Journalism
Journalist Involvement in Comment Sections
Uncivil comments decreased when a journalist interacted with online commenters. Read More
Improving Civil Discourse
We have partnered with the National Institute for Civil Discourse to research how to improve online discourse. We began by reviewing academic research on creating civil online spaces. In the coming months, we will conduct a series of focus groups to understand people's thoughts about discussing politics online. Read More
Solutions Journalism
We found that solutions-based reporting may be an effective journalistic tool that serves the needs of both audiences and news organizations, and that it has the potential to increase reader engagement. Read More
Analysis of News Sites
We examined 155 U.S. newspaper and television news websites to understand how they were using social media buttons, comment sections, online polls, lists of hyperlinks, and mobile version. Read More
Hyperlinks
Can hyperlinks be presented on a page in a way that prompts additional news use, as opposed to entertainment stories? And can hyperlinks be presented on a page in ways that encourage visitors to view editorial content from different political perspectives? Read More
How Online Quizzes Can Benefit Newsroom Websites
Although polls can be engaging for site visitors, there are downsides. Quizzes help news audiences learn more in a fun and engaging way. Read More
Social Media Buttons in Comment Sections
What if, instead of clicking a “Like” button, one could click “Respect”? Read More