Center for Media Engagement
The Center for Media Engagement at UT Austin is a first-of-its-kind center that partners with newsrooms, social media platforms, and public and private organizations to develop research, tools, and strategies that improve media practices.
- When the public repeatedly experiences the same sequence – confident claims, partial disclosures, shifting explanations, delayed evidence, lies – the damage can outlast any single incident.
- From public funding to new partnerships and nonprofit innovation. An interesting look at how America might revitalize local news by focusing on a sustainable, community‑centered model.
- #Localnews is essential civic infrastructure. In InsideSources, @sarabethb.bsky.social and John Bridgeland of More Perfect highlight what’s working in places like Texas — and how we can rebuild local journalism across the country.
- If we care about polarization, public discourse, and trust, understanding who’s actually making the content is as important as what they’re seeing.
- From community spaces to apps, news avoiders still pick up info from alternative places. If we only think about traditional channels, we miss a lot of how people actually learn what’s happening.
- 📣 Join us for a talk with Eszter Hargittai that explores how older adults navigate digital life.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, platforms worked to limit vaccine misinformation but new questions emerged when misleading content appeared to encourage vaccination.
- From features that encourage positive interaction to practical ideas for reducing harm in digital communities. This kind of research-to-practice work is essential for platforms that support meaningful connection rather than just engagement.
- 🎬 Join us for a screening of Tiananmen Tonight, followed by a conversation with co-directors Bestor Cram and Michael Streissguth. Hosted by @engagingnews.bsky.social and the School of Journalism & Media.
- Thank you for sharing our work on how clear example of how small shifts in language can shape how people engage online!
- This development is a reminder that when AI tools are used in high-stakes areas like health, precision and context matter as much as innovation.
- How will policy decisions shape not just tech markets, but also the flow of information, media trust, and the way platforms influence public discourse? A must-read for anyone following AI’s societal impact.
- We are excited to see work focused on open, human-centered social tech. Looking forward to following this!
- When breaking news involves complex video evidence, just showing the footage isn’t enough. Adding context, verification, and explanation so audiences can better understand what they’re seeing is vital.
- Great piece highlights that journalist safety begins with leadership and newsroom systems, not after harm has already occurred.
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- Start 2026 with insights on media, trust, and democracy. Subscribe to the CME newsletter for research, resources, and updates throughout the year: mediaengagement.org/...
- Through our Media Ethics Initiative, we offer more than 150 free ethics case studies to support teaching, learning, and discussion around value conflicts in media, journalism, and digital communication. Explore them here:
- Bi-partisan support for platform research is slipping, yet the need to understand how social networks shape public discourse has never been greater.
- What’s Next for CME?💡 As we begin the new year, we continue our work in a time of rapid change and fraying social bonds. Our research, teaching, and public engagement focus on strengthening the information ecosystem in support of a healthy democracy.
- Cheers to 2026! 🥂 Wishing our community a year filled with insight, collaboration, and meaningful media conversations. Happy New Year from CME!
- Newsrooms should focus on adapting in today’s evolving media landscape from rethinking audience engagement to experimenting with new revenue models and tech workflows.
- What does it mean to take bias seriously in journalism? In a recent Nieman Lab piece, @taliastroud.bsky.social explores why 2026 may be the year newsrooms move beyond simply claiming neutrality, and instead actively examine how bias is perceived, evaluated, and addressed.
- As newsfluencers gain traction and trust remains fragile, the piece raises important questions about transparency, audience feedback, and how journalism can respond without giving in to inevitability. Swipe through for key ideas and read more here:
- Warm holiday wishes from CME 🎄 May this season bring moments of comfort, warmth, and good company.
- A look at how people across generations use social media and messaging apps to get news, and what that means for trust and information habits. It’s interesting to see how shifts in where people encounter news affect the broader information environment.
- It’s important to highlight practical ways to help people spot misinformation and think critically online. Not just for students, but for all of us who are trying to make sense of what we see and share.
- Holiday season means more scrolling and more creator-led conversations.🎄📱
- Research from Dr. Jo Lukito is out now: “New Tech, Same Goals: Why Political Communication Hasn’t Changed Much Despite AI.” The article breaks down how AI is reshaping political communication tools but not the underlying strategies. Read it here: www.tandfonline.com/...
- CME's Talia Stroud discusses new research in collaboration with @newpublic.org that looks at which local digital spaces people use, how they use and view them, and how they feel about their community. Check out the discussion: www.youtube.com/watc...
- A year of research advancing trust, connection, and democracy! Happy we could reach hundreds of thousands of people along the way. Thanks for supporting us. On to the next year!
- On to the next year!
