Blogs

A look at how ‘anti-disinformation’ laws exist within continuums of democratic backsliding that produce chilling effects. Read More

Examining a novel approach to identifying “connective language” that brings people together on social media.   Read More

Important findings from our 2024 research. Read More

Prompted by media discourse and criticism in the aftermath of the 2024 U.S. election, the Center for Media Engagmenent held a workshop focused on encouraging journalists to move beyond reductive, monolithic labels, and identifying specific reporting practices for doing so. Read More

As Election Day approaches, how are newsrooms tasked with covering contentious races handling the pressure? 10 editors at newsrooms in battleground districts or states to learn more about the opportunities and challenges they face. Read More

Our country has overcome many challenges since its foundation – from the civil war to civil rights, there’s no doubt that this nation significantly impacted the course of human history. Now, the country faces one of its biggest challenges yet: climate change. Residents of Washington, DC… Read More

Flooded streets. Beach closures. Store fronts underwater.  These are some notable memories of New England’s 2023 summer, the second rainiest on record.  Warmer temperatures around the globe caused rainfall to increase in the Northeast, according to experts.  “We are getting wetter in… Read More

A federal climate change assessment released in November warns of worsening health impacts due to climate change — effects which are already being seen in California. In California, temperatures have already begun to climb and wildfires have intensified, a… Read More

In Alicia Keys and Jay-Z’s 2009 hit song, “Empire State of Mind,” they describe New York City as the concrete jungle where dreams are made of. For some New Yorkers, those dreams include saving their planet by first, saving their city. From Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvescent… Read More

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, fans of the men’s basketball team enjoyed March Madness as they saw the Illini reach the Elite Eight during the NCAA Tournament. But another kind of March Madness was happening on campus – the Rain Garden Rumble at the Red… Read More

Russ Schumacher, a climatologist and atmospheric science professor at Colorado State University, said drought is the most noticeable effect of climate change in the state. (Courtesy photo from the Colorado State University’s website) From 1980 until 2023, statewide annual temperatures in Colorado warmed 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit, a… Read More

Extreme weather events from intense wildfires to heavy rains have plagued California, the nation’s most populous state, in recent years. The deadliest wildlife in state history, the Camp Fire, killed 85 people and destroyed over 90 percent of homes in Paradise, a small town in a rural region… Read More

In a 2022 global report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, some of the world’s top scientists agreed that “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human well-being and the health of the planet. Any… Read More

Mountain Day is a favorite tradition among Smith College students in Northampton, Massachusetts. Every year in the early fall semester, classes are canceled, the President of the College hands out apple cider donuts, and the college provides transport for students to go apple picking. This year, apple-picking wasn’t… Read More

Priced out of my hometown New York City during the pandemic, I arrived in Tennessee for an artist residency on a donkey farm 3 years ago looking for a solution to what I’d hoped was a short-term issue of homelessness. After unexpectedly falling in love at 40 with… Read More

It is getting harder to grow food, and few people understand that better than Dr. Rachel Schattman. She’s always been a farmer, and now leads the University of Maine’s Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Fellowship, a multi-year experiment that pairs academic scientists with dozens of farmers to help plan… Read More

North Carolina’s fast-growing Wake County is poised to get two things—more rain and more development. And that clash could put pressure on state-mandated 50-foot riparian buffers1, vegetated areas along bodies of water that are designed to protect the region’s Neuse River… Read More

Wildfires are so common in eastern Washington that “fire season” has become entrenched in local vocabularies.  The dry side of the state has been the site of repeated megafires in the last decade—fires that have taken lives, destroyed property, and charred hundreds of thousands of acres of forest… Read More

Everyone has their own idea of climate change, even those who refuse to believe in it. At the eye of this hurricane of (mis)information is the large and environmentally diverse state of Florida. What many agree upon, however, is the difference between climate change… Read More

It’s no secret that the desert is hot, but in the last few years the heat in Phoenix has been breaking new records. According to Arizona State climatologist and Senior Global Futures Scientist with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory Dr. Erinanne… Read More

