Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 14h

This reading list from @newpublic.org is a great resource for anyone thinking about the intersections of community, technology, and civic life. At CME, we know that the books and ideas we engage with shape the way we imagine healthier public spaces — both online and off.

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 6d

Introducing the New_ Public Canon: A non-exhaustive, in-no-particular-order selection of books about communities, technology, and civic life that our team loves and references (almost) every day.

What are we missing? Any recommendations?

Reading list titled 'The New_ Public Reading List Part 1: The Big Books' on purple background with coral section. Books listed: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs, Governing the Commons by Elinor Ostrom, The Filter Bubble by Eli Pariser (obviously), and The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters by Priya Parker. Decorative 3D geometric shapes in bottom right corner.

Reading list on coral background with purple footer. Title reads 'Let us know what we're missing!' Books listed: Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam, Governable Spaces by Nathan Schneider, Plurality: The Future of Collaborative Technology and Democracy by Audrey Tang & E. Glen Weyl, and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Decorative 3D geometric shapes in bottom right corner.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 15h

85% of Texans have heard of AI, but only half recognize they use it regularly.

📊 Two-thirds believe AI will have a positive impact on society and their lives, yet many underestimate how often they interact with it.

🔗 Read more:

Power Struggles: Texans’ Thoughts On The AI Data Center Boom and Its Environmental Impacts - Center for Media Engagement

While public opinion about AI is mixed, Americans’ primary concerns revolve around issues of displaced jobs and data privacy. This study is one of the first to explore public attitudes related to AI and its environmental impact.

mediaengagement.org

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 2d

Fascinating to see how VR and AI might help children build empathy and connection. Exploring how technology can support healthier ways of relating is a conversation worth having.

The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 5d

Researchers are exploring how VR and AI can teach empathy, helping children recognize emotions, regulate feelings and build deeper connections.

How VR and AI could help the next generation grow kinder and more connected

Virtual reality might seem like an unlikely way to help kids develop empathy, but the right VR environment can do just that.

buff.ly

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 2d

Republicans and Democrats perceive news stories in very different ways.
Both groups found the most credible posts were those quoting only a government official.

🔗 Read more: mediaengagement.org/research/quo...

Quotes and Credibility: How Storytelling Approaches Shape Perceptions Across Party Lines - Center for Media Engagement

Given the diminishing trust in U.S. news media, especially among political conservatives, the Center for Media Engagement set out to examine whether certain storytelling approaches affect people’s per...

mediaengagement.org

Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 2d

Although these posts did not shift perceptions of political polarization, the findings suggest that both the public and platforms can encourage healthier discussions by incorporating and surfacing connective language.

🔗 Read the full report: mediaengagement.org/research/con...

Connective Posts: A New Approach to Political Conversations on Social Media - Center for Media Engagement

Exploring the use of “connective language” as a way to help people better connect with each other and enjoy their online experience.

mediaengagement.org

Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 2d

Connective language signals openness to other perspectives, using phrases such as “this is just my opinion” or “correct me if I’m wrong.” We found that people spent more time on pages with connective posts, enjoyed them more, and felt less manipulated by them.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 2d

Our research examined how “connective language” affects political conversations on social media.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 3d

This framing feels more relevant than ever in the age of AI-driven personalization. At CME, we’re asking similar questions: how do media technologies shape not only what we choose, but who we become?

Eli Pariser @eli.bsky.social · 8d

When I wrote the Filter Bubble in 2011, I portrayed an algorithmic tug of war between your impulsive, present-tense self and your more forward-thinking, aspirational self.

Now a big showdown between your long-term and short-term self is here. The question is, which side will your chatbot be on?

The era of hyperpersonalized content is here

Everyone needs to pay attention to the most recent AI products rolled out by OpenAI, Meta, and Google, because they tell us something important about the future of digital media. In the last week… Ope...

www.linkedin.com

Reposted by Center for Media Engagement

Data & Society @datasociety.bsky.social · 5d

“AI isn’t really designed to be therapeutic,” says Stanford addiction scientist Dr. Anna Lembke. “It’s really designed to make people feel better in the short term, which also ultimately promotes continued engagement — which is the real agenda for these companies.” futurism.com/chatgpt-marr...

ChatGPT Is Blowing Up Marriages as Spouses Use AI to Attack Their Partners

Across the world, marriages are being destroyed as spouses use AI like OpenAI's ChatGPT to attack their partners.

futurism.com

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 5d

For researchers asking big questions about how AI shapes the way we connect, this is a great opportunity! @newpublic.org is doing important work at the intersection of media, tech, and civic life.

New_ Public @newpublic.org · 7d

How will technology continue to shape how we talk to each other? We’re seeking a researcher to help tackle big questions like this.

Working with Co-Director @eli.bsky.social, this is a chance to engage with experts, dive into the research, and contribute directly to the field and our strategy.

