Media Reform / Public News Service

Democrats' trust in the media has fallen 12 points over the past year, to 58%, and compares with 11% among Republicans and 29% among independents, according to Gallup. (Christian Schwier/Adobe Stock)

Southern Arizona local news initiative announced

A new project in Southern Arizona aims to support local reporting and enable greater access to local news and information. Earlier this month…

Indiana is 23rd among states in annual rankings of internet coverage, speed and availability on the website BroadbandNow. This means roughly one in 10 residents is unable to purchase an internet plan with speeds of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. (Adobe Stock)

Purdue team pitches in to improve IN internet connectivity

Indiana's share of federal money to boost broadband access in underserved areas in the state is almost $870 million. The funding - through the …

A new report looks at best practices in artificial intelligence, which is used for myriad applications, including facial-recognition programs. (Angelov/Adobe Stock)

'Big Tech' firms unite to establish ethical standards for AI

Artificial intelligence is growing fast, and such companies as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Verizon are on the list of those who have come together …

Media experts say to avoid being duped by disinformation, double and even triple check the source of a story, and then try to find this information elsewhere in other reputable places, like mainstream news outlets. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Tech Companies Scale Back Efforts to Control Election Disinformation

Introduced federal legislation aims to counter the growing threat of election disinformation as social media platforms scale back efforts to control i…

More than 136 million people in the United States are TikTok users, and more than half are women. (Adobe Stock)

Montana ACLU Files Legal Support Opposing TikTok Ban

The ACLU of Montana is supporting a lawsuit to overturn a ban on the social media platform TikTok. Montana lawmakers passed a bill fining app …

Effort Grows to Prevent 'Deepfakes' in NH Campaign Ads

As the 2024 presidential hopefuls ramp up their campaigns in New Hampshire, federal officials are considering new rules on so-called "deepfakes" in …

According to the Expanding News Desert project, in the 15 years leading up to 2020, more than one-fourth of the country's newspapers disappeared. (Adobe Stock)

Staying Informed Becomes Harder for North Dakotans

This month, North Dakota has become the latest state to be swept up in the declining presence of local news media. One expert sees it as a concerning …

Rather than focusing on their differences, University of Minnesota Extension educators say people from urban and rural areas should bridge community networks to help address the common challenges these geographic areas face. (Adobe Stock)

What Urban-Rural Divide? Experts Say It's More Like an 'Interdependency'

Political tension in the United States has fueled narratives that urban and rural areas are sharply divided. But what if it's more of a myth? The …

People with mental health-related challenges are far more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of violence, according to the Coalition for Smart Safety. (Adobe Stock)

Mental Health Advocates Reject Blame for Gun Violence Epidemic

Mental health experts say people with psychiatric diagnoses are being unfairly scapegoated for the gun violence epidemic in Maine and across America…

According to U.S. Census data, 30% of all New Yorkers speak a primary language other than English at home. (Adobe Stock)

NY Bill Aims to Grow Outreach via Community Media

New York lawmakers are considering a bill to broaden statewide outreach through local media. The Local Community and Ethnic Media Commitment Act …

Older Adults Technology Services reported an estimated 21.8 million American seniors did not have broadband internet access in 2022. (huang/Adobe Stock)

California Hopes to Lessen 'Digital Divide'

The state of California wants to help close the digital divide across the state - in part, by learning more about how older adults make use of …

The state of Georgia hosted 412 productions, represented by 32 feature films, 36 independent films, 269 television and episodic productions, 42 commercials and 33 music videos between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Writers’ Strike Could Affect GA Economy, Jobs

Thousands of writers are currently on strike following a breakdown in negotiations with the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Pictur…

Award-winning journalist Molly Ivins worked at the Texas Observer in the 1970s, calling it a

The Texas Observer Lives to See Another Print Run

The Texas Observer, a nonprofit news organization known for its liberal, independent reporting and cultural criticism, will continue publishing…

U.S. consumers received more than 50 billion robocalls in 2022, according to data from YouMail Inc. (Adobe Stock)<br />

North Carolina Clamps Down on Robocalls

North Carolina's Attorney General Josh Stein recently won a lawsuit shutting down a massive robocall operation out of Texas. According to the …

A new national study says rates of online childhood sexual abuse are particularly high for girls at 23% compared to 7% for boys. (Adobe Stock)

Internet Task Forces Balance Tips, Tech Hurdles in Protecting Kids

South Dakota investigators say they're carrying heavy caseloads dealing with internet crimes against children. There's hope new research and pressure …

According to the Pew Research Center, adults in all age groups, except those younger than 30, are far more likely to trust information from national and local news outlets than from social media. (Farknot Architect/Adobe Stock)

