Informationslandskabet

Informationslandskabet is a term used in Danish and Norwegian discourse to describe the information ecology of a society: the set of media, platforms, institutions, technologies, and practices through which information is produced, distributed, discovered, and used.

It includes traditional mass media, public service broadcasting, online news, social media platforms, search engines, blogs, forums, and other channels; data infrastructures, including cloud services, APIs, and metadata; algorithms and personalization that shape what information people see; and regulatory and economic contexts, such as privacy laws, freedom of information, and advertising-based business models.

Key issues within the information landscape include access to reliable information, information literacy, trust, and the risk of misinformation or disinformation, as well as digital division—differences in access and skills across population groups. Policy and research use the concept to analyze how information flows are organized, who controls gatekeeping and ranking, and how public communication, education, and civic life can be supported by transparent, inclusive information environments.

Critics note that platform power and algorithmic design can distort information access, while defenders stress adaptability and resilience in a networked information ecosystem. Overall, the term helps describe present-day information dynamics and informs discussions about media literacy, digital governance, and public communication.