Benjamin Toff
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benjamintoff.bsky.social
Benjamin Toff
@benjamintoff.bsky.social
2.8K followers 880 following 120 posts
Professor at the University of Minnesota and Director of the Minnesota Journalism Center. On sabbatical for 2026 with the News and Information team at Pew Research Center. I study trust in news, news avoidance, public opinion, and changing media.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
jcollins.bsky.social
“As a member of the press, I filmed the church protest a few weeks ago, and now I’m being arrested for that,” Georgia Fort said in the video. www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort arrested after covering Minnesota church protest
It was not immediately clear what charges that Minnesota independent journalist Georgia Fort and former CNN anchor Don Lemon were facing for the Jan. 18 protest at Cities Church.
www.mprnews.org
January 30, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
pressfreedom.bsky.social
💬Journalists covering protests: Use CPJ's WhatApp chatbot to access all of our physical, digital, and psychosocial #JournalistSafety resources.

📲 Add CPJ’s chatbot using the number +1 206-590-6191, text the number “Hello” and select “protest safety resources.”
January 25, 2026 at 6:01 PM
benjamintoff.bsky.social
Does anyone have recommendations for how to take care of a baby during a period of intense democratic instability? Would appreciate suggestions…
January 25, 2026 at 3:41 AM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
mattdelong.bsky.social
“Every peaceable Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms—including while attending protests, acting as observers, or exercising their First Amendment rights. These rights do not disappear when someone is lawfully armed, and they must be respected and protected at all times.”
January 24, 2026 at 11:15 PM
benjamintoff.bsky.social
News audiences are very clear that they demand and expect media orgs to disclose virtually any use of AI even for fairly basic tasks (translation, transcription, summarizing). hsjmc.umn.edu/news/2025-04...

Ordinarily, one might expect the federal government to abide by stricter standards…
January 22, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
conradhackett.bsky.social
Please share: Pew Research Center will provide $3,000 each for 19 new papers using our recent global datasets. We encourage reuse of our Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures data!
https://www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seeking-research-using-recent-pew-templeton-global-religious-futures-datasets/
To encourage reuse of our data, Pew Research Center, with support from the John Templeton Foundation, invites researchers to submit proposals for new research publications that use one or more of the following datasets (collectively, Datasets) from the Global Religious Futures (GRF) project: Global Restrictions on Religion 2007-2022 dataset. This cumulative dataset includes measures of government restrictions on religion and social hostilities involving religion in nearly 200 countries and territories. Spring 2024 Survey. This dataset includes measures of religion and spirituality in 35 countries. (Comparable data was also collected in 2023 and 2024 for the United States. The downloadable materials which accompany the international dataset include additional information about U.S. data.) Dataset of Global Religious Composition Estimates for 2010 and 2020. This dataset includes estimates of the size of seven major religious groups in more than 200 countries and territories. We encourag
January 17, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
mprnews.org
Six weeks into the immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities and observers say the violence employed by ICE agents is getting worse. While this kind of response isn't new to immigrants, the difference is that many ICE observers are also having their basic constitutional rights violated.
Fear factor: Intimidation becomes a calling card as Twin Cities ICE surge widens
Six weeks into the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, observers say there are signs that federal agents are employing violence more frequently and with little apparent restraint against citiz...
www.mprnews.org
January 16, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
michellesphelps.bsky.social
I tried to turn my rage yesterday into something that brings us some light. For @newrepublic.com, I wrote about how 2020 prepared Minneapolis for the current crisis of Trump's DHS. newrepublic.com/article/2050...
Minneapolis Knows How to Resist This Violence
From George Floyd to Renee Good, the city has become all too familiar with fatal violence by law enforcement—and it knows exactly how to respond.
newrepublic.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:18 PM
benjamintoff.bsky.social
“I’ve lived through COVID. I’ve lived through George Floyd. Now I’m living through this going on right now,” said Minneapolis high school senior Dulce, who asked that her last name not be used. “It’s a lot of piling up emotions.”

www.startribune.com/parents-stan...
Parents stand watch for ICE outside Minnesota schools
Some Twin Cities schools are responding to rumors about ICE agents on school properties.
www.startribune.com
January 10, 2026 at 4:55 AM
benjamintoff.bsky.social
This description of Minneapolis is still pretty apt: "a Yankee with a small Puritan head, an open prairie heart, and a great, big Scandinavian body"
klerner.bsky.social Kevin Lerner @klerner.bsky.social · 24d
123 years ago this month, muckraking journalist Lincoln Steffens reported on "The Shame of Minneapolis" for McClure's Magazine. The story wasn't new—but he did bring it to a new audience.

