Election Beat 2020: Why U.S. voting rights are less than absolute
Harvard professor Thomas E. Patterson explains why journalists must help the public understand why U.S. voting rights are less than absolute.
Politics & Government
Research roundups, tip sheets, articles and explainers related to the topic of politics, elections, and local and national governments
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2020: The real and false risks of mail-in voting
“If states were to greatly expand their mail-balloting option, risks will remain, though the risks do not include some of the possibilities that have attracted substantial news coverage,” writes Thomas E. Patterson.
Expert Commentary
Covering Medicaid during the COVID-19 pandemic: 6 things journalists should know
For reporters who are covering health care at the local or national level, it’s important to have a handle on how Medicaid works. Here are six things you should know.
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2020: The other problem with journalists’ use of polls
As in their coverage of the 1948 presidential election, journalists still tend to build their narratives and candidate images around poll results.
Expert Commentary
Elder abuse: What research says about prevalence, assessment and prevention
We’ve gathered and summarized several relevant studies on elder abuse, including research in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Expert Commentary
Election Beat 2020: Journalists’ meta-narratives of political candidates
“Election Beat 2020” is a new series of columns authored by Thomas E. Patterson at Harvard Kennedy School. In his inaugural piece, he discusses the problem of “meta-narratives.”
Expert Commentary
Embedding Trump’s tweets into news stories could boost his voter support, study finds
When journalists embed President Donald Trump’s tweets into news stories, they could unknowingly help him gain voter support, a new paper finds.
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Reparations for slavery and racial segregation in America: 7 papers to know
Reparations have been a topic of national discussion since the end of the Civil War. These seven studies can help inform the debate moving forward.
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Covering NASCAR’s ties to the Confederate flag and conservative politics: 5 tips for journalists
Florida State University researcher Joshua I. Newman offers guidance to help journalists better understand and report on the link between NASCAR and U.S. politics.
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7 tips for journalists reporting on surprise medical bills
A longtime health care journalist offers tips for reporting on “surprise billing,” in which people face unexpected medical expenses despite having private insurance coverage.
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