A new national study of 3,000 Americans by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago will be the focus in mid-November of an invitation-only, post-election roundtable of columnists, political journalists, civic engagement and political science scholars.
The report, a survey-based typology of 3,000 Americans, correlates people’s views of the country and each other with their political engagement, attitudes about civic institutions, and their media trust and news behavior. In the aftermath of the presidential election, this discussion seeks to probe and explain the changing forms of political participation, declining patterns of news consumption, and individual attitudes about democratic practices.
While much study has focused on declining trust in news, there has been less discussion about news dropouts and their views about democratic participation in their communities, as voters, and in civic life. This study explores the decline in news reading habits, a lack of participation in civic groups, and individual views on whether democracy can still heal a divided nation.
The survey, conducted from late June through mid-July, is managed by LSU, Maryland, and NORC at the University of Chicago, one of the largest independent social research organizations in the U.S.
The report will be accompanied by press releases, an AP story, and additional press coverage to reach a wide audience and further discussions around the findings.