Liz Schwartz

stock image of empty movie theater seats next to the title of the report and the author's name

US Independent Film Audience and Landscape Study

Discussion Papers, Media Business, Publications / By

Independent films illuminate untold stories, spark discourse, and broaden our perspectives – but independent film in the United States is at risk. In this groundbreaking new research, film industry leader Keri Putnam brings new data together to analyze the overall audience for independent film and the collapse of the financial model driven by the streaming economy, and offers recommendations and opportunities for the future.

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a woman sits in meditation pose with legs crossed and hands on her knees, in front of a window

Harvard Researchers Find That Gratitude Is a Useful Emotional Tool in Reducing Desire to Smoke: Key Implications for Public Health Campaigns

Behavioral Decision Science, News / By

Smoking continues to rank as the foremost preventable cause of premature death. In a paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), Harvard researchers report findings that evoking feelings of gratitude in people who smoke helps reduce their urge to smoke, and increases their likelihood of enrollment in a

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graphic of a newspaper front page filled with the words "Keep it Simple"

Reading dies in complexity: Online news consumers prefer simple writing

Behavioral Decision Science, Faculty Research, News Business & Practice, Publications / By

The following are excerpts from a new peer-reviewed journal article published June 5, 2024 in Science Advances. Abstract Over 30,000 field experiments with The Washington Post and Upworthy showed that readers prefer simpler headlines (e.g., more common words and more readable writing) over more complex ones. A follow-up mechanism experiment showed that readers from the

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graphic of a newspaper front page filled with the words "Keep it Simple"

Reading Dies in Complexity – new study co-authored by Professor Todd Rogers

Behavioral Decision Science, Local News, News, Public Interest Journalism / By

New research co-authored by Shorenstein Center resident faculty member Todd Rogers suggests that simpler writing may be the key to attracting readers in today’s crowded online news landscape. A large-scale study analyzing over 30,000 headline experiments on news websites found that readers were consistently more likely to click on and engage with news headlines written

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photos of 2023 Nyhan Prize winners: Mike Hixenbaugh, a light skinned man with dark hair and facial hair and glasses; Antonia Hylton, a medium skinned woman with curly brown hair, and Robert Downen, a light skinned man with dark hair and facial hair

Antonia Hylton, Mike Hixenbaugh, and Robert Downen win Nyhan Prizes for Political Journalism

Center News, Local News, News, Public Interest Journalism / By

For the first time in the 18 year history of the Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism, administered by the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, the selection committee has chosen three co-winners for this year’s Nyhan Prize. Robert Downen, reporter at The Texas Tribune, and the team of Mike

Antonia Hylton, Mike Hixenbaugh, and Robert Downen win Nyhan Prizes for Political Journalism Read More »

John Dickerson, a light skinned man with light reddish colored hair, speaks at a podium below a sign that say s"John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum" wearing a green jacket, white shirt, and tie.

The Presidency Above the Campaign

Campaigns, Elections & Parties, Discussion Papers, News Business & Practice, Politics & Government, Prizes & Lectures, Public Interest Journalism, Publications, Uncategorized / By

CBS News Prime Time anchor John Dickerson, who has covered eight presidential candidates in his career as a political journalist, gave the Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics at Harvard Kennedy School on February 5, 2024. The following is a lightly edited version of his speech for publication. The full video of his

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Democracy and Internet Governance Initiative (DIGI)

Case Study: Integrity or Influence? Facebook’s Governance Trade-offs in India and the Power of the Press

Discussion Papers, Disinformation, Public Interest Technology, Publications, Tech Policy / By

Disclaimer: This is a working paper of the Democracy and Internet Governance Project at the Shorenstein Center. As a working paper it represents research in progress. This paper represents the opinions of the authors and is the product of professional research. It is not meant to represent the position or opinions of the Shorenstein Center,

Case Study: Integrity or Influence? Facebook’s Governance Trade-offs in India and the Power of the Press Read More »

Image showing hands on a keyboard with social media reaction icons and the title of the DIGI final report.

Towards Digital Platforms and Public Purpose: Final Report of the Democracy and Internet Governance Initiative

Discussion Papers, Disinformation, Faculty Research, Policy & Issues, Politics & Government, Public Interest Technology, Publications, Tech Policy, Technology / By

Executive Summary In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, platforms have emerged as powerful intermediaries that shape our online experiences, social interactions, and access to information. While platforms have brought numerous benefits, there is now an overwhelming recognition of their potential negative effects on individuals, society, and democracy. From the spread of misinformation and privacy

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Shorenstein Center Fellow Caitlin Dickerson wins Pulitzer Prize

Center News, In the News, News, Public Interest Journalism / By

Congratulations to Spring 2023 Shorenstein Center Fellow Caitlin Dickerson, investigative reporter and feature writer for The Atlantic, on winning the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for her groundbreaking reporting on the Trump Administration’s policy of separating migrant children from their families, and its continuing effects. Read Caitlin’s award-winning reporting here: “We Need to Take

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Shorenstein Center Launches Documentary Film Research Initiative

Center News, Documentary Film, News / By

In an ongoing effort to deepen and broaden its focus on the intersections of media, policy and the public sphere, the Shorenstein Center is expanding its work to examine issues facing documentary film practice and industry, and the medium’s role in civic life.   As their global audience grows, documentary films have become a driving

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Shawn Donnan awarded 2022 Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism

Center News, News, Prizes & Lectures, Public Interest Journalism / By

The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School announces the winner of the 2022 Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism: Shawn Donnan is senior writer for Bloomberg News, where he covers economics with an emphasis on where policy meets people and the real world. His reporting appears across the organization’s many

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The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy is a Harvard Kennedy School research center dedicated to exploring and illuminating the intersection of press, politics and public policy in theory and practice. The Center strives to bridge the gap between journalists and scholars, and between them and the public.

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