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Center for Media Engagement
@engagingnews.bsky.social
2.9K followers 220 following 910 posts
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.
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How did YouTube “tea” channels end up covering one of the deadliest concert tragedies in U.S. history? And what does it mean when entertainment creators become part of a breaking news ecosystem?
How did YouTube “tea” channels end up covering one of the deadliest concert tragedies in U.S. history? And what does it mean when entertainment creators become part of a breaking news ecosystem? How did YouTube “tea” channels end up covering one of the deadliest concert tragedies in U.S. history? And what does it mean when entertainment creators become part of a breaking news ecosystem? How did YouTube “tea” channels end up covering one of the deadliest concert tragedies in U.S. history? And what does it mean when entertainment creators become part of a breaking news ecosystem? How did YouTube “tea” channels end up covering one of the deadliest concert tragedies in U.S. history? And what does it mean when entertainment creators become part of a breaking news ecosystem?
November 28, 2025 at 9:32 PM
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Happy Thanksgiving from the Center for Media Engagement! 🦃🧡
We’re thankful for your curiosity, thoughtful dialogue, and important questions about media and engagement!
November 28, 2025 at 4:27 AM
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This International Education Week, we’re reflecting on the journalists and media practitioners around the world whose work crosses borders, cultures, and risks.
This International Education Week, we’re reflecting on the journalists and media practitioners around the world whose work crosses borders, cultures, and risks. This International Education Week, we’re reflecting on the journalists and media practitioners around the world whose work crosses borders, cultures, and risks. This International Education Week, we’re reflecting on the journalists and media practitioners around the world whose work crosses borders, cultures, and risks.
November 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
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As science coverage continues to shape public understanding, new conversations are emerging about how journalists choose which experts to feature.

Our research shows that journalists value two things most when selecting scientists: topic expertise and strong communication skills.
Influencing the Vote: How Social Media Influencers are Becoming Opinion Leaders A study of youth ages 16–25 found: Following political influencers boosts confidence in understanding politics Influencers make complex issues feel simpler and more personal But higher confidence doesn’t always mean more participation Influencers may spark curiosity and short-term engagement, but not always long-term action. Read more via the link in bio!
November 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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The term “fake news” is everywhere, from political speeches to social media. But what happens to audience trust when it’s used to describe legitimate reporting?
Read more here: mediaengagement.org/...
Using the Phrase “Fake News” Hurts Trust in Your Journalists and Newsroom That’s “Fake News” The phrase “fake news” has become a charged and widely used term, often used to challenge or dismiss legitimate journalism. How does this language affect public perceptions of the news? Does using the phrase “fake news” diminish trust in news organization? Does it matter whether the term is used by a politician or by a news outlet itself? Audience Trust Our study found that language choice significantly shapes audience trust. Referring to information as “fake news” led to lower trust in the news organization mentioned. Journalists were seen as less credible when the terms “fake news” or “false news” were used, compared to “misinformation.” The negative impact was stronger when politicians used the term, rather than when news outlets did. 🤝 So What? News organizations should avoid using the term “fake news” and instead refer to “misinformation.” Building direct and transparent relationships with audiences can help strengthen credibility.
November 3, 2025 at 10:06 PM
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Online harassment is real and more often women face most of it. 
Some women have taken it into their own hands by using counter speech against misogynistic harassment. Read more here: mediaengagement.org/...
Fighting (Online) Fire With Fire... Women in online spaces often face situations like sexual harassment, physical threats, and stalking. When the legal process fails to help, some women take it into their own hands. Online Harassment of Women The Pew Research Center found that 57% of female online dating users (age 18-34) have received unwarranted sexually explicit messages or images and were twice as likely as male users to report being called an offensive name or being threatened. When legal measures have proven to be ineffective for bullying or verbal harassment, some women have resorted to using counter speech. Two Approaches Anna Gensler: Reclaims objectification by drawing men who harassed women and posting their offensive messages with her illustrations online. Its confrontational and public. TrollBusters: Instead of shaming, Michelle Ferrier’s mission is to uplift. TrollBusters works to share safety tips, words of encouragement, and positive messages to women who are being harassed. Ethical Takeaways Publicly naming or depicting individuals can lead to them being doxed and raises ethical concerns, as it may cause harm. When engaging with or using counter speech, effectiveness vs ethical limits must be considered. Misogynistic harassment against women online is prevalent. Responses must consider safety, dignity, and constructive impact.
October 17, 2025 at 9:33 PM
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Health campaigns often use strong emotions to get their message across. But how much is too much? 🤔 

Explore what our case study says about the ethics of using disgust and fear in public health messaging: mediaengagement.org/research/how...

@ethicsofmedia.bsky.social
October 2, 2025 at 8:38 PM
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Partisanship is the strongest predictor of what people view as true or false. Polarized online spaces reinforce these differences.

