Commentaries

The Shorenstein Center’s Commentary Blog brings together original writing and articles written by Shorenstein Center experts to provide context, explainers, and new research on topics in the news. 

Commentary, News Business & Practice,
Expect more of the same from Fox News
April 26, 2023
Tucker Carlson is out - but Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and many others still carry the Fox News flag,...
Commentary, News Business & Practice,
In Defense, Again, of Paper (Newspapers, that is)
April 11, 2023
Shorenstein Center Advisory Board Member Cristine Russell endorses the indulgence of poring over newsprint...
Commentary,
The Historic—and Entirely Predictable—Indictment of Donald Trump
April 4, 2023
In this cover-story for Time, Nancy Gibbs reflects on where this moment lands in the annals of presidents...
Commentary, Local News, News Business & Practice,
Public radio can help solve the local news crisis – but that would require expanding staff and coverage
March 23, 2023
Professor Thomas Patterson explains why bolstering local public radio stations could be the key to solving...
Commentary, Public Interest Technology,
States double down on conspiracy theories waged by anti-democracy movement
March 22, 2023
Josh Visnaw explains why ERIC (Electronic Registration Information Center) is the new target for actors...
Commentary,
Are global power players shrugging off the disinformation crisis?
January 27, 2023
Brian Stelter describes his week in The Twilight Zone (the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos,...
Commentary, News Business & Practice,
GAO Local News Study Highlights New Policy Alternatives to Resolve Crisis
January 5, 2023
The federal Government Accountability Office several months ago convened an expert policy panel on solutions...
Commentary, Public Interest Journalism,
How the news media – long in thrall to Trump – can cover his new run for president responsibly
November 15, 2022
"If they are to serve the public interest, journalists cannot apply the ordinary rules for covering candidates,"...
In Pursuit of Public Purpose: Remembering Ash Carter and his vision for a better world.
November 8, 2022
Executive Director Laura Manley remembers Secretary Ash Carter and his lessons for building a better...
Commentary,
The Nobel Peace Prize and Putin's War on the Watchdogs
October 7, 2022
The Nobel Prize committee just sent Russian President Vladimir Putin a powerful message, awarding its...
Commentary,
Kansas vote for abortion rights highlights disconnect between majority opinion on abortion laws and restrictive state laws being passed after Supreme Court decision
July 25, 2022
Kansans overwhelmingly voted, 59% to 41%, to maintain the state’s constitutional right to an abortion...
Commentary,
President Biden Has Covid. Now What?
July 22, 2022
The following is an excerpt from an article that originally appeared in The New York Times in print on...