Research

World map with Nigeria and Bolivia highlighted in orange.

Identity Propaganda and Elections in Bolivia and N...

Group identity has the potential to be a strong political motivator. Political elites have long recognized this potentially powerful and evolving correlation. So too have propagandists. Oftentimes, they are one and the same. Read More
Identity Propaganda and Elections in Bolivia and Nigeria
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Connective Democracy: A New Approach to Fighting P...

In a special issue of Social Media + Society, CME researchers curate a collection of scholarly articles that explore connective democracy. Read More
Connective Democracy: A New Approach to Fighting Political Divisiveness
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Can Solidarity Reporting Boost News Story Credibil...

Examining whether covering social justice issues using a solidarity reporting approach increases perceptions of news story credibility. Read More
Can Solidarity Reporting Boost News Story Credibility?
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Anti-Disinformation Laws: Democratic Backsliding &...

A look at how ‘anti-disinformation’ laws exist within continuums of democratic backsliding that produce chilling effects. Read More
Anti-Disinformation Laws: Democratic Backsliding & Chilling Effects in Tunisia & Turkey
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Bridging Divides on Social Media: A New Approach D...

Examining a novel approach to identifying “connective language” that brings people together on social media.   Read More
Bridging Divides on Social Media: A New Approach Detects Connective Language
Navigating Election Prep in Battleground Areas: News Editors Share their Strategies

Navigating Election Prep in Battleground Areas: Ne...

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
Navigating Election Prep in Battleground Areas: News Editors Share their Strategies
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Generative Artificial Intelligence and Elections

The Center for Media Engagement investigates GenAI’s role before, during, and after several key global elections in 2024. Read More
Generative Artificial Intelligence and Elections
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Front Porch Forum: Fostering Civic Engagement and ...

Public-friendly digital spaces where people feel welcome, make connections, build understanding, and work together can seem elusive. This work builds on our Civic Signals project to investigate how members of Vermont’s Front Porch Forum perceive the platform. Read More
Front Porch Forum: Fostering Civic Engagement and Building Community in Vermont
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The State of Science Reporting in Today’s Di...

A survey of journalists and scientists to better understand their experiences in the production of science news. Read More
The State of Science Reporting in Today’s Digital Media Landscape: A Survey of Journalists and Scientists Who Use SciLine’s Expert Matching Service
Robot interacting with documents, email, charts, and globe icons, symbolizing digital connectivity and data management.

Political Machines: Understanding the Role of AI i...

To better understand major trends and common concerns about the role of Generative AI in politics, the Center for Media Engagement conducted interviews with experts in the digital politics space. Read More
Political Machines: Understanding the Role of AI in the U.S. 2024 Elections and Beyond
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How News Audiences Respond to Journalist Race and ...

Exploring how different racial and ethnic groups respond to bylines from journalists who share their race or ethnicity. Read More
How News Audiences Respond to Journalist Race and Ethnicity in Bylines
Speech bubbles with user icons over a map of the Philippines.

Values, Politics, and Misinformation: Examining Co...

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
Values, Politics, and Misinformation: Examining Communication within the Filipino Diaspora
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Platform Research Ethics for Academic Research

There’s been a lot of research on digital platforms. But how do we know these studies were conducted ethically? And what does it mean to conduct ethical research? We examine the state of current platform studies ethics. Read More
Platform Research Ethics for Academic Research
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The Landscape of Art-Science Collaboration Program...

The Center for Media Engagement compiled a comprehensive database of more than 130 active art-science programs and conducted interviews with the key players driving these projects. Read More
The Landscape of Art-Science Collaboration Programs
Couple sitting on a blue couch watching news on TV, man holding remote.

Fact-Checking Approaches in Broadcast News

The Center for Media Engagement set out to test two approaches in broadcast news: a more traditional just-the-facts style that lays out the corrections and a more empathetic style that walks viewers through the discovery of why the misperception is wrong. Read More
Fact-Checking Approaches in Broadcast News
Smartphone with social media icons over Iraq map silhouette.