Photography by Mars Productions As hurricane season 2024 draws near, forecasting is on the minds of southwest Florida’s climate scientists, who rely on modeling to predict what we’re in store for in coming years. In Florida, second only to Alaska in coastline miles,… Read More

New York City is known for its nightlife, culture, and creativity, but things are also heating up throughout the state – and not in a good way. According to a report by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) on… Read More

For Kansas City metro area gardeners, the latest USDA plant hardiness map revealed some surprises–many growers have watched their land warm over the last decade, pushing them from zone 6a to 6b. While the hardiness map primarily highlights the extremities of the temperature spectrum, they are a canary… Read More

Climate change is a silent disaster. One way it notifies of its presence is by raising the sea levels. Since the 1880s, the sea level has risen by 8 inches, with the current pace of rise measuring more than an inch… Read More

Climate change in Central Florida is creating extreme weather, such as flooding, due to the mix of inland freshwater and sealine, according to Marybeth Arcodia, a research scientist at Colorado State University whose work focuses on climate variability and predictability. Sea level rise is caused globally… Read More

Missouri children may be more susceptible to adverse pollution effects, according to a Missouri primary care physician and environmental health expert. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states children are more vulnerable to climate-related hazards due to their… Read More

If you ask Dr. Christopher Gabler how climate change is impacting the state of Texas, his answer is direct: In a lot of ways, and strongly.  Gabler is Associate Professor of Plant Ecology & Sustainability at UT Rio Grande Valley, where he studies… Read More

Growing up in Austin, Texas looked different in the 90s than it does today. I don’t just mean in the way that every generation says that– “Back in my day…” I mean it in the more ominous, cracking earth, beating sun, crumpling oak trees sort of… Read More

Recent developments in climatology have revealed quite a bit about the state of our planet if human production of fossil fuels continues on its current track. Scientists have recently begun focusing on ways that climate change is harming particular regions, as most prior discussions in the popular media… Read More

New Mexico, affectionately known as “The Land of Enchantment,” boasts a diverse landscape of steppes, desert mesas, and high-elevation alpine forests. But in recent years, it appears the state’s once impressive population of bird species is dwindling. In 2020, thousands of migratory birds were found dead throughout the… Read More

Across the globe, wildfire size and intensity has grown precipitously; a trend observed by many reports from organizations like the World Resources Institute and the United Nations. The expanding impact of fires has followed a similar trajectory within Idaho.  In 2022, the state saw 418,751 acres… Read More

Illinois, in the country’s heartland, boasts a demographic makeup that more than just about any other state most closely mirrors that of the United States as a whole. Along the same lines, the state’s climate change challenges echo the… Read More

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner famously said, “You know what they say about Chicago, if you don’t like the weather, wait fifteen minutes.” While residents can relate to Kiner’s claim about Windy City weather, the undeniable effects of climate change on… Read More

The December cooldown is a welcomed reprieve in the Grand Canyon State after Arizonans experienced record heat waves this past summer.  In 2023, Phoenix reached two grim milestones: a historic 31-day stretch of 110 degrees or higher along with hitting daily highs of 119 degrees on… Read More

Florida is one of the country’s fastest-growing states, but its growth and economy face significant challenges due to climate change. The biggest issue: rising sea levels. Like other states, Florida’s climate is changing… Read More

It’s a New York City phenomenon: Alternate Side Parking days – typically, a once or twice-weekly, 90 minute period during which parked cars are required to move to allow for street cleaning by the mechanical brooms of NYC sanitation vehicles. But… Read More

The Western New York region “is being perceived as a climate refuge or climate haven,” says Dr. Susan Spierre Clark, assistant professor in the department of environment and sustainability at the University at Buffalo. However, that moniker does not mean that Western New York cities like Rochester and… Read More

When a wildfire begins to rage, firefighters typically plan their counterattack based on the “active day, quiet night” fire cycle. This means that due to cooler and more humid conditions, the blaze tends to ease, and be easier to snuff out, after sunset. Worsening drought conditions, however, have… Read More

