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Marius Krm via Unsplash Editor's note: Causing “good trouble” through journalismPaul A. Kramer of Vanderbilt University argues for seven story approaches that can help us address social issues, writing in the introduction: “The best works of narrative nonfiction about social issues address a particular social reality, call it into question, draw its critical attention, and convince readers that its existence and continuance are not inevitable.” The rhetorical reconstruction's conclusion reminds the writer that reporting requires a thoughtful process, warns against excess, and emphasizes the work's value to society. By Paul A. Kramer Social change journalism: risks and rewards Stories that…
As the saying goes, “Seeing is believing,” and this fall, students in Assistant Professor Wenji Liao’s Foundations of Sociology course put the old adage to the test in one of their final projects. The result was the Sociological Imagination Art Fair, held Dec. 7, where students shared artwork that spoke to social issues important to them. “I truly believe that to be successful as a sociologist, you need to be imaginative. For me, one of the goals of sociology is to peel back the masks of social reality that we often take for granted. It’s about understanding that much of…
Former Congressman Brad Miller of North Carolina checks his Facebook page in his office in July 2011. (Bill Clark/Roll Call) A Pew Research Center survey conducted this year found that Americans are more critical of social media’s impact on democracy than people in any other country. Almost two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults say social media does more harm than good to American democracy. Although this negative view is generally strong in both parties, there are significant partisan and ideological differences in the strength of this and other views related to social media and politics. This Pew Research Center analysis focuses…
Social media use can be harmful. The effects are troubling and well-documented, from tragic stories of adolescent life lost to academic research on the psychological harm such platforms can cause, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Yet with 59% of the whole world using social media, for an average of two and a half hours per day, according to a 2022 Broadband search, it has also become inextricable from the daily lives and livelihoods of many. It is not sufficient to say social media is bad, don’t use it. We need a more proactive approach. The question often missing from…
Inside a staff bathroom at Piccolo Elementary School on Chicago’s West Side, Mary Difino wiped away tears and tried to catch her breath. It had been a long day in another stressful week.A spate of fights and a string of cyberbullying incidents among students two months into the school year had taken a toll on Difino — the school’s only social worker. In the last six years, she has juggled caseloads across two separate schools, participated in an 11-day teachers strike, and navigated a pandemic that upended schools for 18 months. Still, Difino had harbored hopes that COVID-related disruptions had passed, and…
Most think social media has made it easier to manipulate and divide people, but also say it informs and raises awareness (Getty Images) This Pew Research Center analysis focuses on technology use and views of internet and social media in the context of democracy and society. The survey was conducted in 19 advanced economies in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. For non-U.S. data, this report draws on nationally representative surveys of 20,944 adults from Feb. 14 to June 3, 2022. All surveys were conducted over the phone with adults in Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece,…
When asked whether social media is a good or bad thing for democracy in their country, a median of 57% across 19 countries say that it is a good thing. In almost every country, close to half or more say this, with the sentiment most common in Singapore, where roughly three-quarters believe social media is a good thing for democracy in their country. However, in the Netherlands and France, about four-in-ten agree. And in the U.S., only around a third think social media is positive for democracy – the smallest share among all 19 countries surveyed. In eight countries, those…
(Getty Images) A new Pew Research Center survey finds that people in developed countries have mixed feelings about social media’s impact on political life. Majorities in 19 countries say balanced social media is good for democracy. However, in almost all of these countries, most also argue that social media leads to manipulation and division within society. Even in emerging countries, the way we think about these topics is not that different. A majority of 11 emerging and developing countries surveyed in 2018 said social media has both positive and negative aspects. Despite the differences in context and timing, the results…
The second round of the World Bank’s Afghanistan Welfare Monitoring Survey (AWMS), released on November 22 and covering the period June to August 2022, included 5,800 Afghan households who responded to telephone interviews. Contains a representative sample of the main. Despite its challenges and gaps, the AWMS provides the best available data on households in Afghanistan today. The study reveals that Afghans continue to suffer from low incomes, widespread hunger, health problems, and widespread poverty. The country is facing another harsh winter and the future outlook remains bleak. The perfect storm of widespread poverty and food insecurity continues One-third of…
attachment Latin America’s poverty rate will remain above pre-pandemic levels in 2022, ECLAC warns The Social Panorama 2022 report predicts that 201 million people (32.1% of the region’s total population) live in poverty, of which 82 million (13.1%) are in extreme poverty. The regional organization is calling for urgent action to address the silent crisis in education to avoid the risk of a lost generation. Despite a slight decline recorded in 2021, poverty and extreme poverty rates in Latin America and the Caribbean are projected to remain above pre-pandemic levels in 2022, the report said. The Economic Commission for the…