The new page emphatically promotes a theory that many scientists question. Meanwhile, basic information about COVID testing and vaccines has disappeared.

Robert W. McChesney for decades wrote about the ways our idealized vision of a “free press” was actually hampered by the power of big business, the wealthy, and government.

🤔 Who's doing community journalism right? Is engagement really sustainable? How does it help keep our doors open??? These questions prompted our director of community engagement @letrellcrittenden.bsky.social to write this case study on @publicsource.org. americanpressinstitute.org/how-publicso...

“Through solidarity practices, mainstream media has a chance to achieve what it has always claimed to contribute to society: truthful reporting based on what is happening on the ground, to real people, in real time – and with real impact.” theconversation.com/mainstream-m...

A student reporter at Stanford embedded with pro-Palestinian protesters. Cops arrested him alongside them, which he knew was a risk. What he didn't expect: Stanford pushing prosecutors to charge him criminally with burglary, vandalism, and conspiracy—all felonies. www.cjr.org/getting-the-...

My center officially has a Bluesky account! If you want to learn more about the intersections between media, democracy, technology, policy, and social justice - or are into community engaged research you can follow us at: @mic-center.bsky.social

Register now and log in next week!

Reporting on Empty

Please donate so that we can continue doing the work we are already doing well and build on it into the future! baltimorebeat.com?form=FUNDGBL...

Perceptions broken? YES! Reality: Crime at 5 decade low & economy strong. Are Americans’ perceptions of the economy & crime broken? www.niemanlab.org/2024/11/are-... Election "showed that our evaluations of external reality are increasingly partisan" and have nothing to do with facts.

Reducing the number of people shot in Philadelphia to 1,093 during the past 365 days is hardly an occasion to celebrate but I am still feeling #thankful to everyone working in gun violence prevention and for the sharp downward trend now heading into its third year: www.pcgvr.org/philadelphia...

The Association of Health Care Journalists -- @ahcj.bsky.social -- took a look at our most recent research last summer and reported: healthjournalism.org/blog/2024/07...

Capital B’s mission is clear: to provide coverage that reflects the real experiences of Black communities. With your donation matched today, help us make every story count. capitalbnews.fundjournalism.org/donate/?camp

I switch to CNN, and what do I see but this: Without polls to put on the big board for making predictions, they use betting pools to set odds for confirmation. No! It is not your job to predict. Stop.

IPMF will be announcing some new grants today - stay tuned! 👀

Diversity programs that focus on a single group often underperform. Successful initiatives educate about the value of all differences and are part of broader company efforts against intolerance https://buff.ly/3APY88r (Study by Yekaterina Bezrukova, University at Buffalo) #diversity #DEI #BlackSky

“It’s slower to build audience through events, through in-person promotions like postering…through our network of partners,” she said. But “those audience[s] tends to be much more loyal and much more engaged.”

Thanks, @lizkellynelson.bsky.social, for this look at a recent @pewresearch.org study on news influencers. Among the findings is how many younger folks are turning to influencers not just for news but to understand the world around them. projectc.substack.com/p/pew-finds-...

What would happen if journalists didn’t think they needed to keep politicians happy and focused on instead on the needs of the communities they serve? What if we covered communities first, and only focused on politicians as needed? There is another way to do this. Center communities, not power.

Until circa 1980, elite colleges were actually getting more economically diverse. Kids from poor families were getting in at increasing rates, and the advantages of wealth were shrinking. Then it all went into reverse.

Two-thirds of news influencers are men — and most have never worked for a news organization

I’ve never seen so many posts about a boxing match in my life. They are still popping up.

One thought. There is one thing that could dramatically change the vibes of this platform. Certain sports sites and personalities leaving Twitter and moving here. They would bring a different audience than what is emerging here.

Welcome fellow members of the Great Skygration

Ahh. So the posts on this site are only mildly less depressing and anxiety-producing that Twitter. I’ll take it. Small victories.