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 […]
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
Reading dies in complexity: Online news consumers prefer simple writing Read More »
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
Reading Dies in Complexity – new study co-authored by Professor Todd Rogers Read More »
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
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
The Presidency Above the Campaign Read More »
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,
The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy is pleased to announce the Fall 2023 cohort of Shorenstein Fellows. Shorenstein Fellows join the center for a semester or year of research, events, and engagement with HKS students, faculty, and the wider university community. This semester’s fellows are working on research related to artificial intelligence;
Fall 2023 Shorenstein Center Fellows Read More »
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
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
Shorenstein Center Fellow Caitlin Dickerson wins Pulitzer Prize Read More »
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
Shorenstein Center Launches Documentary Film Research Initiative Read More »
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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