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Articles by Michael Barthel
Blueberry Boat (Clap Clap blog, 2004)
Back in 2004, I was a 25-year-old finance and legal assistant at a record label, and instead of entering 200 individual paper invoices for shipping 2 promo CDs of Sugarcult from Nashville to Albuquerque, like I was being paid to do, I would blog. At first it was politics, about Bush and the Iraq war, but it was a very good time for music in New York, as you may have heard, so I started blogging about music, too.
The state of the news media industry in 2020: 6 key takeaways
Every two years, Pew Research Center updates its series of fact sheets on the U.S. news media industry, tracking key audience and economic indicators for a variety of sectors. Here are some key findings about the state of the industry in 2020.
Estimating U.S. newspaper circulation is a challenge
Every two years, Pew Research Center publishes State of the News Media, a collection of fact sheets that examine key audience and economic indicators for a variety of sectors within the U.S. media industry. The analysis relies primarily on external, non-Pew Research Center data for metrics including TV ratings, website traffic and advertising revenue. Using data from outside organizations has some advantages, but also poses challenges.
Reality Winner, NSA contractor in leak case, released from prison
June 15, 2021 Reality Winner, NSA contractor in leak case, released from prison This story, plus Merrick Garland commits to tightening the DOJ’s policies on obtaining records from lawmakers and reporters, a new Pew Research Center report looks at Facebook posts during the early Biden administration and more, all in today’s media headlines. Top Stories Press & Government Media Ethics Media Business International
Facebook Posts in Early Days of Biden Administration Reflect Ideological Divide
Posts on the social media platform covered similar topics as broader media coverage, but were more negative overall How we did this This study analyzes Facebook posts about the Biden administration on the most popular public Facebook pages in the time period studied that focus on current affairs.
Methodology
This study examines coverage of the Biden administration on popular Facebook pages during the week of March 8-14, 2021. This complements recent research looking at coverage of the early administration on television, radio and the web across a longer time frame. This is the latest report in Pew Research Center’s ongoing investigation of the state of news, information and journalism in the digital age, a research program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, with generous support from the John S.
Vollmacht | Michael Barthel | Regional Bears
Ten pieces of LOUD POETRY CHANSON with voice and piano based on Michael Bakunin’s reaction on the circumstance of 22-years old Russian student Sergei G. Netschajev and his actions. „In autumn 1869 Netschajev returned to Moscow with the already printed document of Bakunin’s „Words to the Youth - Principles of the Revolution“ and with a kind of identity card from the „International”, Russian section.
1. The American public shows mixed familiarity with new and evolving forms of news
One major challenge researchers may encounter in designing surveys about news consumption: Does the U.S. public understand the range of concepts being measured – concepts that are constantly evolving as news organizations adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape? This chapter examines this question from several angles, including the public’s overall familiarity with – and use of – new digital forms of news consumption.
Measuring News Consumption in a Digital Era
This report is the culmination of a yearlong study into Americans’ news consumption habits in an era of rapidly evolving media technology and a look at how researchers can measure those news habits. This report was made possible by The Pew Charitable Trusts, which received support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Findings from this study are drawn from four major data collection efforts. See full study methodology for details.
Measuring News Consumption in a Digital Era
As news outlets morph and multiply, both surveys and passive data collection tools face challenges How we did this This report is the culmination of a yearlong study into Americans’ news consumption habits in an era of rapidly evolving media technology and a look at how researchers can measure those news habits. This report was made possible by The Pew Charitable Trusts, which received support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
Assessing different survey measurement approaches for news consumption
Broadly speaking, perhaps the biggest problem with survey measurement of news consumption is that it seems to produce inflated estimates of how much news people consume when compared with other sources, such as ratings or online trackers. This may be because, on the whole, respondents feel social pressure to describe themselves as informed, which could cause them to consciously or subconsciously exaggerate their levels of news consumption – a phenomenon known as the “social desirability” effect.
The American public shows mixed familiarity with new and evolving forms of news
One major challenge researchers may encounter in designing surveys about news consumption: Does the U.S. public understand the range of concepts being measured – concepts that are constantly evolving as news organizations adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape? This chapter examines this question from several angles, including the public’s overall familiarity with – and use of – new digital forms of news consumption.