Climate change is concerning for many reasons, from increased natural disasters to unbearable summer temperatures. Another major issue: the health effects climate change can cause.  The global annual temperature has increased at an average rate of .14º Fahrenheit per decade since 1880, and that rate has… Read More

If you live in Southern California, there’s a good chance you’ve heard that the area is in a drought. But this year, it seems nothing could be further from the truth. Warnings of rain and even mudslides have been more common in news reports than wildfires or other… Read More

What is it going to take to bring about real change when it comes to climate change and environmental protection? Many believe climate change is a future problem, but Haley Barber, Program Director of the Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation (… Read More

Although Wyoming is one of the coldest states in the lower 48 of the United States, climate change could have a severely detrimental impact on the state. Wyoming receives around half its public funding from mineral royalties. As revenue garnered from traditional fossil fuel production continues… Read More

Massachusetts has over 1,500 miles of coastline vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by climate change. According to the Healey-Driscoll administration, approximately 2.5 million people call these coastal communities home. Over half live in areas known as “Environmental Justice Block Groups.”… Read More

Changes to the climate have been especially harsh on Puerto Rico, from tropical storms to hurricanes, sea level rise, coastal flooding, beach erosion, and extreme heat waves. According to Robert Kopp, Ph.D., 2023 was the planet’s hottest year to date. Read More

Traditionally characterized by snow-covered landscapes and frosty temperatures, the festive season in the Bay State is undergoing a transformation due to the impacts of climate change. Climate scientists say the chances of ever seeing a ‘White Christmas’ in Massachusetts again may become the exception, as milder… Read More

In many areas of Wisconsin, downhill and cross-country skiing are winter past-times. They also fuel the local economy between November and March. After all, North America’s largest cross-country race (American Birkebeiner, or “Birkie” for short) spans 50 kilometers between Cable and Hayward every February. About 15,000… Read More

A report, released this week, states we are currently experiencing a worldwide coral bleaching event. This is the fourth global event on record and the second in the last decade. Florida, specifically, experienced its… Read More

Long known for being the center of Tornado Alley, Oklahoma may soon have competition from other locations for the recognition. Because of climate change and global warming, studies are showing Tornado Alley is moving to the east, said Jason Furtado, associate professor of Meteorology and Carlisle… Read More

New York City faces a public health concern as leptospirosis cases surge alongside its booming rat population. Experts attribute both trends to climate change. Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection transmitted through contact with animal urine, reached a record 24 cases in NYC in 2023. Already this year,… Read More

Michigan’s annual temperature is gradually increasing, causing shifts in long-term global weather patterns. These patterns bring on heavy precipitation, heat waves, flooding, and air pollution. The impacts on health from climate change is well-documented. “We already… Read More

Climate change affects all of us, but those with vulnerabilities are at higher risk of experiencing extreme health consequences. The changes that have already happened are impacting the health of New Yorkers, but there are things that we can do about it both individually and on a societal… Read More

In some regards, the quality of New York’s lakes and streams has improved since the 1970s, according to Trevor J. Krabbenhoft, PhD, a fish biologist at the University at Buffalo. The enactment of the Clean Water Act formalized a system for discharging pollutants into the water. Read More

Hawaii is the most isolated archipelago in the world—a five-hour flight from the continental U.S. and six hours from Japan. This unique geography presents distinctive challenges when it comes to the impacts of climate change, according to Dr. Charles “Chip” Fletcher, Interim Dean of the School of Ocean… Read More

Anybody who doubts climate change is happening in Indiana need look only to Fort Wayne, the second largest city which sits in the northeast corner of the state. Sans a stint for college and post-graduate work, I’ve lived in Fort Wayne for the past 38 years, and what… Read More

Georgia’s climate change risks have become national news in recent months, due to the ongoing construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center (Cop City) and the impacts it’s on tree canopy, waterways, and surrounding communities. The site is located in… Read More

The State of New Jersey nicknamed the Garden State for its farmland and agriculture bounty, has been picking up a new title brought by state officials and environmental scientists— “ground zero” for climate change. Global warming is influencing the distribution of plant and animal species in… Read More

