Election Beat 2022: Will turnout, swing voters or sheer luck decide the midterms?
The campaign matters but other things matter more, writes media scholar Tom Patterson. Read on to learn more about the enthusiasm gap and the luck factor.
Expert Commentary
Sports betting in the US: A research roundup and explainer
We look at the landscape of legal sports betting in America, explain what the research says about how legalization affects tax revenues, and provide a brief history of the activity.
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6 ways the Internet of Things poses security threats to journalists
The Internet of Things poses many threats to journalists — at home, in the office and in the field. To help us understand them, a cybersecurity researcher divides these threats into several categories along with real-world examples.
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Gun buybacks: What the research says
Gun buybacks allow gun owners to trade their firearms to law enforcement, no questions asked. We dive into what the research says on whether they work to reduce gun violence.
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What journalists need to know about potential threats to the ballot initiative process
In this commentary, the manager of a voter empowerment project discusses what it takes for citizens to get a proposition on the ballot.
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Election Beat 2022: What we can learn from predictive models and polls
Will 2022 be a ‘normal’ year for voting on House seats? Academic statistical models predict a Republican win in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, but opinion polls add a cautionary note.
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Election Beat 2022: ‘Known unknowns’ in the US midterms
We know reapportionment, redistricting, and a host of new laws affecting ballot access may give Republicans an advantage, writes media scholar Tom Patterson. The unknowns lie in the impact that each of those factors will have.
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Covering marijuana: Research roundup and 7 tips for journalists
As more states consider legalizing marijuana, consider these studies and tips on what’s known and unknown about the health effects of cannabis products.
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The role of local election officials: 5 studies to consider
We highlight recent research that can inform journalists who are reporting on precinct staffing challenges, bias in who gets help voting, and more.
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A tale of two math terms: An infographic story about when to use percent change vs. percentage-point change
Meanville, USA, was an average American town. Until one day, a local journalist had to figure the best way to explain how town administrators planned to spend a sudden windfall …
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