Michelle Amazeen
@commscholar.bsky.social
Associate Dean of Research, College of Communication
Associate Professor of Mass Communication,
Director, Communication Research Center,
Boston University
New book – Content Confusion: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262553605/content-confusion/
Associate Professor of Mass Communication,
Director, Communication Research Center,
Boston University
New book – Content Confusion: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262553605/content-confusion/
Pinned
Content Confusion
We often blame social media for the rampant problem of disinformation, but mainstream news media is also at fault. Not only do news outlets disguise paid con...
mitpress.mit.edu
🎉 Excited to share that Content Confusion publishes today! It dives into how news orgs & advertisers—including fossil fuels—blur journalism & ads, fueling disinfo & distrust. Available now! Use code MITP30 today for 30% off at MIT Press. Thanks for the support! 🙏
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
Reposted by Michelle Amazeen
Big Oil is using native advertising to "disguise their ads in news outlets" and promote "controversial technologies like carbon capture as climate solutions, portray fossil fuel companies as climate-friendly, or misrepresent their role in the energy transition" finds author @commscholar.bsky.social.
These ads are poisoning trust in media
‘Native advertising' allows fossil fuel companies to disguise their ads in news outlets. A new book argues the practice undermines journalistic credibility.
www.exxonknews.org
November 22, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Big Oil is using native advertising to "disguise their ads in news outlets" and promote "controversial technologies like carbon capture as climate solutions, portray fossil fuel companies as climate-friendly, or misrepresent their role in the energy transition" finds author @commscholar.bsky.social.
Honored to see my book, Content Confusion, recognized by @emdashsanders.bsky.social for shedding light on how native ads blur the line between ads and journalism, especially in fossil fuel coverage. Grateful to contribute to this vital conversation on corporate influence and media integrity. 🙏
An important new book from @commscholar.bsky.social looks at native advertising, a practice allowing fossil fuel companies to disguise their ads as journalism in mainstream outlets.
It adds a hugely overlooked piece to the convo about corporate influence in media www.exxonknews.org/p/these-ads-...
It adds a hugely overlooked piece to the convo about corporate influence in media www.exxonknews.org/p/these-ads-...
These ads are poisoning trust in media
‘Native advertising' allows fossil fuel companies to disguise their ads in news outlets. A new book argues the practice undermines journalistic credibility.
www.exxonknews.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Honored to see my book, Content Confusion, recognized by @emdashsanders.bsky.social for shedding light on how native ads blur the line between ads and journalism, especially in fossil fuel coverage. Grateful to contribute to this vital conversation on corporate influence and media integrity. 🙏
🎉 Excited to share that Content Confusion publishes today! It dives into how news orgs & advertisers—including fossil fuels—blur journalism & ads, fueling disinfo & distrust. Available now! Use code MITP30 today for 30% off at MIT Press. Thanks for the support! 🙏
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
Content Confusion
We often blame social media for the rampant problem of disinformation, but mainstream news media is also at fault. Not only do news outlets disguise paid con...
mitpress.mit.edu
November 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
🎉 Excited to share that Content Confusion publishes today! It dives into how news orgs & advertisers—including fossil fuels—blur journalism & ads, fueling disinfo & distrust. Available now! Use code MITP30 today for 30% off at MIT Press. Thanks for the support! 🙏
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...
The NYT reports most corporations skipped #COP30. Our @comatbu.bsky.social @bucomresearch.bsky.social Media & Tech Survey finds Americans noticed — confidence in big companies tackling climate change dropped a lot over 3 years. Read more here: www.bu.edu/com/articles...
#ClimateAction #PublicOpinion
#ClimateAction #PublicOpinion
November 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The NYT reports most corporations skipped #COP30. Our @comatbu.bsky.social @bucomresearch.bsky.social Media & Tech Survey finds Americans noticed — confidence in big companies tackling climate change dropped a lot over 3 years. Read more here: www.bu.edu/com/articles...