Here's a link to a pdf with a nice contextual intro: www.minnesotalegalhistoryproject.org/assets/steff...
www.minnesotalegalhistoryproject.org
January 8, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
startribune.com
Statement from the Minnesota Star Tribune:
White text on a green card that says: Statement from the Minnesota Star Tribune: We are currently monitoring a coordinated online disinformation campaign incorrectly identifying the ICE agent involved in yesterday’s shooting. To be clear, the ICE agent has no known affiliation with the Star Tribune. We encourage people looking for factual information reported and written by trained journalists, not bots, to follow and subscribe to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
January 8, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
mattdelong.bsky.social
The Twin Cities' robust media ecosystem that is able to immediately push big local news national
forrestbrazeal.bsky.social Forrest Brazeal @forrestbrazeal.bsky.social · 25d
Need a plausible theory for how Minneapolis became the main character of the 2020s
January 7, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
antoniskalog.bsky.social
In a new article with @richardfletcher.bsky.social and @rasmuskleis.bsky.social, we examine inequalities in news use in high-choice digital media environments. Drawing on ten years of survey data from six countries in Europe and the US, we compare offline and online news consumption patterns.🧵
January 7, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
conradhackett.bsky.social
Please share - @pewresearch.org wants to hire a data archivist who will be an advocate for data users, helping to ensure that our datasets are easy to discover and reuse by researchers, journalists, and the public.
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CenterExtern...
Pew Research Center is seeking a Data Archivist to support our commitment to open science and data transparency. This newly created role will play a key part in enhancing the accessibility, usability, and reproducibility of our research data while continuing to protect the privacy and identity of our survey participants. As Data Archivist, you will lead efforts to create and implement best practices for preparing, documenting, and disseminating datasets. These best practices should maximize FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles while minimizing disclosure risk. You will work across teams to ensure our data is well-organized and thoroughly documented. You will serve as an internal advocate for data users, helping to ensure that our datasets are not only accurate and comprehensive but also easy to discover and reuse by researchers, journalists, and the public. This is a full-time, Pew Research Center position. The position is funded by an external grant and limited to a two-year term. Primary Responsibilities Develop optimization procedures to improve discoverability of our datasets on internal and external platforms Develop and maintain standards to improve accessibility of our microdata and tab plans by changing/adding formats and/or adding documentation Identify metadata documentation best practices and a process to implement those best practices at the Center Work with Legal to evaluate most appropriate license to publicly share the Center's survey data, including Creative Common options Identify and correct processing inefficiencies in our data publication process Sit on the internal Disclosure Risk Taskforce Document analytical decisions and code to support transparency and replicability, including the development of a RACI chart for publishing code to recreate derived variables that are used in reports but are not included in the microdata Manage/create merged time series datasets for select Center datasets Identify a process for internally archiving data and projects that are no longer in active use Identify and implement a process to assign Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) to microdata Prepare and upload public-facing datasets and restricted-use datasets for external sharing. Train staff on FAIR principles and best practices in data archiving. Education/Training/Experience Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in library sciences, organizational management, or a related field. 5-7 years of experience with data archiving, database management, or survey research. This may include graduate training at the MA/PhD level or equivalent experience in an applied setting. At least 3-5 years of experience applying FAIR and open science principles. Background in social science research or data curation. Experience in data management, archiving, or research support. Familiarity with FAIR principles, Creative Common licensing, data privacy principles, and exposure risk. Proficiency in metadata standards and documentation tools. Experience managing research projects, including working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team. Experience with statistical software (e.g., R, Python, Stata) and reproducible research workflows. Knowledge, Skill and Workplace Requirements Strong organizational and communication skills. Detail oriented with exacting standards to maintain accuracy and impartiality in all work products. Ability to work independently to carry out special projects from start to finish. Ability to balance numerous tasks simultaneously. Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with other team members, as well as with staff from other Pew Research Center teams. Ability to balance competing priorities and identify optimal solutions FLSA Status: Exempt Compensation: Starting salary is commensurate with experience within the range of $100,000 - $120,000. Hybrid Work Schedule: Pew Research Center staff are required to be present in the Center’s Washington, D.C., office three core days weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). Staff may work virtually from remote locations on other days in a typical work week.
January 6, 2026 at 6:27 PM
benjamintoff.bsky.social
For my @niemanlab.org prediction this year, I wrote about something that's been on my mind: I worry we put too much emphasis on the value of news as a source of information and not enough on what the experience of consuming it feels like to those who regularly engage in these rituals—or not.
niemanlab.org Nieman Lab @niemanlab.org · Dec 19
@benjamintoff.bsky.social: “It turns out that even news lovers have limits.”