Editor: News Outlets Must Do Better to Regain Consumers' Trust

Americans continue to have little faith in the mainstream news media, with many people under the age of 30 saying they trust information from social …

According to the News Literacy Project, Americans felt the most trust in news in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal reporting, during Richard Nixon's presidency in the 1970s. (Adobe Stock)

NV Journalism Professor: Diverse Sources Key for News Consumers

As National News Literacy Week comes to an end, one Nevada journalism professor says media professionals need to make building trust with their …

News Literacy Week: Up to News Outlets, Consumers to Improve Trust

Americans continue to report low trust in mainstream media, with many younger than 30 saying they trust information from social media nearly as much …

According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 38% of Americans have no trust at all in newspapers, TV and radio. (Adobe Stock)

News Literacy Week: Keeping Up the Fight Against Misinformation

Today is the start of National News Literacy Week, and according to a Minnesota expert, trust in the media remains low. But there are still plenty of …

Stigma continues to be one of the biggest barriers for addressing mental health, and telehealth provides a confidential option. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Pandemic Telehealth Visits Remain High for Mental Health

The use of telehealth has dropped since its peak during the height of the COVID-19 public health emergency, but more Coloradans continue to opt for …

According to ahe Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce survey, among women who have a bachelor's degree in communications and journalism, their median earnings are the same or higher than men's three years after graduation. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Report: Industry Decline Reduces Journalism Jobs

A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce found the number of journalism jobs will continue to decline over the next d…

Media consolidation hit rural America harder during the pandemic, as there are now fewer news outlets to cover big stories like the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Media Coverage of COVID Underserves Rural Communities

COVID has been in and out of the news cycle for over two years now, but that news cycle is driven by the experience in major cities. Coverage of the …

Websites such as Facebook have become a vehicle for misinformation around elections. (wachiwit/Adobe Stock)

Election Experts Urge Vigilance Against Misinformation Ahead of WA Primary

Washington state's primary election is coming up, and election officials are calling on voters to be vigilant about misinformation. Washington …

Depression and lower rates of academic attainment are among the effects that can persist in a child's lifetime after losing a caregiver. (Adobe Stock)

Losing a Caregiver to COVID: Helping Kids Grieve

Roughly 200,000 children in the U.S. have lost a caregiver to COVID-19. In South Dakota, mental-health experts say these cases can have added …

children can be better protected by strictly enforcing age restrictions. Users' identities could be verified while still being allowed the freedom to not use real names while posting. (Adobe Stock)">

Experts: CA Must Act Now to Protect Youth from Social Media Dangers

As children grow up, parents and caregivers across California face the difficult decision of how to oversee social media use. But is that decision …

Extremist groups are trying to undercut the 30x30 Initiative in President Joe Biden's America the Beautiful Program. (JoPanuwat/Adobe Stock)

Conservationists Call Out Extremist Group for Dispensing Disinformation

Disinformation has sadly become a part of American political discourse, but one environmental organization is calling out a group of anti-government …

Radio Tierra has been on the air in the Columbia River Gorge since 2004. (yooranpark/Adobe Stock)

Bilingual Station Keeps Columbia Gorge Farmworkers Up to Date

A unique radio station in the Columbia River Gorge provides information in English and Spanish, on topics ranging from the environment to immigration…

Many of the farmworkers in Oregon near the Columbia River Gorge work in orchards. (Kirk/Adobe Stock)

Radio Station Shares Bilingual News with Gorge Farmworkers

A unique radio station in the Columbia River Gorge provides information in English and Spanish, on topics ranging from the environment to immigration…

Experts estimate that 5 million to 10 million Americans still use 3G phones. Most of these devices will stop working by the end of the year, as providers transition to 5G technology. (AARP)

Millions of 3G Devices to Lose Service in Next Few Months

Most devices that run on 3G wireless technology will become obsolete this year, some as soon as three weeks. In order to clear bandwidth for the new …

Researchers say parents should monitor the amount of time their kids spend on digital devices, as well as keep an eye on what they are watching. (imtmphoto/Adobe Stock)

Experts Warn FL Parents about Blue-Light Exposure, Excess Screen Time

The pandemic shows no signs of ending soon, and with working from home and distance learning still a reality for many Florida households, health …

Although people spent less time on average on Facebook than some other social media sites, the vast majority said they'd had arguments there. (jpgon/Adobe Stock)

How Social Media Design Fuels Online Fights

SEATTLE - Constructive conversations online can seem few and far between. Research from the University of Washington explores how the design of …

Hurricane Ida broke New York City's single-hour rainfall record, at 3.15 inches - part of the pattern of more frequent and severe downpours which scientists say is a symptom of global warming. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Most TV Coverage of Hurricane Ida Lacked Ties to Climate Change

NEW YORK -- New research suggests corporate and cable TV news outlets failed to contextualize more frequent and extreme weather events to global warmi…