#ClimateAction #PublicOpinion
#ClimateAction #PublicOpinion
Reposted by Michelle Amazeen
Major media outlets are increasingly blurring the line between ads and editorial content. In her forthcoming book "Content Confusion," Michelle Amazeen "takes the media to task for allowing this fox into the hen house" — via @thenation.com: @commscholar.bsky.social
The Media Is Complicit in the Climate Confusion
The vast majority of people want their governments to take climate action—but most wrongly think they’re in the minority. The media is partly to blame.
www.thenation.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Major media outlets are increasingly blurring the line between ads and editorial content. In her forthcoming book "Content Confusion," Michelle Amazeen "takes the media to task for allowing this fox into the hen house" — via @thenation.com: @commscholar.bsky.social
📢 Excited to share that my 🌟first book talk🌟 will be with @osome.iu.edu! Join me Nov 19, 12-1 pm ET (online) as I discuss key themes from #ContentConfusion (@mitpress.bsky.social). Don’t miss this opportunity to dive deep into the challenges impacting our news media today.
October 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
📢 Excited to share that my 🌟first book talk🌟 will be with @osome.iu.edu! Join me Nov 19, 12-1 pm ET (online) as I discuss key themes from #ContentConfusion (@mitpress.bsky.social). Don’t miss this opportunity to dive deep into the challenges impacting our news media today.
In my October Director's Letter from @bucomresearch.bsky.social, I talk with Drs. @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social & @morganweiland.bsky.social about public views on navigating governmental pressure, protecting free speech, and the future of media freedom.
#FirstAmendment
sites.bu.edu/crc/2025/10/...
#FirstAmendment
sites.bu.edu/crc/2025/10/...
October 26, 2025 at 5:51 PM
In my October Director's Letter from @bucomresearch.bsky.social, I talk with Drs. @tvbookstvbooks.bsky.social & @morganweiland.bsky.social about public views on navigating governmental pressure, protecting free speech, and the future of media freedom.
#FirstAmendment
sites.bu.edu/crc/2025/10/...
#FirstAmendment
sites.bu.edu/crc/2025/10/...
Calling all 18-24 year-olds in Boston! 📢 Join our study on young adults’ media habits at @comatbu.bsky.social @bucomresearch.bsky.social. Your insights matter! See below to learn more & sign up. Please share with friends! #Boston #Research #MediaStudy
October 22, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Calling all 18-24 year-olds in Boston! 📢 Join our study on young adults’ media habits at @comatbu.bsky.social @bucomresearch.bsky.social. Your insights matter! See below to learn more & sign up. Please share with friends! #Boston #Research #MediaStudy
Glad to share my perspective in this article from @jpmjr.bsky.social about OpenAI’s Sora-2, which reportedly makes false claim videos 80% of the time. Another clear example of the rising challenge of #ContentConfusion as AI blurs fact and fiction.
OpenAI’s Sora 2 can be prompted to generate false claim videos 80% of the time, according to NewsGuard. jpmellojr.blogspot.com/2025/10/sora... #Sora2 #OpenAI #Deepfakes #Disinformation #NewsGuard
Sora 2 Generates False Videos 80% of the Time, Study Finds
New research by NewsGuard has revealed that the latest version of OpenAI’s video creation tool Sora 2 can be prompted to advance false or ...
jpmellojr.blogspot.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Glad to share my perspective in this article from @jpmjr.bsky.social about OpenAI’s Sora-2, which reportedly makes false claim videos 80% of the time. Another clear example of the rising challenge of #ContentConfusion as AI blurs fact and fiction.
Are you a student looking to further hone your #ScienceCommunication writing skills? Here's a great opportunity to check out: ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
Exciting news! SciCommBites is officially accepting applications for authors for our 2026 cohort. Learn more below and apply by November 30! scicommbites.org/applications...
Applications open for 2026 SciCommBites authors! - SciCommBites
Apply by November 30 for the chance to be part of the SciCommBites 2026 Author Cohort!
scicommbites.org
October 20, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Are you a student looking to further hone your #ScienceCommunication writing skills? Here's a great opportunity to check out: ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
One month until my book Content Confusion publishes on 11/18! It reveals how mainstream news & ads blur lines, fueling disinfo & shaping journalism itself. Ever noticed ads disguised as news? Share your stories! #Preorder here: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360... #MediaTrust @mitpress.bsky.social
October 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
One month until my book Content Confusion publishes on 11/18! It reveals how mainstream news & ads blur lines, fueling disinfo & shaping journalism itself. Ever noticed ads disguised as news? Share your stories! #Preorder here: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360... #MediaTrust @mitpress.bsky.social
Glad I was able to share some thoughts w @davidingram.bsky.social on use of deepfakes. According to our recent poll w @ipsosus.bsky.social, > 4 in 5 adults in US believe we should be protected from unauthorized use of our likeness created by genAI: www.bu.edu/com/articles...