Hayman, Waldo Canyon, Black Forest, Spring Creek and Cameron Peak—sound familiar? They were all infamous Colorado wildfires that consumed thousands of acres of forests. Every year, mountain communities are on edge when snowpack numbers are low and spring rains are sparse. Read More

As climate change worsens, everyone is feeling it. Hotter heat waves, bigger storms, deeper freezes. One area that’s felt that pain acutely is Texas’ Gulf Coast.  Harvey and Uri, two storms evidence shows… Read More

The Great South Bay is a lagoon on the south shore of Long Island, and it is beloved by the island’s residents. They swim in it, clam in it and take the ferry across it to get to Fire Island, which is the home of famous beaches like… Read More

Kansas farmers are feeling the heat. Effects of climate change – warmer temperatures, dryer soil, intensified rainstorms, and flooding – create a threat to Kansas agriculture. Still, a report by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) finds that a more diverse Kansas crop mix would aid by cutting water… Read More

ATLANTA—If the streets seem a little brighter in Atlanta neighborhoods, you’re not imagining things. The so-called “City in the Forest” is gradually losing its mature tree canopy. An Urban Tree Canopy study by the City of Atlanta revealed that .43 acres… Read More

Like many autumn nights in Sonoma County, California, October 8, 2017, was warm, dry, and windy. After months without precipitation and years of drought conditions, the parched dry grasses easily caught a spark that within hours had raged into a full-blown wildfire that jumped eight lanes of Highway… Read More

As the weather grows increasingly unpredictable, climate change calamities, such as floods and heat waves, become more common in Illinois. These natural disasters pose challenges for low-income communities. “The precipitations are getting worse, the temperatures are getting worse, and droughts are a lot more common,” said… Read More

The state is more likely to see intense storms, but is ill-prepared to handle the damage. In the state of California, climate change has been heavily studied and researched. The state contains a vast variety of environments— including mountains, deserts, coastal areas, and snow—and has endured droughts, earthquakes,… Read More

Have you heard the phrase “it’s warmer by the lake”? If you live in Chicago, you probably have. And although it’s nice in winter, the warmth has a problematic underlying cause, called meteorological heat islands (or surface heat islands) thanks to city density — and it’s only getting… Read More

Of the nearly 20 million people who live in Florida, about 15 million live in low-lying areas making the rising sea levels one of the state’s most serious environmental concerns. Gary T. Mitchum, professor and associate dean of the University of South Florida College of Marine… Read More

In the wake of another stronger-than-predicted storm this December, Long Island is again dealing with flood cleanup. It’s become commonplace in many coastal and low-lying communities, with residents bailing out basements and watching streets turn into waterways. Moody’s Analytics ranks Long Island… Read More

Texas is all too familiar with climate change’s wrath—scorching heat waves, intense downpours, devastating wildfires, and expensive infrastructure damage. However, as Earth’s climate continues to warm, these changes in weather patterns are the most extreme for the 80% of Texans living in cities… Read More

Iowa is currently experiencing what the U.S. Drought Monitor reports as the worst precipitation conditions in a decade. As of November 2, almost every county was facing some degree of drought, ranging from Abnormally Dry to Extreme Drought. That’s leading to a shift in the local… Read More

In May 2019, Colorado’s state legislature passed lofty goals for reducing greenhouse gas pollution over a 30-year period. Here’s a look at the state’s progress — and how transportation emissions are holding us back. Coloradans have seen first-hand the impact of a warming climate: destructive wildfires,… Read More

Kaare Melby lives off-grid with his family near Finland, MN, several miles from the tumultuous shores of Lake Superior. Spring means tapping maple trees, boiling sap, and bottling rich, thick syrup–a food staple for their family. Melby and his family practice a combination of agriculture and… Read More

Minnesota might be ubiquitous with heavy snowfall, but locals never get used to the labor of shoveling their driveways. Naturally, locals celebrated a mild winter like a gift from Santa; some residents complained the absence of snow ruined the Christmas spirit. The weather in the Twin Cities last… Read More

