Thomas E. Patterson

Tom Patterson is Bradlee Professor of Government & the Press at Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on the Media, Politics and Public Policy.

Expert Commentary

Informing the news: The need for knowledge-based reporting

by Thomas E. Patterson | October 8, 2013

Essay by Thomas E. Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center.

Expert Commentary

Recommendations for improving Election Night coverage: Keeping the lessons of 2000 alive

by Thomas E. Patterson | November 5, 2012

Article and tip sheet for news media doing election night coverage, aggregating key lessons learned from the 1968 and 2000 elections.

Education, Health

How school nurses can help fight chronic absenteeism

November 20, 2024

In this research-based explainer, we examine the rise in chronic student absenteeism in recent years and the various ways school nurses, an underutilized resource in the push to improve attendance, can help.

Politics & Government

Ranked choice voting: An explainer and 3 tips for reporters

October 30, 2024

Dozens of municipalities and two states have adopted ranked choice voting in recent years, and the system is on the ballot in six states and Washington, D.C. this November. Here’s the recent research you need to know to enhance your coverage.

Criminal Justice, Health, Politics & Government, Race & Gender

Abortion pill mifepristone: An explainer and research roundup about its history, safety and future

June 13, 2024

With abortion-related measures on the ballot in several states, journalistic coverage of the topic has never been more crucial. This piece aims to help inform the narrative on medication abortion with scientific evidence.