Research Initiative

Public Interest Journalism

Journalism as the “Fourth Estate” has long been held up as one of the core pillars of a healthy democracy. But as the crises of a shifting business model and declining trust in institutions hit the journalism industry, it has struggled – with dire potential and actual consequences for democracies across the world.  The Shorenstein Center aims to amplify this critical role that journalism plays in shining a light on issues and triggering action within democratic societies. Our programs lift up exceptional journalism that is making a difference, and produce research on the ways that journalism serves the public interest and public good.

Related Shorenstein Center Projects

The Journalist’s Resource is a news publication aimed at bridging the gap between journalism and academia, with the goal of getting more high-quality research into the media stream.

The annual Goldsmith Awards honor the best investigative reporting that has made an impact on U.S. public policy at the local, state, or national level. Awards are also given for books on media, politics, and public policy, and to a journalist whose career has embodied the concept of public interest journalism. 



The Shorenstein Center bestows honors on prominent journalists, policymakers, or practitioners annually in the form of the David Nyhan Award for Political Writing, the Theodore H. White Lecture on Press and Politics, and the Salant Lecture on Freedom of the Press



The Public Interest Tech Lab

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

The Behavioral Insights Group

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Spotlight

Center News, Local News, News, Public Interest Journalism,
News Business Model Pioneer Ben Monnie Joins Shorenstein Center as Visiting Fellow
The Shorenstein Center welcomes veteran news technology, business, and strategy executive Ben Monnie as a 2024-25 Joan Shorenstein fellow. Monnie recently...
Behavioral Decision Science, Local News, News, Public Interest Journalism,
Reading Dies in Complexity - new study co-authored by Professor Todd Rogers
New research co-authored by Shorenstein Center resident faculty member Todd Rogers suggests that simpler writing may be the key to attracting readers in...