In 2021, The New York Times reported that the country has become both wetter and drier, depending on where you live. In New York, rain events have become a serious issue, and new records are being set… Read More

The Chesapeake Bay in Maryland is poised delicately as the end point of the increase in chemical and sediment run-off from natural forces and climate change. Heavier than usual rain storms, often resulting from increasing global temperatures, greatly contribute to the severity of increased drainage and water. Read More

On Feb. 7, this year’s numbers from the annual Monarch Butterfly overwintering count in Mexico was released, and the news was more dire than expected.  The total forest area occupied by overwintering monarchs that make the  epic 3,000-mile journey from Canada to Mexico dropped by 59.3%… Read More

Drive down I-75 or I-71, a couple of the major thoroughfares of the Buckeye State, and you wouldn’t know that climate change has affected Ohio. As there have been for generations, there are the usual farms, fast food outlets and billboards. The state doesn’t look particularly affected by… Read More

In a quick search of the climate change issues hitting Illinois hardest right now, an increase in floods is among the top contenders. This is due to a number of factors, according to Trent Ford, the state climatologist for Illinois. “The root causes of… Read More

A recent report named the state of Kentucky among the nation’s most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Particularly at risk are eastern parts of the state, already some of the poorest counties in the US. The US Climate Vulnerability… Read More

It’s no secret that the climate in the United States has changed pretty drastically in the past few years. Much of New England has seen a steady increase in temperature, Boston, Massachusetts included, and it is predicted that temperatures will continue… Read More

Coastal flooding is part and parcel of life in Norfolk, VA, and it has been for quite some time. Virginia Beach resident Ashley Hall, who visits the city often, remembers encountering a flood there nearly three decades ago. “I remember being shocked at the sight of urban streets… Read More

While often overlooked in discussions about climate change, Kansas is experiencing its own set of environmental challenges that carry profound implications both for the state’s ecology and its residents. In the coming years, Kansans are likely to see more damaging wildfires, increased summer humidity and more… Read More

Insects are in trouble here in Illinois and the rest of the world. A 2019 Biological Conservation study stated, there are “dramatic rates of decline that may lead to the extinction of 40% of the world’s insect species over the next… Read More

With many of us around the state of Pennsylvania becoming increasingly concerned about the ongoing effects of climate change – floods, massive fires, and other abnormal weather events – there is an increased awareness about what we can do to mitigate these problems in our daily lives, both… Read More

The mid-December storm that hit New Jersey brought high water level surges that are becoming normal for this coastal state. Sandy Hook, a Jersey shore barrier peninsula, saw surges 4 feet above average. High tides, surges and flooding are becoming more… Read More

A common sight in Chicago has people biking along the city’s iconic lakefront donning t-shirts and shorts. That’s usually something associated with spring and summer. In 2024, it occurred in February.  This year, the State of Illinois experienced its second-warmest February since records have been kept,… Read More

Sanders and his team at the UCI Flood Lab built a comprehensive model to determine the flood risks for Los Angeles in the event of a one percent annual chance flood (formerly referred to as a 100-year flood… Read More

While watching the autumn leaves drop outside a lodge’s window, sipping spiked cider, with the thermostat set to a cozy 72, it’s easy for travelers to overlook the influence the global climate crisis has on a single state’s recreation and tourism. But by mid-century, visitors to Pennsylvania will… Read More

The number of tornadoes in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware increased by 600% in the past five years – a dramatic rise in a region once relatively safe from twisters. The average tornado wind speed has risen, too. It’s not uncommon for tornadoes to reach… Read More

Glistening sheets of alpine ice sheer across mountain flanks and pool in crevices throughout the North Cascades range. Over 300 glaciers and countless snowfields make these Washington mountains one of the snowiest places on earth, and home to the greatest number of glaciers in the lower 48 states… Read More

California gardeners are adjusting to the effects of climate change, thanks in part to recent updates to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. As spring gardening season beckons planters outside, a number of zip codes in the state have seen half-degree shifts,… Read More