MSNBC names Rashida Jones as first Black woman president
This story, plus Miami Herald’s new executive editor is first Black woman in paper’s history in the role, and new research on how Americans consume and understand news in the digital age.
The promise and pitfalls of using passive data to measure online news consumption
Given the challenges of survey research detailed above, it is worth considering other approaches to measuring news consumption – especially when it comes to getting news online. One possibility is so-called “passive” data, in which respondents’ online activity is recorded automatically by a computer tracker.
Many Americans are unsure whether sources of news do their own reporting
The digital age has given rise to new and diverse ways of accessing news, ranging from news aggregators and social media feeds that simply circulate existing content to news organization websites that publish their journalists’ original work. And a new Pew Research Center survey finds many Americans have difficulty in distinguishing sources that do their own reporting from those that don’t.
Coronavirus-Driven Downturn Hits Newspapers Hard as TV News Thrives
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Glenn Greenwald quits The Intercept after claiming editors censored his articles
This story, plus Insider Inc. buys a stake in Morning Brew, new research shows the U.S. news media has experienced varying economic impacts from the coronavirus downturn, and more, all in today’s media headlines.
Coronavirus-Driven Downturn Hits Newspapers Hard as TV News Thrives
This report studies the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the financial fortunes of the U.S. news media industry. It analyzes financial data using methods similar to our state of the news media fact sheets. In all cases, revenue is not adjusted for inflation. Data on newspapers and local TV news comes from Securities and Exchange Commission filings of publicly traded media companies.
Coronavirus-Driven Downturn Hits Newspapers Hard as TV News Thrives
The financial state of the U.S. news media in the second quarter of 2020 How we did this This report studies the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the financial fortunes of the U.S. news media industry. It analyzes financial data using methods similar to our state of the news media fact sheets. In all cases, revenue is not adjusted for inflation. Data on newspapers and local TV news comes from Securities and Exchange Commission filings of publicly traded media companies.
Appendix: Detailed tables
Pew Research CenterOct 19, 2020 Americans Plan To Follow Election Returns Closely; Biden Supporters More Confident Their News Sources Will Make Right Call Pew Research CenterOct 7, 2020 Before Trump Tested Positive for Coronavirus, Republicans’ Attention to Pandemic Had Sharply Declined Pew Research CenterJul 30, 2020 Americans Who Mainly Get Their News on Social Media Are Less Engaged, Less Knowledgeable Pew Research CenterJun 29, 2020 Three Months In, Many Americans See Exaggeration,...
1. YouTube news consumers about as likely to use the site for opinions as for facts
YouTube is one of the most popular online platforms in the United States. About seven-in-ten Americans (71%) say they use it, including roughly a quarter of all U.S. adults (26%) who get news there.
Many Americans Get News on YouTube, Where News Organizations and Independent Producers Thrive Side by Side
This study explores the landscape of news on YouTube through a survey of YouTube news consumers alongside an analysis of the most popular YouTube channels that produce news and the videos published by a subset of these channels. Here are some definitions of key terms used throughout this report: YouTube news consumers: Those who said they get news from YouTube in a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 6-20, 2020.
Many Americans Get News on YouTube, Where News Organizations and Independent Producers Thrive Side by Side
Americans are as likely to often turn to independent channels as they are to established news organization channels; videos from independent news producers are more likely to cover subjects negatively, discuss conspiracy theories This study explores the landscape of news on YouTube through a survey of YouTube news consumers alongside an analysis of the most popular YouTube channels that produce news and the videos published by a subset of these channels.
YouTube news consumers about as likely to use the site for opinions as for facts
YouTube is one of the most popular online platforms in the United States. About seven-in-ten Americans (71%) say they use it, including roughly a quarter of all U.S. adults (26%) who get news there.
Key facts about digital-native news outlets amid staff cuts, revenue losses
WPE Berlin Flip-Pay is a turnkey solution for payments, subscriptions, identity management, customer service, finance and analytics across your entire estate. Installation is effortless and the customisation features make this the most powerful content monetisation platform available.
