Published inInformed and Engaged·Mar 3, 2021A new tool to measure the health of local news ecosystemsBy Knight Foundation, Democracy Fund and Google News Initiative Access to accurate, fact-based news and information is critical for the well-being of individuals, communities and local government. As local news outlets face business challenges, philanthropy is helping fill gaps by supporting organizations who provide vital local information. While tactics for providing this support may vary, many local news funders…Local News3 min readLocal News3 min read
Jun 17, 2020The future of tech policy: American viewsJust a few years ago, Americans were overwhelmingly optimistic about the power of new technologies to foster an informed and engaged society. …Technology6 min readTechnology6 min read
Published inTrust, Media and Democracy·Mar 10, 2020Report for America: What We’ve Learned So FarBy Steven Waldman The appetite for a “public service” approach is strong but the on-the-ground challenges in newsrooms are real Report for America has grown rapidly. The program — which places emerging journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities — went from 13 corps members in…Knight Local9 min readKnight Local9 min read
Published inTrust, Media and Democracy·Jan 9, 2020News Literacy Boosts Trust in Local NewsBy Alan C. Miller After I was asked to write this piece about trust and local news, I recalled that CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite was, for years, described as “the most trusted man in America,” based on the results of a 1972 survey. As I looked for more information, I discovered, thanks…Journalism5 min readJournalism5 min read
Published inInformed and Engaged·Nov 20, 2019Member-onlyHigh school students, social media and the illusion of free speechOn November 20, Knight Foundation released a new report, “High School Student Views On The First Amendment: Trends in the 21st Century.” Joan Donovan shares insights below. For more insights, read this post by Knight’s Evette Alexander and this post by Dr. Emily Chamlee-Wright. By Joan Donovan In the recent Knight Foundation report…Free Speech4 min readFree Speech4 min read
Published inTrust, Media and Democracy·Jul 9, 2019Six reasons young adults think the news media is dividing our countryA new report released by Knight Foundation shows that young adults are concerned about the impact of news on democracy and unity in the country, expressing that news sources divide and polarize citizens. Conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, the report analyzes the findings of a survey of…4 min read4 min read
Published inTrust, Media and Democracy·Dec 5, 2018Member-onlySeven ways high-school student views on free speech are changingAs concerns over free speech, declining trust in news and the impact of misinformation surge, a new report explores how high-school students’ attitudes about the First Amendment are evolving and what that means for the future of our democracy. Released today, the national study of 9,774 high school students and…Politics4 min readPolitics4 min read
Published inInformed and Engaged·Dec 3, 2018Making art general in Miami: Six ways the city’s arts sector changed in a decadeOn Dec. 3, 2018, Knight Foundation announced a $37 million investment in Miami’s growing arts ecosystem. Learn more about the announcement here. Arts and culture have been a centerpiece of Miami’s transformation for more than a decade. From the Art Basel art fair — a mecca for international curators and…Art4 min readArt4 min read
Published inInformed and Engaged·Oct 31, 2018Seven ways the Detroit arts scene has changed — and transformed the cityOn Oct. 31, 2018, Knight Foundation announced a $20 million investment to strengthen the arts in Detroit. Learn more about the announcement here. The Great Recession hit Detroit’s arts community hard, just as it did nearly every sector of the city’s and the country’s economy. …Art4 min readArt4 min read
Published inTrust, Media and Democracy·Oct 16, 2018As news deserts expand, new approaches to local news are taking rootBy Karen Rundlet If news and information are part of the fabric of democracy, then the fabric of U.S. democracy is in tatters. That’s the conclusion that leaps off the map in the 2018 The Expanding News Deserts report, which shows that 171 U.S. …Journalism4 min readJournalism4 min read
