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Expert Commentary

Election Day
Media, Politics & Government

6 Election Day reporting do’s and don’ts

by Thomas E. Patterson | November 5, 2024

“Reporting on election night results may be the most pivotal task of the entire campaign season,” writes media scholar Thomas Patterson. He shares six tips for doing so carefully and responsibly.

Expert Commentary

felony disenfranchisement
Criminal Justice, Politics & Government, Race & Gender

Covering felony disenfranchisement: 4 takeaways from our webinar with The Marshall Project

by Clark Merrefield | November 4, 2024

Research, data, history and the law: Here’s what you need to know to report on felony disenfranchisement. Plus, check out the video if you missed the webinar.

Expert Commentary

Associated Press
Media, Politics & Government

How The Associated Press calls elections

by The Journalist's Resource | November 4, 2024

In this recording of a recent webinar, journalists from The Associated Press and two large local newspapers share insights on how the AP calls races in the U.S, how the count and certification process works, and how reporters across the country use and convey that information.

Expert Commentary

young voters college students young adults election research
Education, Politics & Government, Race & Gender

Young voters and colleges’ efforts to boost turnout: A research roundup with 5 story ideas

by Denise-Marie Ordway | October 31, 2024

We gathered research and interviewed researchers to help reporters cover voters under age 30. Keep reading for insights on their voting habits, colleges’ efforts to raise voting rates and stories researchers say newsrooms need to cover.

Expert Commentary

ranked choice voting
Politics & Government

Ranked choice voting: An explainer and 3 tips for reporters

by Clark Merrefield | 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.

Expert Commentary

A gold weighing scale, tipped to one side, with silver coins in each side.
Economics, Health

State and local tax exemptions drive more than half of nonprofit hospitals’ $37.4 billion tax benefit, study finds

by Naseem S. Miller | October 23, 2024

Nonprofit hospitals’ tax exemptions have come under scrutiny by lawmakers and researchers. A JAMA study sheds light on the hospitals’ federal, state and local tax benefits.

Expert Commentary

2024 U.S. election
Media, Politics & Government

Resources to help journalists cover the 2024 US election

by Carmen Nobel | October 16, 2024

Our 2024 election collection includes resources to help you cover surveys and opinion polls, voting issues, election administration issues, local elections, and ballot measure topics.

Expert Commentary

Media, Politics & Government

5 basic things journalists need to know about polls and surveys

by Denise-Marie Ordway | October 9, 2024

Want to learn about the benefits and pitfalls of poll and survey research? Read on for insights from a political scientist, a social psychologist, a statistician and an investigative journalist.

Expert Commentary

vote by mail
Politics & Government

When can your state start processing advance ballots? Check out this interactive timeline

by Clark Merrefield | October 8, 2024

Find out when your state can start processing advance ballots for the November 2024 general election. States that get their advance ballots ready sooner will be able to count those votes and report results faster come Election Day.

Expert Commentary

voter registration deadlines
Media, Politics & Government

Election Beat 2024: Remember to cover voter registration deadlines

by Thomas E. Patterson | October 4, 2024

In the lead-up to Election Day in the U.S., it’s important for journalists to remind their audiences of voter registration deadlines in each state, writes media scholar Thomas Patterson in this research-based commentary.

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  • Know Your ResearchTip sheets and explainers to help journalists understand academic research methods, find and recognize high-quality research, investigate scientific misconduct and research errors, and avoid missteps when reporting on new studies and public opinion polls

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Expert Commentary

For journalists who cover immigration, better ICE detention data now available
Criminal Justice, Politics & Government

For journalists who cover immigration, better ICE detention data now available

May 15, 2025

Researchers created a new method to calculate how many people are detained at ICE facilities – and uncovered some hidden population spikes that don’t appear in ICE’s own reports.

Medicaid: A guide to understanding and covering potential cuts to the program
Health, Politics & Government

Medicaid: A guide to understanding and covering potential cuts to the program

April 30, 2025

To help finance trillions of dollars in tax cuts, Congressional Republicans are looking to cut hundreds of billions of dollars in spending, including Medicaid. We provide background, resources and research on the policies under consideration.

Childhood vaccines: What research shows about their safety and potential side effects
Health, Politics & Government

Childhood vaccines: What research shows about their safety and potential side effects

February 26, 2025

In this piece, we share reporting tips, explain how vaccine side effects are tracked in the U.S., and discuss research on the safety of childhood vaccines.

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A project of Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center, The Journalist’s Resource curates, summarizes and contextualizes high-quality research on newsy public policy topics. We are supported by generous grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation, Lumina Foundation, and individual contributors.

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