www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/reth...
December 20, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
andyguess.com
The Center for Information Technology Policy at Princeton invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to work with an interdisciplinary team (me, @bstewart.bsky.social, and @manoelhortaribeiro.bsky.social).

Link: puwebp.princeton.edu/AcadHire/app...

Please apply by THIS SUNDAY, Dec. 14!
We are seeking a Fellow to lead cutting-edge research on short-form video content and its societal implications. Bridging the gap between computer vision, causal inference, and computational social science, the Fellow will focus on the large-scale analysis of TikTok data (using an existing, massive dataset). The position involves developing novel multimodal methods to understand how short-form algorithmic content shapes public opinion, political polarization, and online culture. This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of the field, combining rigorous social science research designs with state-of-the-art computational techniques.
December 9, 2025 at 9:34 PM
benjamintoff.bsky.social
Organized Minnesota ICE Watchers tracking agents around the city, documenting, and publicizing their actions
December 6, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
propublica.org
Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.

They’ve had their necks kneeled on.

They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.

At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
efranklinfowler.bsky.social
Amazing opportunity ⬇️⬇️
bencollins.bsky.social Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · Dec 3
Hey all,

The Onion is accepting applicants for our writing, video and graphics fellowships.

Fellowships last six months, pay well, and provide full benefits.

You can apply at theonion.com/fellowship.
Fellowship
theonion.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:54 AM
benjamintoff.bsky.social
Among the many reasons newsrooms ought to have clear ethical guidelines around the use of AI... (cc: @alexmahadevan.com) The journalistic benefits of doing something like this (are there any?) pretty clearly do not outweigh all the negatives (i.e., confusing and annoying your audience).
daviss.org daviss @daviss.org · Nov 25
KSTP meteorologist posting AI videos on Twitter of what he says is what Minneapolis will look like if his forecast is correct is really something… not a valid weather news source going forward imo
Ai news report from KSTP weather person
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
newpublic.org
Social media researcher @taliastroud.bsky.social (New_ Public and @engagingnews.bsky.social) presents our new nationwide poll results on how Americans really connect with their neighbors online — and the surprising gaps that deserve more attention.

Watch here 📹
The Local Connection Crisis: New Data on What Communities Need
YouTube video by New_ Public
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
katestarbird.bsky.social
The UW Center for an Informed Public is looking for postdocs (for 2026-2028) from across diverse disciplines whose research sheds light on the challenges of our modern information environment, promotes civic health, and/or helps people/communities navigate online spaces: apply.interfolio.com/177901
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Toff
slouching.bsky.social
Friends, there are several CS positions open at NYU; calling in my socio-technical researchers including HCI researchers
cs.nyu.edu/dynamic/jobs...
NYU Computer Science Department
cs.nyu.edu
November 24, 2025 at 8:32 PM
benjamintoff.bsky.social
I’ve been wondering about this as well. I think a lot of what’s argued in the piece is right although I tend to think changes in the media environment shouldn’t be underestimated. TikTok and Instagram in 2025 are VERY different platforms compared to social media of 2018.
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
benjamintoff.bsky.social
Croptoberfest!
mattdelong.bsky.social Matt DeLong @mattdelong.bsky.social · Nov 21
Prairie Island Indian Community let us come check out the fall cannabis harvest at the tribe's 13-acre cultivation and manufacturing facility outside of Hastings. Definitely the most weed I've ever seen in one place.

www.startribune.com/prairie-isla...
November 21, 2025 at 4:52 PM