Advanced AI tools for news video analysis, structural transparency, and media literacy.
Transparent Media Monitoring and Understanding (TMMU)
The TMMU project addresses the critical need for automated, insightful analysis of news video content to enhance media transparency and literacy. Developed by the University of Malta in collaboration with Threls Ltd., TMMU provides data-backed insights into news video bulletins, ensuring accountability and critical engagement with Maltese media. This project is financed by Xjenza Malta through the R&I Thematic Programmes: Digital Technologies Programme of 2025.
Funded by:
The TMMU project uses advanced technology to help us understand how news stories are put together. By looking at Maltese news videos, the project identifies common patterns in how information is presented and ensures that different groups are represented fairly. Our goal is to make media more transparent and easier for everyone to navigate.
The project is built on three core values: Clear Insights, Responsible Innovation, and Informed Citizens:
Clear Insights
A specialised collection of Maltese news videos is being built to study how media works in a local context.Responsible Innovation
The project works closely with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) through their "Sandbox" to test tools in a safe, controlled environment, ensuring they are reliable and follow the highest ethical standards.Informed Citizens
Easy-to-use ethical guidelines are being created to help the public, journalists, and regulators better understand and evaluate the media seen every day.
Why It Matters
Addressing Representational Bias
TMMU provides tools to highlight patterns in media representation, such as screen time and the portrayal of different groups, serving as a starting point for discussions on fairness and inclusivity.
Enhancing Media Literacy
By providing insights into how news narratives are constructed, TMMU empowers the general public and regulators to critically evaluate the video content they consume.
Data-Driven Oversight
Through collaboration with the Broadcasting Authority of Malta, the project ensures that its analytical outputs are directly relevant to regulatory needs and real-world impact.
Powerful Analysis Features
Learn about the advanced AI techniques and methodologies powering our analysis system.
Techniques that simultaneously interpret visuals, spoken audio, and on-screen text to reveal how news content is constructed.
The system research includes techniques to simultaneously interpret diverse data streams, such as spoken audio, on-screen graphics, and video scenes. This allows the platform to reveal how specific news narratives are constructed by highlighting correlations between topics discussed and the sentiment of textual overlays.
Techniques that simultaneously interpret visuals, spoken audio, and on-screen text to reveal how news content is constructed.
The system research includes techniques to simultaneously interpret diverse data streams, such as spoken audio, on-screen graphics, and video scenes. This allows the platform to reveal how specific news narratives are constructed by highlighting correlations between topics discussed and the sentiment of textual overlays.
References
The team behind the research
Dr Dylan Seychell
Principal Investigator
Prof. Vanessa Camilleri
Academic Advisor
Prof. Ing. Carl James Debono
Academic Advisor
Prof. Mireille-Martine Sant
Legal Advisor