The Role of Social Media in Iraq’s Tishreen ...

This report explores how Iraqis in the diaspora leveraged social media during the Tishreen movement to mobilize both online and offline activism. It also investigates how propaganda and false information shaped this activism. Read More
The Role of Social Media in Iraq’s Tishreen Movement: Digital Activism, Misinformation, and Propaganda
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A Simple Online Game Can Help Bridge Political Div...

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
A Simple Online Game Can Help Bridge Political Divides
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Misinformation on WhatsApp: Insights From the Cari...

WhatsApp has become a dominant platform for communication, entertainment, and news sharing among U.S. diaspora communities. It has also emerged as a significant source of misinformation. Complimenting ongoing and previous research, this report focuses on Caribbean diaspora communities. Read More
Misinformation on WhatsApp: Insights From the Caribbean Diaspora

Migration Narratives in Chicago Media

An examination of how Chicago news outlets covered migration reveals questions news organizations might want to consider when examining their migration coverage. Read More
Migration Narratives in Chicago Media
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Curbing the Decline of Local News Through Engaged ...

Practicing engaged journalism, where newsrooms build relationships with their audience by responding to community concerns, can offer a lifeline. Read More
Curbing the Decline of Local News Through Engaged Journalism
Georgia’s Local News Ecosystem

Georgia’s Local News Ecosystem

This report provides an overview of media coverage in the state of Georgia. Read More
Georgia’s Local News Ecosystem
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Do Democrats and Republicans Live in Different Wor...

A look at whether political partisanship is predictive of people's beliefs in true and false claims. Read More
Do Democrats and Republicans Live in Different Worlds?
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Encrypted Messaging Applications and Political Mes...

A look at the role EMAs play in global disinformation efforts and the manipulation of public opinion. Read More
Encrypted Messaging Applications and Political Messaging: How They Work and Why Understanding Them is Important for Combating Global Disinformation
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How Multiple-Choice Quizzes Can Help Fact-Checkers

How online multiple-choice quizzes present an opportunity to encourage readers to engage with fact-checking content and to help them learn. Read More
How Multiple-Choice Quizzes Can Help Fact-Checkers
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The State of Science Reporting in Today’s Digital ...

We interviewed scientists to better understand some of the biggest problems facing science communicators in a changing media landscape. Read More
The State of Science Reporting in Today’s Digital Media Landscape: Interviews With Scientists Who Use Sciline’s Service
Philadelphia skyline with text

The News Philadelphians Use: Analyzing the Local M...

Understanding the needs of local news audiences is essential for a healthy media ecosystem. And before newsrooms can take steps toward meeting these needs, it’s crucial that they understand how people interact with local news, what issues they find important, and what communities feel underrepresented. Read More
The News Philadelphians Use: Analyzing the Local Media Landscape

Even in “News Deserts” People Still Ge...

The Center for Media Engagement talked to people living in areas defined as news deserts to find out where they’re getting local information – and if it’s helping them stay informed. Read More
Even in “News Deserts” People Still Get News
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Anonymous Civic Participation Behaviors: Differenc...

The Center for Media Engagement wanted to find out how some aspects of identity, such as gender, age, education, political orientation, and time spent online, are tied to the ways in which people participate in certain anonymous actions. Read More
Anonymous Civic Participation Behaviors: Differences Across Gender and Other Demographics
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Using the Phrase “Fake News” Hurts Trust in Your J...

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 the Phrase “Fake News” Hurts Trust in Your Journalists and Newsroom
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STEM Graduate Students’ Perspectives on Scie...

The Center for Media Engagement conducted interviews with STEM graduate students in the U.S. and Canada to learn more about their activities that engage with the public, about how they find meaning in these activities, and about their sense of belonging in these spaces. Read More
STEM Graduate Students’ Perspectives on Science Communication and their Sense of Belonging in these Space