October 6, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Glad I was able to share some thoughts w @davidingram.bsky.social on use of deepfakes. According to our recent poll w @ipsosus.bsky.social, > 4 in 5 adults in US believe we should be protected from unauthorized use of our likeness created by genAI: www.bu.edu/com/articles...
"The planned appointment was first reported by the New York Post." Wrong scoop attribution @washingtonpost.com. @oliverdarcy.bsky.social & @passantino.bsky.social at @status.news reported this weeks ago! www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Bari Weiss to be named top editor at CBS News
Paramount Skydance will acquire the journalist’s publication, the Free Press, which she started after quitting the New York Times in 2020.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM
"The planned appointment was first reported by the New York Post." Wrong scoop attribution @washingtonpost.com. @oliverdarcy.bsky.social & @passantino.bsky.social at @status.news reported this weeks ago! www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Michelle Amazeen
@commscholar.bsky.social's CRC x Ipsos survey discovers a vast majority of Americans support regulations for "deepfakes".
Over 84% of participants agreed individuals should be protected from the unauthorized use of their voice and visual likeness in media.
🔗Full article here: tinyurl.com/3ud5sysu
Over 84% of participants agreed individuals should be protected from the unauthorized use of their voice and visual likeness in media.
🔗Full article here: tinyurl.com/3ud5sysu
Big margins support protections against AI-powered “deepfakes” on social media, survey finds
An overwhelming majority of Americans across the political spectrum support protections against “deepfakes” in media that use a person’s voice…
tinyurl.com
September 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
@commscholar.bsky.social's CRC x Ipsos survey discovers a vast majority of Americans support regulations for "deepfakes".
Over 84% of participants agreed individuals should be protected from the unauthorized use of their voice and visual likeness in media.
🔗Full article here: tinyurl.com/3ud5sysu
Over 84% of participants agreed individuals should be protected from the unauthorized use of their voice and visual likeness in media.
🔗Full article here: tinyurl.com/3ud5sysu
Looking forward to welcoming Dr. Michael G. Elasmar as the September Colloquium Speaker @bucomresearch.bsky.social @comatbu.bsky.social on Wednesday, September 24th at 3:30.
September 22, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Looking forward to welcoming Dr. Michael G. Elasmar as the September Colloquium Speaker @bucomresearch.bsky.social @comatbu.bsky.social on Wednesday, September 24th at 3:30.
Great programming coming up this fall at Boston University's College of Communication @comatbu.bsky.social at our Communication Research Center @bucomresearch.bsky.social! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
The September 2025 Director's Letter from Director Michelle Amazeen @commscholar.bsky.social is out! 🍂
Including a lineup of colloquium talks, COM networking & research training opportunities, a continuing public opinion poll, podcast announcements, and more.
Read here 👉 tinyurl.com/2v362866
Including a lineup of colloquium talks, COM networking & research training opportunities, a continuing public opinion poll, podcast announcements, and more.
Read here 👉 tinyurl.com/2v362866
Letter from the Director: September 2025 | Communication Research Center
tinyurl.com
September 11, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Great programming coming up this fall at Boston University's College of Communication @comatbu.bsky.social at our Communication Research Center @bucomresearch.bsky.social! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
AI deepfakes on social media are fueling calls for stronger protections — and a recent @comatbu.bsky.social survey shows big public support for regulation. How can we balance innovation with trust to keep online spaces safe and truthful in the AI age? www.bu.edu/com/articles...
Big margins support protections against AI-powered “deepfakes” on social media, survey finds
An overwhelming majority of Americans across the political spectrum support protections against “deepfakes” in media that use a person’s voice…
www.bu.edu
September 3, 2025 at 10:20 PM
AI deepfakes on social media are fueling calls for stronger protections — and a recent @comatbu.bsky.social survey shows big public support for regulation. How can we balance innovation with trust to keep online spaces safe and truthful in the AI age? www.bu.edu/com/articles...