Key facts about digital-native news outlets amid staff cuts, revenue losses
Digital-native news outlets – those “born on the web” – have seen a wave of cuts since the outbreak of the coronavirus as financial troubles continue to roil the news media. Quartz laid off 80 staffers as its advertising revenue declined by over half. BuzzFeed shut down its divisions in the UK and Australia while furloughing dozens in the United States, and Vox furloughed about 100. The Outline has shut down entirely.
Black, Hispanic and white adults feel the news media misunderstand them, but for very different reasons
Tensions inside American newsrooms have emerged amid the recent protests over the killing of George Floyd while in police custody, including clashes between reporters and editors and concerns about newsroom diversity. While a recent study shows black Americans give high marks to the news media’s coverage of the protests, a survey conducted before the protests found deep divides between racial and ethnic groups in feelings of how the news media represent them.
#BlackLivesMatter hashtag surges on Twitter after George Floyd’s death
A painter creates a mural on the boarded-up windows of the Park at 14th nightclub in Washington, D.C., on June 6. (Toni L.
Older people account for large shares of poll workers, voters in U.S. general elections
Adelia Hurtak wipes down a polling place during the Florida presidential primary in Miami in March. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) The coronavirus outbreak has prompted several states to postpone their presidential primaries, citing restrictions on public gatherings. While the postponements will affect people of all ages, they may be particularly relevant for older adults, who tend to account for large shares of both poll workers and voters in general elections in the United States.
APSA 2019 conference roundup: Research on political socialization, campaign spending and misinformation
Voting booths in Concord, New Hampshire. (Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images) The annual meeting of the American Political Science Association took place in Washington, D.C., in September, with researchers from around the world showcasing new findings. Below are brief summaries of some of the research presented at the conference (though the meeting covered many other subjects, and our researchers couldn’t attend every panel).
Older Americans, Black Adults and Americans With Less Education More Interested in Local News
Nearly a third of U.S. adults (31%) follow local news very closely, but local news does not play an equally vital role for all Americans. Older Americans, black adults and those with a high school education or less show considerably more interest in local news than their counterparts, according to a new analysis from Pew Research Center. These same groups prefer getting their local news via the TV rather than online.
Demographics of People Interested in Local News
(simonkr via Getty Images) Nearly a third of U.S. adults (31%) follow local news very closely, but local news does not play an equally vital role for all Americans. Older Americans, black adults and those with a high school education or less show considerably more interest in local news than their counterparts, according to a new analysis from Pew Research Center. These same groups prefer getting their local news via the TV rather than online.
Demographics of People Interested in Local News
(simonkr via Getty Images) Nearly a third of U.S. adults (31%) follow local news very closely, but local news does not play an equally vital role for all Americans. Older Americans, black adults and those with a high school education or less show considerably more interest in local news than their counterparts, according to a new analysis from Pew Research Center. These same groups prefer getting their local news via the TV rather than online.
7 facts about black Americans and the news media
The Chicago Defender on July 9. The newspaper, founded in 1905 to serve Chicago’s black community, published its final print edition the following day. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) This week, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) holds its annual meeting in Miami.
5 key takeaways about the state of the news media in 2018
Every year since 2004, Pew Research Center has issued an assessment of the state of the news media, tracking key audience and economic indicators for a variety of sectors within the U.S. journalism industry. Here are some key findings about the state of the industry in 2018: 1U.S. newspaper circulation reached its lowest level since 1940, the first year with available data.
Emanating Effects: The Impact of the Oregon Citizens’ Initiative Review on Voters’ Political Efficacy
Baiocchi, G, Heller, P, Silva, M (2011) Bootstrapping Democracy: Transforming Local Governance and Civil Society in Brazil. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. Google Scholar Bohman, J (2012) Representation in the Deliberative System. In: Parkinson, J, Mansbridge, JJ (eds) Deliberative Systems: Deliberative Democracy at the Large Scale. New York: Cambridge University Press, pp.72–94. Google Scholar Boulianne, S (2017) Mini-publics and Public Opinion: Two Survey-Based Experiments.
Heavy activity concentrated among a minority of users
The engagement level of Reddit users taking part in the candidate discussions over the three months studied echoes earlier research about other digital spaces. The majority of authors offered just a single comment naming a candidate, while fewer came back with multiple comments over the course of the study. Fully six-in-ten of almost 100,000 authors posted just a single comment naming a presidential candidate. A quarter posted three or more.