Read more here: mediaengagement.org/...
Do Democrats and Republicans Live in Different Worlds? We looked into if partisanship really was the main influence when it came to people’s beliefs in true and false claims. What’s the Truth? In a study to look into key predictors of people’s tendency to disagree on what they see as “facts,” we examined Democrats’ and Republicans’ beliefs in a series of claims concerning two contentious issues: the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2024 election. The Most Influential... Across the four claims in our survey, we found that people were more likely to rate a claim as true if it was supported by their political party. People's partisanship was more predictive of their beliefs than any other factor, including education. We also found that when polarization was higher on social media platforms, both parties held differing beliefs. Insights Democrats and Republicans are more likely to believe claims that favor their party, regardless of whether the claims are true or false, highlighting the challenges newsrooms face when covering partisan issues. Newsrooms should continue to understand that people’s information sources will influence what they deem as true or false.
September 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
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With true crime media like the Dahmer series rising in popularity, creators and consumers must ask themselves..,when does storytelling become exploitation?
TEXT: My Murder, Your Entertainment True crime media has skyrocketed over the past few years. How ethical is its production and consumption? TEXT: Intent vs. Impact The Netflix docuseries “Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” portrayed a graphic, detailed retelling of Jeffrey Dahmer’s crimes, including real 911 calls and recreated sets of the crime scenes. While writer Ryan Murphy and actor Evan Peters claimed they had the victims in mind, families of the victims claimed they felt retraumatized. TEXT: Public Reactions The series remained in Netflix’s Top 10 shows for seven weeks. People dressed up as Dahmer for Halloween and made insensitive comments and videos on social media. These reactions signal to some that the series is part of a larger cultural shift towards a society desensitized to violence. TEXT: Entertainment or Exploitation As more true crime content is released, consumers and creators should be critical in how they engage with the genre. Can true crime media creators be responsible for audience reactions? How might artistic urges blur the lines between fact and fiction? Have families given consent for the project?
September 15, 2025 at 8:27 PM
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When journalists decide which scientists to reach out to, the most important factor is expertise fit with the story topic. They also place high importance on communication skills, while factors like gender identity and career stage are less influential.
Chart Title: Important Factors in Determining the Scientists That Journalists Reach Out To. The chart is on a scale of 1 (very unimportant) to 5 (very important). The factors are racial or ethnic identities, gender identity, career stage, expertise fit with story topic, communication skills, professional affiliations, title or level of seniority, geographic location.
September 12, 2025 at 8:51 PM
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➕Local newsrooms can build relationships with their communities by letting their audiences lead the conversation.

We partnered with 20 U.S.-based news sites to explore how reporting on audience-submitted questions can increase trust and help provide newsroom revenue.
TEXT: Curbing the Decline of Local News Through Engaged Journalism. How can local newsrooms utilize audience-submitted questions to increase public trust and build relationships with their audience. Graphic: Three hands holding a folded news paper Text: 📉The State of Local News Many local newsrooms battling with loss of public trust and declining revenue are struggling to maintain momentum. CME partnered with 20 U.S.-based local news sites to examine the effect of a form of engaged journalism where newsrooms report on 2-3 audience-submitted questions a month via the Hearken platform. Text: The Effects... Revenue: Participating newsrooms noted a detectable uptick in new subscribers but not in subscription renewals. Public Trust: News audiences expressed positive attitudes towards local newsrooms and felt these organizations were more connected to their communities. Text: The Implications Engaged journalism can help newsrooms strengthen relationships with the communities they serve and can help increase revenue. Newsrooms can also learn about what interests and resonates with their community by asking them to weigh in on the reporting process ✨The Implications
September 11, 2025 at 10:51 PM
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Political division is at a high, and online discourse can make it worse. Using connective language — phrases that express openness and humility — can lead to a more enjoyable social media experience. 

Read more here: mediaengagement.org/research/con...
August 29, 2025 at 6:11 PM
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How storytelling approaches shape perceptions across party lines:

🔗Read full report: mediaengagement.org/research/quo...
August 29, 2025 at 2:17 PM
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✨Labels Matter ✨

Using person-first language builds trust and helps people feel better represented in news coverage. Journalists and organizations can create stronger connections by putting people first.
August 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
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🔎 Democrats rated all news posts as significantly more credible than Republicans did, regardless of the storytelling approach. Members of both parties gave the highest credibility ratings to posts that only quoted a government official.
August 22, 2025 at 7:19 PM
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🤖How might AI change political communication?

Tools like Ashley allow lawmakers to quickly deliver personalized responses, boosting voter trust, but concerns about bias and the loss of genuine human connection make transparency essential.
August 20, 2025 at 6:54 PM
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🔗Read more: mediaengagement.org/quick-tips/
August 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
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📣 Help bring this panel to life at SXSW 2026!

AI in the Newsroom: Customizing Content & Connecting Readers

🗳️Vote here: participate.sxsw.com/flow/sxsw/sx...

#sxsw #sxsw26 #sxswpanelpicker
August 12, 2025 at 7:27 PM
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Final #AEJMC25 session👇
August 10, 2025 at 5:28 AM
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#AEJMC
August 10, 2025 at 5:21 AM
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Here’s where to find us today at #AEJMC25 👇
August 8, 2025 at 5:59 PM
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#AEJMC25
August 7, 2025 at 2:28 PM
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#AEJMC25 Day 1🎉
August 6, 2025 at 2:08 PM
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Meet the CME Team at #AEJMC25 in San Francisco! ✨

We’ll be sharing our research across multiple sessions throughout the conference. Check out our full schedule and join us as we dive into conversations on journalism, communication, and media engagement.
August 5, 2025 at 7:33 PM
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But there’s hope. From building relationships to correcting mistakes openly, there are six practical steps journalists can take to better connect with these audiences.

Swipe to explore the findings and what they mean for the future of trust in journalism.
July 31, 2025 at 4:40 AM