Georgia is known for its humid subtropic climate. While most winters are short and moderate, the summers tend to be longer and hot. Climate of this magnitude has been said to have originated from the Atlantic Ocean which rests on the east coast where Georgia resides. Read More

Climate change in New York City is palpable. It’s in small things, like backyard hydrangeas blooming in July instead of August. It’s in big things, like a record-setting 8.05 inches of rain falling in a single day in September, turning streets… Read More

South Carolina is experiencing climate change like other spots in the United States and two impacts for the state are rising temperatures and severe weather events. However, a recent report by the state’s Office of Resilience could give some ideas to citizens to help ease the… Read More

The University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science recently secured a nearly $1.8 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to explore multiple climate change factors affecting South Florida, including ocean warming. This funding will aid research into the impact of… Read More

White Bear Lake, MN White Bear Lake, a local treasure, has recently experienced an alarming phenomenon––a record-breaking short winter’s freeze. Ice-out was declared on March 8, thus giving the lake only 50 days of winter ice cover. This is not an isolated incident but a trend… Read More

Though the smallest state in the U.S., Rhode Island boasts more than 400 miles of coastline. Every resident lives within a 30-minute drive to the Atlantic Ocean or Narragansett Bay, New England’s largest estuary. Its pristine coastal environs is what lured America’s Gilded Age elite to its shores,… Read More

Seattle’s status as “The Emerald City” may be under threat. Washington state’s biggest metropolis earned the nickname for its lush greenery. But now that’s decreasing, despite almost two decades’ efforts to expand the urban forest. In 2007, officials began pushing for 30 percent canopy cover within… Read More

Forecasters at the National Weather Service are calling for warmer temperatures and an equal chance of precipitation being above or below normal to start meteorological winter in Illinois. At their monthly climate briefing Nov. 16, the forecasters, based at the Service’s Climate Prediction Center in suburban… Read More

Florida, aka “The Sunshine State,” recognized for pristine beaches and nearly daily bouts of bright skies, is considered a “hot spot,” according to scientists. And not in a good way. Around the world and across coastal communities, the effects of climate change continue to have a direct impact,… Read More

It’s mid-February (2024), and from west-facing windows, the St. Louis area’s first real snowfall could be seen on the ground and trees in Forest Park, as well as the main drag. The weather event raised questions and concerns about climate change. The St. Louis area has… Read More

The Gulf Coast of Alabama is currently facing multiple negative consequences of climate change in big and small ways. According to the National Weather Service Heat Index, Alabama has an average of 25 days per year that are classified as dangerous or extremely dangerous. Read More

When you hit the running trail and feel like the thermometer must be wrong – it’s got to be hotter than 73 out! – you’re not alone in this feeling. Rapid climate changes in Illinois have impacted the heat index. Dr. Riana R… Read More

Chicago saw record-breaking storms hit the city last summer. On the West Side, they overwhelmed the city’s rainwater and sewage systems, flooding water into the streets and basements. Some parts of Chicago saw nearly… Read More

“Memory believes before knowing remembers,” William Faulkner wrote in his 1932 novel, Light in August. For everything else we have apps like Google Photo.  In late February, I received an alert from a photograph taken on the same date five… Read More

As oceans rise and storms intensify, coastlines across the U.S. and worldwide are feeling the impacts of climate change. North Carolina is not immune and the effects of climate change are being felt in tourism-driven cities like Wilmington and the Outer Banks region. Read More

Although microscopic blue-green algae organisms are natural, common bacteria in many Kansas waterways, toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are a growing problem. The blooms were found in 11 lakes across the state, by fall 2023. Six lakes received warning… Read More

According to Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Keystone State has seen two big changes to their climate over the past 110 years. Not only has the state gotten a little bit wetter — there has been a 10 percent… Read More

In the last century, New Jersey has become three degrees warmer. According to the New Jersey Herald, David Robinson, a New Jersey climatologist and Professor at Rutgers, explained “The long and short of it… Read More