Job posting graphic with coral orange background featuring white text that reads "NOW HIRING Research Fellow - AI & The Future of Social Conversation" with an abstract geometric illustration of a door or archway. Details include 20-25 hours per week, $40/hour, remote position for U.S. or Canada, working through 2/28/26.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 5d

Health campaigns often use strong emotions to get their message across. But how much is too much? 🤔

Explore what our case study says about the ethics of using disgust and fear in public health messaging: mediaengagement.org/research/how...

@ethicsofmedia.bsky.social

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 8d

Newsrooms should:

• Add context, give background info, and link previous coverage
• Explain key terms and government processes
• Include footnotes in the article text that offer source material
Find out other ways to build trust within local communities here:

Build Trust Through Your Storytelling Process - Center for Media Engagement

Five actions newsrooms can throughout the storytelling process that can improve trust.

mediaengagement.org

Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 8d

🗞️News distrust is running rampant. By providing the complete story, newsrooms can work to build trust with local communities.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 9d

- Superficial solidarity worries more about the optics, not the impact. It adds to the noise of low-risk declarations.
- Substantive solidarity requires a willingness to stand for change, even if it’s uncomfortable.
Read more here:

Superficial Solidarity vs Substantive Solidarity - Center for Media Engagement

Superficial solidarity prioritizes performative optics, while substantive solidarity pursues transformative impact.

mediaengagement.org

Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 9d

Often people claim to do their part by bringing awareness but don't address the root causes and commit to amplify communities of those affected.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 9d

Superficial solidarity or substantive solidarity? Does it really matter?
People and organizations are quick to express solidarity in response to social issues or tragedies.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 9d

💡 Key findings:
• More positive views of the news organization
• Greater sense of voice in coverage
• Higher perceptions of responsiveness
• Increased subscriptions

Engaged journalism can strengthen newsroom–community relationships while supporting the newsrooms.

Curbing the Decline of Local News Through Engaged Journalism - Center for Media Engagement

Practicing engaged journalism, where newsrooms build relationships with their audience by responding to community concerns, can offer a lifeline.

mediaengagement.org

Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 9d

How can local news thrive?
A study by @EmilyVanDuyn and @TaliaStroud finds that engaged journalism — where journalists connect more directly with communities — may be part of the answer.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 10d

Regardless of political leaning, the phrase “fake news” reduced trust in the news organization and in the credibility of its journalists.

Full report:

Using the Phrase “Fake News” Hurts Trust in Your Journalists and Newsroom - Center for Media Engagement

How three commonly used phrases for false content - fake news, false news, and misinformation - affect public perceptions of journalists and news media.

mediaengagement.org

Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 10d

To test language around false content, our researchers showed participants tweets from:
📌 Conservative-leaning outlet (Wall Street Journal)
📌 Liberal-leaning outlet (New York Times)

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 11d

Engaged journalism works. It builds trust. It gives audiences a voice. And yes—it can bring in new subscribers.

For local newsrooms looking for a way forward, this study offers a path 👉

Curbing the Decline of Local News Through Engaged Journalism - Center for Media Engagement

Practicing engaged journalism, where newsrooms build relationships with their audience by responding to community concerns, can offer a lifeline.

mediaengagement.org

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 12d

🔗Read more:

Even in "News Deserts" People Still Get News - Center for Media Engagement

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.

mediaengagement.org

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 12d

🌎 People in news deserts still feel informed about their community. What can newsrooms take away from these findings?

Our research suggests they could use more audience-centered journalism — reporting like a community member, not just an observer — to build a sense of social cohesion.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 13d

Partisanship is the strongest predictor of what people view as true or false. Polarized online spaces reinforce these differences.

Read more here: mediaengagement.org/...

Do Democrats and Republicans Live in Different Worlds?
We looked into if partisanship really was the main influence when it came to people’s beliefs in true and false claims.

What’s the Truth? In a study to look into key predictors of people’s tendency to disagree on what they see as “facts,” we examined Democrats’ and Republicans’ beliefs in a series of claims concerning two contentious issues: the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2024 election.

The Most Influential... Across the four claims in our survey, we found that people were more likely to rate a claim as true if it was supported by their political party.

People's partisanship was more predictive of their beliefs than any other factor, including education.

We also found that when polarization was higher on social media platforms, both parties held differing beliefs.

Insights Democrats and Republicans are more likely to believe claims that favor their party, regardless of whether the claims are true or false, highlighting the challenges newsrooms face when covering partisan issues.

Newsrooms should continue to understand that people’s information sources will influence what they deem as true or false.

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Center for Media Engagement @engagingnews.bsky.social · 15d

Not all labels for false content are equal.
Our researchers tested “fake news,” “false news,” and “misinformation.” Results show:
- “Fake news” lowered trust in the outlet & credibility of journalists.
- “Misinformation” had the most positive effect.

Read more:

Using the Phrase “Fake News” Hurts Trust in Your Journalists and Newsroom - Center for Media Engagement

How three commonly used phrases for false content - fake news, false news, and misinformation - affect public perceptions of journalists and news media.

mediaengagement.org

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