5 facts about US news media
Every year since 2004, Pew Research Center has issued an annual assessment of the state of the news media that tracks key audience and economic indicators for a variety of sectors within the U.S. news media industry. Here are the key findings for 2017: 1 - The audience for nearly every major sector of the U.S. news media fell in 2017 With the only exception being radio.
5 facts about the state of the news media in 2017
Every year since 2004, Pew Research Center has issued an annual assessment of the state of the news media that tracks key audience and economic indicators for a variety of sectors within the U.S. news media industry. Here are the key findings for 2017: 1The audience for nearly every major sector of the U.S. news media fell in 2017 – with the only exception being radio.
The news that bots share on Twitter tends not to focus on politics
Since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, much attention has been focused on the role of bots in promoting political news on Twitter. But bots can play a role in spreading many other types of news and information as well. Indeed, a new Pew Research Center analysis finds that suspected bots are far more active in sharing links to news sites focusing on nonpolitical content than to sites with a political focus.
Can Americans Tell Factual From Opinion Statements in the News?
The politically aware, digitally savvy and those more trusting of the news media fare better; Republicans and Democrats both influenced by political appeal of statements In today’s fast-paced and complex information environment, news consumers must make rapid-fire judgments about how to internalize news-related statements – statements that often come in snippets and through pathways that provide little context.
4. Americans overwhelmingly see statements they think are factual as accurate, mostly disagree with factual statements they incorrectly label as opinions
To understand what drives Americans to classify news as either factual or opinion, respondents were asked a follow-up question after each initial response. If they classified a statement as factual, respondents were asked if they thought it was accurate or inaccurate. An opinion classification was followed with a question asking if they agreed or disagreed with the statement. Overall, Americans overwhelmingly tie the idea of news statements being factual with them also being accurate.
2. The ability to classify statements as factual or opinion varies widely based on political awareness, digital savviness and trust in news media
Overall, some groups of Americans are far better at parsing through news content than others, suggesting gaps in the public’s competence. Most prominently, Americans’ familiarity with politics and the digital world bleeds into how they understand statements in the news.
Distinguishing Between Factual and Opinion Statements in the News
In today’s fast-paced and complex information environment, news consumers must make rapid-fire judgments about how to internalize news-related statements – statements that often come in snippets and through pathways that provide little context.
5. Tying statements to news outlets had limited impact on Americans’ capacity to identify statements as factual or opinion
Given the strong partisan differences in the trust and use of various news outlets identified in the Center’s other research, this study separately examined the impact of adding news outlet attributions to factual and opinion statements. Overall, the attribution had a limited impact, except for one place: Republicans were modestly more likely than Democrats to accurately classify factual statements when they were attributed to Fox News Channel.
3. Republicans and Democrats more likely to classify a news statement as factual if it favors their side – whether it is factual or opinion
In addition to past research that has shown stark differences between Republicans’ and Democrats’ trust of specific news outlets, the findings in this study go one step further, showing that those who identify with the two parties often differ in how they classify specific news content as factual or opinion. Overall, majorities of both Republicans and Democrats correctly classified nearly all factual and opinion statements asked about.
Can Americans Tell Factual From Opinion Statements in the News?
Overall, some groups of Americans are far better at parsing through news content than others, suggesting gaps in the public’s competence. Most prominently, Americans’ familiarity with politics and the digital world bleeds into how they understand statements in the news.
Can Americans Tell Factual From Opinion Statements in the News?
Americans are more likely than not to correctly distinguish factual statements from opinions, suggesting they have some proficiency in understanding the type of news content they see. But there is still a fair amount of misinterpretation. In this new study, a little over 5,000 U.S. adults were shown a mix of five factual and five opinion statements across a range of policy and current event topic areas.
Can Americans Tell Facts from Opinions in the News?
The analysis in this report is based on a nationally representative survey conducted from Feb. 22 to March 4, 2018, among a sample of 5,035 adults 18 years of age or older. The margin of error for the full sample is plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. This report was made possible by The Pew Charitable Trusts, which received support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Open Society Foundations.
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