Center for Media Engagement - The University of Texas at Austin

As we approach the upcoming election, the role of platforms like WhatsApp is becoming increasingly significant. Inga Kristina Trauthig highlights how WhatsApp is a primary news source for many communities, particularly Latino and Indian American groups, which are crucial for shaping political opinions. WhatsApp has evolved from being just a messaging app to a platform resembling social media, where users engage in large channels and communities. This shift raises important questions about the platform's potential to influence political engagement and the outcomes of elections. For political campaigns, understanding and leveraging this platform is no longer optional—it's essential. Read more about how this transformation will impact the 2024 election: https://lnkd.in/gtPddNj3

Can social media bring local communities together? Vermont platform Front Porch Forum is a good case for how it can be done successfully. Members of Front Porch Forum consider it useful, valuable, informative, relevant, and civic-minded. Especially compared to other dominant social platforms. Read more in our new research collab with New_ Public: https://lnkd.in/g4Mqr36J

New in The Washington Post: research on a homegrown, alternative social media platform finds it to be useful, positive, and very valuable for communities. They are able to do this by breaking free of a business model that incentivizes unrestricted growth and engagement. Didn’t think that was possible with social media? You may have never heard of it, but Front Porch Forum is in every town in Vermont. And people really love it. From the new article by Will Oremus: "'I can’t imagine life in rural Vermont without FPF,' said Don Heise of Calais, Vt., (pop. 1,661 according to the 2020 U.S. census), who described it as 'the glue that holds our community together.'" Every post is read and vetted by a local human moderator before being published, which slows things down. There are no reaction buttons or instant comments. Local ads are targeted only by geography, as opposed to a surveillance-based business model. With our partners at the Center for Media Engagement - The University of Texas at Austin, we surveyed more than 13,000 FPF members and asked them about the platform’s performance, using our Civic Signals framework — 14 signals to guide the creation of healthy digital spaces. We found that FPF makes building community easier, from block parties to civic participation. Small interactions, like borrowing a ladder or getting a ride somewhere, build local social capital and cultivate a sense of community that benefits the whole neighborhood. Front Porch Forum proves that social media doesn’t have to be a toxic place that tears us apart. We can design and build digital public spaces that bring us together, if we choose to. 

Hi, #AEJMC24! 👋 Guess what? CME will be at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) conference this year! Here are the panels featuring CME researchers this weekend. Find the full scheudle here: https://lnkd.in/gPFwsj2r

⚠️ Scams on TikTok Shop are driving some users away. From low-quality products to dangerous items, are the risks outweighing the benefits? Learn more about the issues in our latest case study: https://lnkd.in/gsBrcWWi

In her latest blog, Katalina Deaven of The Center for Media Engagement shares tools, tactics, and tips for fighting misinformation and disinformation around the U.S. election.

In today's competitive digital landscape, it might seem like a no-brainer to cover the latest outrageous political story to drive engagement. But think twice. A study at the Center for Media Engagement reveals some eye-opening findings about "outrage news." 🔍 What is Outrage News? Outrage news includes content characterized by name-calling, exaggeration, extreme partisanship, obscenity, and verbal sparring. We examined how this type of content affects reader engagement and perceptions. 📰 Key Findings: Decreased Intended Engagement: Contrary to popular belief, outrage news doesn't drive clicks or comments. It can actually deter readers from engaging, paying, or returning to your site. Credibility Damage: Covering outrageous behavior can make your news source seem like "fake news" and harm its trustworthiness and credibility. Perceived Incivility: Outrage content is seen as rude and hostile, further decreasing engagement. Fact Retention: While readers may remember more facts from outrage articles, the overall negative perception can still hurt your news outlet. 📉 Bottom Line for Newsrooms: Resist the temptation to chase potential clicks with outrage news. It could harm your reputation and fail to deliver the engagement you’re hoping for. Instead, focus on credible, trustworthy content that truly resonates with your audience. Read more about our research and its implications for your newsroom: https://lnkd.in/gZT7_XyJ

Today we launched The Beyond Print Toolkit, a new resource from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism and API to help local newspapers accelerate their digital transformation. 📰 💻 This toolkit offers best practices, case studies and templates on: ✅ Reducing reliance on print revenue  ✅ Maximizing existing print products  ✅ Growing diverse digital audiences  ✅ Developing digital products and driving revenues ➕ It features insights from publications that have undergone print transitions and participated in Beyond Print programs. Beyond Print is supported by an anchor donation from the Andrew and Julie Klingenstein Family Fund and The Knight Foundation -Lenfest Institute for Journalism Local News Transformation Fund.  https://lnkd.in/eFRNbfUi #journalism #media #localnews #beyondprint

📣New from The Associated Press: The Center for Media Engagement has been investigating how political consultants are increasingly using AI tools in their campaigns. More than 20 political operatives from across the ideological spectrum revealed that they are experimenting with generative AI models this year. However, they also expressed concerns about less scrupulous actors potentially doing the same. Zelly Martin, the report’s lead author and a senior research fellow at CME, pointed out the unique challenges faced by local-level elections: “Local-level elections will be so much more challenging because people will be attacking. And what recourse do they have to fight back, as opposed to Biden and Trump who have many more resources to fend off attacks?” Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dmKFcACr And read the original report here: https://lnkd.in/dSadW27h