Focus Areas

Information Integrity & Trust

Unraveling what shapes trust in news and civic information—and how we can strengthen it in today’s media landscape.

Related Research Initiatives

Behavioral Insights Group, Civic Health & Institutions Project (CHIP50), Constructive Disagreement Project, Documentary Film in the Public Interest Initiative, Lerner Lab, The HKS Misinformation Review, The Journalist’s Resource

Trust in information is shaped by a complex interplay of psychological, social, and technological factors, and the Shorenstein Center investigates what drives people to believe or doubt the media and information they encounter. Our research explores not only the systems and impacts of misinformation and disinformation but also the broader principles that underpin audience engagement and trust. We also support the dissemination of high-quality information by providing tools and guidance to help journalists, filmmakers, and media creators incorporate academic research and expert knowledge into their reporting. Through our interdisciplinary approach, the Center aims to better understand and strengthen the trustworthiness of information.

Publications & Resources

A Smarter Way to Disagree

image of talk bubbles with different punctuation symbols in them, courtesy of Harvard Business Review.

A Smarter Way to Disagree

Oct 6, 2025

Julia Minson, Hanne K. Collins, Assistant Professor, UCLA Anderson School of Management, Michael Yeomans, Assistant Professor, Imperial College London

CHIP50 Report #115: American attitudes toward government interventions in science