Diana L. Ascher works at the intersection of information practice and policy. As head of research and senior advisor on data ethics and responsible artificial intelligence to the EDM Council, Dr. Ascher helps ensure the world’s leading organizations develop ethical data management policies and practices. She is the founder of the Information Ethics & Equity Institute, which bridges information studies research and praxis through accredited programming for data and information workers.
Previously, Dr. Ascher gained expertise in information science research and instruction as director of the IS Lab at UCLA and manager of the UCLA Anderson Laboratory in Behavioral Decision Making; and in data and knowledge management, custom-publishing technologies, and financial communication and literacy at American Funds, Bloomberg, and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Early in her career, she wrote for the Durham Herald-Sun, the Charlotte News & Observer, and WTVD News.
Dr. Ascher serves as an expert witness in high-profile media cases concerning defamation, trademark infringement, and responsible data use and technological development. Her research acumen includes content, network, and survey analyses, among other methodologies.
Dr. Ascher earned a Ph.D. in information studies at UCLA; an M.B.A. from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University; and a B.A. in Public Policy with concentrations in journalism and international policy from Duke University as a recipient of the Benjamin N. Duke Leadership Scholarship.
Dr. Diana L. Ascher focuses on information, technology, and decision making in organizations. Her interdisciplinary research interests draw from her work in a variety of fields, including financial communication, journalism, and public policy.
Dr. Ascher’s current research investigates:
the algorithmic turn in news organizations' social media activity (dissertation research)
hyper-vigilant information-seeking behavior in hospitals
network analysis of neo-nazi hate speech on Twitter
network analysis of tweets pertaining to the 2016 U. S. presidential election
translating data management priorities for information workers
cognitive reflection and information-seeking behavior
the ethics, economics, and politics of long-term genomic data management
information ethics with respect to identity, privacy, power, and freedom
Dr. Ascher teaches Internet & Society and Information & Power at UCLA. In addition, she designed a new course on privacy and surveillance for undergraduate students in the University of California system, and has been an active contributor to the development of an undergraduate information studies major curriculum at UCLA.
In the corporate world, Dr. Ascher also works at the intersection of media technology and organizational information practice and policy. She is a principal at Stratelligence, which hosts research, teaching, and collaboration resources for information scholars, industry leaders, policy makers, and journalists, and brings cutting-edge information research directly to the boardroom. Dr. Ascher is a co-founder of the Information Ethics & Equity Institute, which bridges information studies research and praxis through accredited programming for data and information workers.
Previously, as chief information strategist and education director at Business U, she developed the company's policies and procedures for accreditation while helping public-sector organizations create capacity and sustainability in workforce development, education, and economic development. As director of information of the Behavioral Science & Policy Association, Dr. Ascher worked with many of the world’s leading behavioral scientists to share findings in ways that are relevant and useful for policy makers.
As a writer, editor, and multimedia producer for companies such as American Funds and Bloomberg, Dr. Ascher played key roles in leveraging technology for improved information practices and more effective media development. For example, she initiated the display of sophisticated analytic functions throughout playback of corporate teleconference recordings and live event coverage on the Bloomberg terminal. As a Bloomberg TOP news editor, Dr. Ascher was responsible for real-time breaking news reports in a pre-Twitter limited-character format, which included coverage of the events of 9-11. As managing editor in Bloomberg’s magazine division, Dr. Ascher was responsible for On Investing, with a readership of more than 1 million, and the creation of Angel Advisor magazine. She also championed and oversaw the corporate transition to a state-of-the-art custom publishing platform.
Similarly, she leveraged new technologies in academia as the manager of distance learning at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Dr. Ascher has consulted with several universities on marketing and curriculum-development strategies.
In the entertainment realm, Dr. Ascher gained experience as a writer and producer working with Roger Corman’s Concorde New Horizons, Paramount Television, and independent filmmakers.
Early in her career as a journalist, Dr. Ascher wrote for the Durham Herald-Sun, the Charlotte News & Observer, and ABC's WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham.
She has written and edited in the areas of business, finance, retirement, environmental policy, health, medicine, technology, film, literature, politics, parenting, and more.
Dr. Ascher earned a Ph.D. from the Department of Information Studies in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles; an M.B.A. from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University; and a B.A. in Public Policy with concentrations in journalism and international policy from Duke University as a recipient of the Benjamin N. Duke Leadership Scholarship.
DIANA L. ASCHER, M.B.A. PH.D. CANDIDATE Curriculum Vitae November 2016 University of California, Los Angeles GSE&IS Building, Box 951520 Web: dianaascher.com Los Angeles, CA 90095-1520 EDUCATION Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, anticipated Spring 2017 Major Fields: Information Studies, Information in Society, Journalism Dissertation title: The New Yellow Journalism: Examining the Algorithmic Turn in News Organizations’ Social Media Activity Leah Lievrouw (Advisor) M.B.A. Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management, Claremont Graduate University Major Fields: Ethics, Leadership, Marketing, and Strategy B.A. Duke University Major Field: Public Policy, with concentrations in journalism and international policy Certificate in Film Studies