New Yorkers might want to stock up on umbrellas and brace for flooding—a new report from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) predicts that the state will be wetter and stormier in the coming years due to climate change. More Rain and Storms on… Read More

Exploring how different racial and ethnic groups respond to bylines from journalists who share their race or ethnicity. Read More

From heat waves coinciding with summer music festivals to tick bites in February, the warmer temperatures and extreme weather events that are hallmarks of climate change, have a real impact on public health in Chicago. Higher temperatures can also contribute to… Read More

It’s not just in your head, Midwesterners — temperatures are on the rise, as are severe storms, rainfall, and other indicators that climate change and weather are intricately linked. Whether you’ve had to visit your basement for more than a few tornado warnings in recent years, or have… Read More

This study aims to unpack the values that impact the Filipino diaspora’s political viewpoints and understand how political preferences are technologically communicated using these values. Read More

A test of two fact-checking approaches found that both work equally well to correct misperceptions. Read More

Learn more aboout the key outcomes of our research from the past year. Read More

New research that examines whether an online guessing game that includes questions about political issues can help address people’s misperceptions about the other side. Read More

Practicing engaged journalism, where newsrooms build relationships with their audience by responding to community concerns, can offer a lifeline. Read More

Strategies to to combat news distrust and connect with communities that feel underserved by their local newsrooms. Read More

A look at whether political partisanship is predictive of people's beliefs in true and false claims. Read More

How online multiple-choice quizzes present an opportunity to encourage readers to engage with fact-checking content and to help them learn. Read More

Five actions newsrooms can throughout the storytelling process that can improve trust. Read More

When reporting on marginalized communities, it’s imperative to get the story right by including people who help tell the whole story. Read More

While news deserts undeniably pose a problem, there is something to be learned from the way people in news deserts think about access to local information. Read More

Person-centered terms encourage stigmatized groups’ trust in news. The Center for Media Engagement, with support from Resolve Philly and Democracy Fund, asked people in recovery from substance abuse disorder, people who have experienced homelessness, and people with a disability for their feedback on news articles. We tested whether the use… Read More

How three commonly used phrases for false content - fake news, false news, and misinformation - affect public perceptions of journalists and news media. Read More

Using person-centered language can foster trust and help news organizations better connect with stigmatized groups. It can also help some marginalized groups feel better represented by news coverage. Read More

Political campaigns across the United States are paying close attention to the rising political importance of Asian American communities across the country. Nowhere is this clearer than in Texas. Read More

Better understanding why some people think Trump likely won in 2020 gives news organizations the opportunity to address legitimacy concerns in future election coverage. Read More

Adding quizzes to news sites can provide a fun, interactive learning experience for users while also benefitting the news organization. Read More

The Propaganda Research Lab at the Center for Media Engagement (CME), in collaboration with Omidyar Network, hosted a RightsCon 2022 session on encrypted messaging apps (EMAs) and their global use for political propaganda, mis- and disinformation, activism, and news Read More

The Center for Media Engagement explores how public interest principles can be incorporated in social media to combat mis-information in larger communities. Read More

The Center for Media Engagement is working to build a local system for surfacing misinformation that can be adapted for different communities. Read More

Do you know who funds the news you watch? As is widely known, some news programs focus on facts, while others focus on opinions. Behind all these programs are advertisers who drive revenue – meaning they have the power to hold news outlets accountable for their coverage. Read More

This piece provides insights into the ways in which protests are surveilled and outlines two main issues with the practices: (1) general problems with the collection of personal data at protests, and (2) the problematic ways in which protest coverage is used toward political ends. Read More

We found that humility can help people bridge divides, making it a useful approach for news organizations looking to uplift content or comments that build bridges. Read More

In the case of COVID-19, disinformation can occur when there is an intention to create a different viewpoint from that of vetted healthcare officials and authorities regarding the disease’s status, spread, prevalence, and management. While this phenomenon has been heavily studied in the U.S. and many European countries, parts of… Read More

Ten takeaways from our research that can help newsrooms and journalists tackle challenges in the year ahead. Read More