✨Harley and I wish everyone a happy first day of school!✨
September 2, 2025 at 11:01 AM
✨Harley and I wish everyone a happy first day of school!✨
Someone should send the administration a copy of @keithob.bsky.social's book, Paradise Falls—then again, they probably won’t read it or even care. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/c...
An Industry Insider’s Changes at the E.P.A. Could Cost Taxpayers Billions
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Someone should send the administration a copy of @keithob.bsky.social's book, Paradise Falls—then again, they probably won’t read it or even care. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/c...
Academic harassment:
My lab's been attacked by an anti-wind group and their lawyers. They threatened the science funding of my whole university, to shut me and my undergraduate research assistants up.
NYT just covered it. 1/n
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/c...
NYT just covered it. 1/n
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/c...
Law Firm Pressures Brown University to Erase Research on Anti-Wind Groups
www.nytimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Academic harassment:
As the 20-year anniversary of #HurricaneKatrina nears, NYTimes rolls out “never-before-seen” photos of the devastation. Then, they casually drop #sponcon from Chevron about “solving the energy puzzle.” Because what better way to honor a climate disaster than with an energy giant’s propaganda?
August 27, 2025 at 1:20 AM
As the 20-year anniversary of #HurricaneKatrina nears, NYTimes rolls out “never-before-seen” photos of the devastation. Then, they casually drop #sponcon from Chevron about “solving the energy puzzle.” Because what better way to honor a climate disaster than with an energy giant’s propaganda?
Wow. While I'm thrilled for The Onion (and am among its subscribers), I'm surprised that it has MORE print subscribers than @bostonglobe.com. #news
Some incredibly good news:
One year ago this week, The Onion returned to print.
In that one year, we’ve grown to the 13th largest print newspaper in the United States, just ahead of the Boston Globe, and growing fast.
In short, it’s working.
So… thank you. Thank you for helping save this thing.
One year ago this week, The Onion returned to print.
In that one year, we’ve grown to the 13th largest print newspaper in the United States, just ahead of the Boston Globe, and growing fast.
In short, it’s working.
So… thank you. Thank you for helping save this thing.
Exclusive | The Onion Brought Back Its Print Edition. The Gamble Is Paying Off.
Publications turn to the old-style products to appeal to nostalgic readers and stand out in a crowded digital-media landscape.
www.wsj.com
August 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Wow. While I'm thrilled for The Onion (and am among its subscribers), I'm surprised that it has MORE print subscribers than @bostonglobe.com. #news
Enjoyed hearing @dougmost.bsky.social at @brooklinebooksmith.bsky.social discuss his new book about the amazing American feat of building the Liberty fleet of ships. 🇺🇸
August 20, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Enjoyed hearing @dougmost.bsky.social at @brooklinebooksmith.bsky.social discuss his new book about the amazing American feat of building the Liberty fleet of ships. 🇺🇸
Reposted by Michelle Amazeen
Today we release BAD VAXX-a new game that PREBUNKS misinfo about vaccines. Step into the shoes of "Ann McDotal" who loves to float scary anecdotes & "Dr Forge" the pseudosciensist. We find the game boosts people's ability to better *discern* information manipulation!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Psychological inoculation improves resilience to and reduces willingness to share vaccine misinformation - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Psychological inoculation improves resilience to and reduces willingness to share vaccine misinformation
www.nature.com
August 18, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Today we release BAD VAXX-a new game that PREBUNKS misinfo about vaccines. Step into the shoes of "Ann McDotal" who loves to float scary anecdotes & "Dr Forge" the pseudosciensist. We find the game boosts people's ability to better *discern* information manipulation!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The narrowing of public information—from book bans to censorship and legal pressures on media—is threatening democracy. @comatbu.bsky.social, we’re tackling this through research, education, and supporting local news. Full letter: sites.bu.edu/crc/2025/08/... #MediaLiteracy #Democracy #LocalNews
August 14, 2025 at 12:33 AM
The narrowing of public information—from book bans to censorship and legal pressures on media—is threatening democracy. @comatbu.bsky.social, we’re tackling this through research, education, and supporting local news. Full letter: sites.bu.edu/crc/2025/08/... #MediaLiteracy #Democracy #LocalNews