Dr. Diana L. Ascher is an information scientist, researcher, and expert witness specializing in complex information systems, artificial intelligence, digital amplification, reputational harm, and algorithmic decision making. She is retained in high-stakes litigation involving defamation, artificial intelligence bias, media ecosystems, digital evidence, and information propagation, including matters with claimed damages exceeding $1 billion. Her work focuses on whether and how information systems plausibly produce alleged reputational, economic, organizational, or behavioral outcomes.
Dr. Ascher applies multi-method empirical approaches that include network analysis, content analysis, survey research, search ecosystem analysis, information propagation modeling, and artificial intelligence system evaluation. Her work examines how narratives move through interconnected systems, how information is amplified and transformed across platforms, and how algorithmic and media environments shape visibility, perception, trust, and decision making. She works with both plaintiffs and defendants and frequently is engaged early in litigation to assess whether technical and causation theories withstand evidentiary scrutiny.
Dr. Ascher previously served as Head of Research and Senior Advisor on Data Ethics and Responsible Artificial Intelligence at the EDM Council and is founder of the Information Ethics & Equity Institute. She previously directed the Information Studies Research Lab at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), managed the UCLA Anderson Laboratory in Behavioral Decision Making, and taught courses including Internet & Society and Information & Power. Her research has examined algorithmic media systems, online extremism, information seeking behavior, data ethics, privacy, and networked communication systems.
Before entering academia, Dr. Ascher worked in journalism, media, publishing, and information strategy roles with organizations including Bloomberg, American Funds, and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. At Bloomberg, she served as a TOP news editor responsible for real-time breaking financial news coverage. She later managed publications with readerships exceeding one million readers while overseeing major publishing technology transitions. Her earlier journalism work included reporting and writing for the Durham Herald-Sun, the Charlotte News & Observer, and WTVD-TV.
Dr. Ascher earned a PhD in Information Studies from UCLA, an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University, and a BA in Public Policy from Duke University, where she received the Benjamin N. Duke Leadership Scholarship.
Contact Dr. Ascher at consult at dianaascher dot com.
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