for studying Normative Recommender Systems: exploring Power Dynamics in Digital Platform Markets" examines two key economic dynamics prevalent in digital media markets that challenge the development of normative RSs. The first hurdle focuses on the susceptibility of digital platforms to lock-in and monopolization due to network effects, skewing the power balance towards system providers. The second hurdle delves into the "attention economy" and the engagement-centric logic in RS design. This logic, while successful in boosting engagement, might compete with explicit or long-term user objectives We illustrate the real-world significance of these dynamic with insights from the domains of video-on-demand and news media. Furthermore, by offering policy recommendations we wish to address the normative challenges that arise in RS design. PhD researcher Hanne Vandenbroucke will be presenting this paper during the NORMalize workshop on Tuesday, September 19. Previous Next

< Back 12 PhD positions available 9 Dec 2025 The RePim Doctoral Network is looking for 12 PhD positions The Revisioning Public Interest Media (RePIM) Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Doctoral Network is starting! We are recruiting 12 fully funded PhD positions, which are due to begin in May 2026 across eight leading European universities. RePIM’s research addresses key transformations in the media landscape, spanning content and format innovation, platform infrastructures, organisational change, audience engagement, and policy development. The 12 Doctoral Candidates will, supported by a comprehensive training programme, work across five thematic clusters: Content production and Distribution Infrastructures Organisation Policy and Regulation Audiences Each PhD project focuses on a specific dimension of Public Interest Media transformation, ranging from AI-assisted content creation, emerging storytelling formats, and recommender systems, to organisational restructuring, sustainable operational models, audience inclusion, and platform-era regulation. Successful applicants will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community committed to ensuring that Public Interest Media can thrive and innovate in the digital age! Deadline for applications: 31 January or 8 February 2026 (depending on project) Interested in how Public Service Media and other quality media are affected by technological changes? Want to study the impact of AI on content development and distribution strategy, their infrastructures, and the implications for policy and audiences? Do you want to become one of 12 PhD students in a Europe-wide EU-project? How to apply Previous Next

< Back Workshop: Best Practices for Responsible News Recommender Design 24 Sept 2024 Our takeaways from the workshop part of the NWO-funded project "Rethinking news algorithms" On 23rd of September, Aina, Hanne, and Ulysse traveled to the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for the workshop "Best practices for responsible news recommender design," part of the NWO-funded project "Rethinking news algorithms". This one-day event aimed to foster collaboration between academia and industry, focusing on the ethical design of news recommender systems. Aina and Hanne presented initial insights from their systematic literature review that aims to uncover the organizational challenges, opportunities and social implications of news recommendation systems studied in Western media systems. One significant observation from the day highlighted the challenges in aligning all aspects of responsible news recommenders with diverse stakeholder goals. A key takeaway from our engaging conversations with colleagues and industry professionals is that diversity is frequently considered essential for the development of responsible recommenders, given the close relationship between the democratic function of news and media pluralism. The workshop enabled a cooperative sharing of ideas, fostering the co-creation of optimal strategies for responsible news algorithms. Attendees also pinpointed prospective research paths, underscoring the necessity of ongoing interdisciplinary collaboration to explore the societal implications of these systems. Previous Next

< Back Ciao from EMMA in Rome! 5 Jun 2025 Our presentations at the emma Conference 2025 On the first day of the EMMA Conference, Aina, Hanne, and Pieter joined over 20 other PhD students from all over Europe for the inspiring PhD Workshop. In small groups, under the guidance of an experienced researcher, each student got the opportunity to present some issues related to their PhD track, delving into theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, data analysis, the writing process, and mental challenges such as dealing with impostor syndrome, The diversity of research themes and perspectives is of great value to our three PhD’ers as their starting the third year of their track. The workshop provided room for deepening, exchange, and building a valuable network of fellow researchers. And of course, there was also time to enjoy the sunshine, have an espresso, Aperol Spritz, and taste some Italian delicacies! 😋🇮🇹🍕 The second day of the EMMA Conference was dominated by fascinating presentations, including that of our colleague Aina , who presented her research with great flair. Aina’s ongoing research (as part of the ALGEPI project ) investigates how Europe’s AI regulatory frameworks—ranging from the EU’s AI Act and European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) to UNESCO and Council of Europe guidelines and national AI strategies in Belgium, France, and Spain—are or are not reshaping newsroom governance. The goal of this research is to explore the intersection between regulation and journalism more closely trying to understand how AI regulation translates into newsroom realities across European contexts. Through a two‐step approach of document analysis and interviews with legal experts, media managers, and practitioners, she discussed the impact of both hard and soft law in the journalistic context as well as media‐tailored AI policies that balance compliance with editorial independence. Next to Aina’s insights, it was inspiring to hear from other research themes and get some findings from other studies. After a strong day at the conference, we had a chance to explore beautiful Rome and do some sightseeing. The day ended in style with a delicious buffet full of authentic Italian dishes.🍝🍦 On day three of the EMMA Conference, it was Hanne and Pieter's turn to present their research. Together, they gave an engaging joint presentation in which they shared a comparative analysis of how decision-making around recommender systems for media distribution is shaped in commercial media companies and public broadcasters. Building upon the framework of Smets et al (2022), they investigate how the strategic perspective on integrating recommender systems differs in profit-oriented organizations and PSM. By integrating their individual case studies, they offered valuable insights into the divergent strategic goals, recommendation purposes, and the implications for the recommender system design. The take-away? There are some similar strategic goals and recommendation purposes for editorial, commercial, and technological stakeholders in both types of media organizations. Nevertheless, the interpretation of concepts such as 'relevant' and 'engagement' differs based on the organizational cultures in profit-driven and public service media. Slide of presentation: Preliminary findings on shared overarching strategic goals and recommendation purposes For those who cannot get enough of Pieter , he also gave an individual presentation afterwards in which he elaborated on his case study work on Flemish public broadcaster VRT. With a focus on the tensions and possible conflicts that arise between stakeholders in the decision-making processes that shape the recommender system development, his presentation elaborated on the stakeholders involved at PSM and the implications of (dis) alignment of their strategic interests. His VRT deep dive hinted at the merits of a stronger involvement of indirect stakeholders for public service delivery and provided learnings on how PSM could tackle future structural integrations of technological innovations, for example, that of generative AI, which was a heavily debated topic at this conference. Previous Next