Epistemic authority in the digital public sphere. An integrative conceptual framework and research agenda

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dc.contributor.authorBartsch, Anne
dc.contributor.authorNeuberger, Christoph
dc.contributor.authorStark, Birgit
dc.contributor.authorKarnowski, Veronika
dc.contributor.authorMaurer, Marcus
dc.contributor.authorPentzold, Christian
dc.contributor.authorQuandt, Thorsten
dc.contributor.authorQuiring, Oliver
dc.contributor.authorSchemer, Christian
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-02T08:44:17Z
dc.date.available2025-06-02T08:44:17Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractWe develop an integrative conceptual framework and research agenda for studying epistemic authorities in the digital age. Consulting epistemic authorities (e.g., professional experts, well-informed laypeople, technologies) can be an efficient fast-track to knowledge. To fulfill this functional role, those who claim epistemic authority need to be both subjectively recognized (have a perceived advantage in knowledge) and objectively justified (have an actual advantage in knowledge). In a digital media context, new and unconventional knowledge sources have emerged that can fulfill the functional role of epistemic authorities. But false authorities that disseminate misinformation have emerged as well while other sources with important knowledge remain unrecognized. We further analyze the functional role of epistemic intermediaries that can mitigate such problematic developments by correcting false authorities and by providing endorsement for unrecognized authorities. We conclude with a research agenda to study functional forms of epistemic authorities and epistemic intermediaries in the digital public sphere.
dc.identifier.citationBartsch, A., Neuberger, C., Stark, B., Karnowski, V., Maurer, M., Pentzold, C., Quandt, T., Quiring, O., & Schemer, C. (2025). Epistemic authority in the digital public sphere. An integrative conceptual framework and research agenda. Communication Theory, 35(1), 37–50. https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtae020
dc.identifier.doi10.1093/ct/qtae020
dc.identifier.issn1468-2885
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.weizenbaum-library.de/handle/id/903
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsopen access
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectepistemic authority
dc.subjectdigitalization
dc.subjectpublic sphere
dc.subjectknowledge
dc.subjectintermediaries
dc.titleEpistemic authority in the digital public sphere. An integrative conceptual framework and research agenda
dc.typeArticle
dc.type.statuspublishedVersion
dcmi.typeText
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.urlhttps://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtae020
local.researchgroupDynamiken digitaler Nachrichtenvermittlung
local.researchtopicDigitale Märkte und Öffentlichkeiten auf Plattformen
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