To help journalists frame stories in ways that do not marginalize certain groups, the Center for Media Engagement tested several approaches to protest coverage. Read More

How journalists can help create an accurate public understanding of the true capacities of automated technologies. Read More

Discussions with participants in this Center for Media Engagement study helped identify six approaches journalists can take to better connect with their conservative audiences. Read More

Learn about how journalists can apply solidarity journalism to coverage of Afghanistan. Read More

Five strategies for connecting with local communities that come directly from speaking with people who feel the media can do better to reach them. Read More

Research shows that Democrats and Republicans are susceptible to believing misinformation about candidates from the opposing party and that Democrats and Republicans respond differently to fact checks. Read More

What a study in two neighborhoods revealed about how journalists anywhere can take to connect with local communities. Read More

By emphasizing local identity instead of partisan identity, local newspapers can help slow the rising tide of polarization. Read More

Learn from a panel of experts on how newsrooms can better understand their communities and humanize those with diverse views by using the principles of connective democracy. Read More

Study results show that when getting involved in the comments, journalists should try to acknowledge commenters’ emotions rather than dismiss them. Read More

The Digital Media Research Program in the Moody College of Communication sought to gain a more in-depth understanding of communication technology’s impact on political knowledge and participation. Read More

Certain signals can act as powerful indicators of trust and should appear when people search for a news outlet. Read More

Our study shows just how politicized coverage of coronavirus has become — and that the implications go beyond the coronavirus pandemic. Read More

The University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Media Engagement and the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.) hosted a roundtable about mass surveillance in the age of mass protest. We analyzed how electronic surveillance is used to monitor political protest, mass gatherings, and how location tracking enables microtargeting of propaganda… Read More

Ten takeaways from our research that can help newsrooms and journalists tackle challenges in the year ahead.  Read More

Turning off comment sections could end up cutting down on the time people spend on site and could make the experience worse for users. Read More

Political divides are pushing coworkers, friends, and families apart. Newsrooms can help people find common ground by sharing these strategies for approaching difficult discussions. Read More

Protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, continue to seize national and global attention. Videos of peaceful protestors demanding justice and rioters setting businesses ablaze have provided two seemingly different narratives of the summer’s intense social activism. There have been protests in at least 1,700 cities across… Read More

Based on focus group findings, we share four steps newsrooms can take while writing stories to help build trust. Read More

As people adjust to the ongoing presence of coronavirus in everyday life, their appetites for news stories on the subject are changing Read More

A coverage snapshot that can help newsrooms identify where coverage overlaps with viewer appetite—and where there are opportunities to provide more of the stories viewers want. Read More

Newsroom resources are likely strained as coronavirus updates keep coming in. Here are 5 research-backed ideas to help you connect with your audience. Read More

We teamed up with McClatchy to test whether a card that shows how and why a story was written can help demonstrate transparency and build trust. Read More

10 Newsroom Lessons We Learned in 2019. Read More

What questions do readers have about your stories? Taking their answers into account during the reporting process can better connect readers to your content and build trust. Read More

Many newsrooms add a label like news, analysis, opinion, or sponsored content to stories. But do readers actually notice these labels? And do the labels help increase trust? Read More

We know solutions journalism can make people feel more informed, optimistic, and engaged in an issue. But what is it about solutions journalism that makes them feel this way?   Read More

As more news organizations turn to moderators (or their employees) to take on the comments section, it’s important to know how the job is affecting those performing it. Read More

Covering the latest outrageous political story could hurt the credibility of your news organization. Read More

Audience trust is key to a newsroom’s success. But in this era of “fake news” and fading confidence in the media, it can be difficult to earn. Read More

Bringing opposing groups together is a challenge, but it’s an important task the media needs to take on. Read More

Subscriptions, donations, and memberships are critical for many newsrooms’ business models. But what strategies work for gaining new subscribers? Read More

10 newsroom lessons we learned in 2018. Read More

Exposure to the phrase “fake news” might matter more than exposure to fake news itself. Read More