Researchers at Consumer Reports are particularly interested in hearing from rural households of color in a survey on internet speed, reliability and cost. (Prosstock/Adobe Stock)

Consumer Reports Asks Americans to Upload Internet Bills

By Adilia Watson. Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter. Reporting for the Daily Yonder-Arkansas News Service Collaboration Consumer Reports, in …

Public News Service joins the Trust Project, along with news outlets in the U.S, Europe and Central and South America. (The Trust Project)

Public News Service Joins the Trust Project to Support Transparency, Accuracy in Journalism

BOULDER, Colo. - As people struggle to find trusted news and information, Colorado News Connection and its network Public News Service are …

The newest edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book explores how America's child population fared during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Poverty Continues to Stall Progress on WV Kids' Well-Being

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- New survey data offer a clear picture of how West Virginia kids and families are faring. The Mountain State ranks 44th in the …

One in four Medicare recipients reported using telehealth services at the peak of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Budget Funding for Broadband Expansion in Jeopardy

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Funding that would help bridge the digital divide in Ohio is in jeopardy. House Bill 2, signed into law in May, created the Ohio …

California lawmakers must weigh growing health and safety concerns about radiation exposure with calls to improve the state's broadband infrastructure. (Noah Davidson)

Groups, Cities Fight Bills to Speed 5G Wireless Broadband Expansion

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Community activists are urging California lawmakers to reject two bills that would limit local control in order to clear the way …

Studies have shown that children's media use of more than two hours a day can lead to increases in obesity. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky AG Wants Facebook to Scrap Kids’ Instagram

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky's attorney general is part of a group that wants Facebook to stop its plans to create a kids' version of Instagram…

The World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend no screen time at all for children until 18 to 24 months, except for video chatting, and say kids ages 2 to 5 should get an hour or less of screen time per day.(Adobe Stock)

AGs Urge Zuckerberg to Halt Plans for Kids' Instagram

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee's attorney general is part of a group that wants Facebook to stop its plans to create a kids' version of Instagram…

A new Colorado law aims to enable students to become critical consumers and creators of media. (Pixabay)

Media-Literacy Bill Headed to Gov. Polis' Desk

DENVER -- A bill designed to help Colorado students learn how to critically evaluate what they see and hear in today's digital media landscape has cle…

Only 9% of Hoosiers have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, but that's a higher percentage than in any of its neighboring states. (Adobe Stock)

IN Researchers Track COVID Vaccine Uptake, Online Misinformation

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana has a somewhat high rate of COVID vaccine refusal, and researchers are investigating whether false information online is …

Alden Global Capital controls more than 100 local and regional newspapers, and the number of staff members at those papers has been reduced by more than twice the national industry average since 2012. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

Chicago Tribune Guild Seeks Local, "Civic-Minded" Ownership

CHICAGO - A hedge fund's purchase of the Chicago Tribune is in the works - but until it becomes official, members of the Chicago Tribune Guild are …

Documentary Shows Self-Proclaimed Conservatives Exploring Inequalities

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- With former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial demonstrating deep divisions in the nation, a new documentary released today …

Missouri could become one of 14 states to take legislative action on media literacy, if lawmakers pass a bill to incorporate it into K-12 education. (Chinnapong/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Bring Media-Literacy Training to MO Schools

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri lawmaker introduced a bill which would add media literacy training to the public-school curriculum. House Bill 74 …

More than 600 Google employees have joined the newly formed Alphabet Workers Union, a rare occurrence in the tech industry. (Wikimedia Commons)

Google Employees Launch Rare Tech-Industry Union

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Google employees are forming the Alphabet Workers Union, both to push their parent company toward greater social responsibility and …

Net-neutrality advocates oppose President Donald Trump's effort to install a loyalist at the FCC during the lame-duck period. (Electronic Frontier Foundation)

Blumenthal, Net-Neutrality Groups Slam Trump Nominee for FCC

HARTFORD, Ct. -- The U.S. Senate could vote as early as today to approve President Donald Trump's nominee to the Federal Communications Commission - …

By the time all votes are processed and officially certified, the United States could top 150 million voters in the 2020 general election, which would be the largest turnout of eligible voters since 1908. (League of Women Voters of California)

WY Group Working to Make Sure All Votes Count

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the ACLU has filed 14 lawsuits to ensure that all eligible voters in Wyoming and …

As technology demands pick up during the COVID-19 crisis, broadband advocates say government agencies still need to provide more infrastructure funding to eliminate gaps. (Adobe Stock)

MN Broadband Test Could Pave Way for Access Solutions

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- From distance learning to telemedicine, the pandemic crisis continues to expose gaps in broadband internet access. An effort in …

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