We are entering a new phase of the information age. What began as a promise of openness, connectivity and democratisation has evolved into a complex ecosystem where digital platforms shape attention, algorithms influence public debate, artificial intelligence generates content at unprecedented scale, and technology increasingly intersects with economic and political power. Understanding how this system works is no longer optional. It has become essential for informed citizenship, media literacy and democratic resilience.

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This project by the Mike Koedinger Foundation is a visual and accessible A–Z dictionary designed to decode the forces shaping our information ecosystem.

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It maps a fragmented and often opaque world through People—the entrepreneurs, investors, political leaders, journalists, researchers and activists shaping technology, capital and influence; Brands—the platforms, media organisations, institutions and emerging alternatives structuring the digital landscape; and Keywords—the concepts that define how information is created, distributed, amplified and perceived, from AI hallucinations, attention economy and behavioural profiling to censorship, deepfakes, disinformation, echo chambers, filter bubbles, gatekeeping, hyper-targeting, mass manipulation, media literacy, propaganda, surveillance capitalism and trust erosion.

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Beyond its A–Z structure, the book places these concepts into context through timelines of defining events, maps of power, exclusive interviews, visual explanations, infographics, and a curated selection of the most influential books, films and documentaries exploring media, technology, democracy and digital society.

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Each entry is concise, visual and interconnected, enabling readers to navigate freely and progressively build a systemic understanding. Cross-references encourage exploration rather than linear reading, while practical explainers—such as how algorithms shape our feeds, how micro-targeting works, how to identify fake news or how AI generates convincing misinformation—translate complex mechanisms into accessible language.

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Designed for a broad audience, including students, professionals, decision-makers and anyone seeking to better understand the digital age, the book combines journalistic rigour with visual storytelling. It aims not merely to describe today's information ecosystem, but to equip readers with the knowledge and critical thinking needed to navigate it.

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Conceived as more than a book, the project has the potential to evolve into educational toolkits, classroom resources, interactive digital experiences, exhibitions, documentaries and other audiovisual formats. It is intended to become a long-term reference for media literacy and democratic resilience, fully aligned with the mission of the Mike Koedinger Foundation: Safeguarding media integrity. Strengthening democratic resilience.

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The book is researched and written by journalist, author and lecturer Chris Stockel-Walker. Art Direction by award-winning advocate for magazine culture Jeremy Leslie.