I study how local journalism shapes political behavior, civic life, and democratic participation. My work moves from rigorous research — survey experiments, field experiments, and large-scale data — toward practical tools newsrooms and policymakers can actually use.
How local journalism shapes political knowledge, behavior, and civic life — and what strengthens it.
How local media shapes political knowledge, participation, and polarization — through studies of closures and news deserts.
Field office placement, advertising strategies, and how campaigns target voters in different information environments.
Testing what newsroom innovations actually work through controlled experiments with local news partners.
How media consumption shapes political attitudes, partisan news effects, and TV coverage patterns.
With David Scales. Health institutions might take a page from the media's efforts to embrace nuance, transparency, and solutions.
Read at Science PoliticsUnfamiliar outlets are trusted more when they carry a local cue in their name — even unreliable ones.
Read ArticleWith Sue Robinson. Audiences prefer engagement- and solutions-framed stories — and report higher trust in the brand.
View Research
An experimental research lab partnering with newsrooms to test journalism innovations and translate findings into practice.
About the Lab
A searchable database making academic research on local news accessible to journalists, funders, and policymakers.
Visit the HubI work with news organizations, foundations, and policymakers on local journalism research and strategy. I'm always open to conversations about collaboration.
jpdarr@syr.edu