Akron, Ohio — April 26, 2016 — The newly launched Informed Citizen Akron project will use in-depth voter polls and hold nonpartisan civic engagement events to help newsrooms better understand and respond to the preferences of Ohio voters. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is providing $174,990 to The University of Akron to support the statewide effort.
Related Link
“How Informed Citizen Akron will improve elections coverage in Ohio” on Knight Blog, 4/26/2016
The project, a collaboration between The University of Akron’s Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, the Minnesota-based Jefferson Center, and a consortium of Ohio media organizations led by the Akron Beacon Journal, will help give Ohio voters a stronger voice by communicating their concerns to candidates and encouraging more accountability. It will explore citizen priorities and information needs.
Ohio is a key electoral battleground, ranking among the top three states for campaign spending in recent presidential election cycles. As such, Ohio voters are inundated with information intended to sway and influence their choices, in many cases leading to disengagement from the political process. Research from the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics confirms that Ohio citizens hold exceptionally negative attitudes toward presidential politics.
To address this problem, Informed Citizen Akron will prioritize the topics that matter most to Ohio residents. The Bliss Institute will conduct in-depth polls statewide to assess attitudes toward election campaigns and media coverage. The Jefferson Center will convene engagement events to get citizens thinking about how Ohio media can better cover the election. Media outlets throughout Ohio will use the feedback generated through polling and public engagement to provide information that resonates with voters and improves the public discourse around elections.
“People are tired of the same old campaign coverage,” says Kyle Bozentko, executive director of the Jefferson Center. “We’re excited to help put citizens back in the driver’s seat, to create a conversation about the election that’s informative and that’s driven by the needs and interests of Ohioans, not the campaigns.”
“Working with the Ohio news media, we hope to change the way the presidential campaign is covered in Ohio,” said John Green, director of the Bliss Institute. “The goal is coverage focused on issues rather than just on which candidate is ahead and which is behind.”
“Relevant, quality news and information is a cornerstone of a strong democracy,” said Shazna Nessa, Knight Foundation director for journalism. “Through this project we hope to create lessons for newsrooms looking to engage and connect with audiences around elections, while contributing to a deeper understanding of the issues that people care about most.”
Knight Foundation funding will support Informed Citizen Akron for the duration of the 2016 presidential campaign. The project is part of Knight’s efforts to help news media organizations understand voter concerns about issues and provide nonpartisan civic engagement opportunities between citizens and journalists. The project builds on another Knight Foundation-funded effort, Up for Debate Ohio, which focused on engaging young voters during the 2015 Akron mayoral election.
For more information on Informed Citizen Akron, visit jefferson-center.org/ic-akron.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more visit, knightfoundation.org/.
About the Jefferson Center
The Jefferson Center is a Minnesota-based nonpartisan civic engagement and public policy nonprofit. We create opportunities for citizens to generate informed, inclusive solutions to today’s toughest challenges through education, democratic deliberation, community organizing, and collective action. Visit us at jefferson-center.org.
About the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics
The Bliss Institute is bipartisan research and teaching institute dedicated to the “nuts-and-bolts” of practical politics, with the goal of increasing public understanding of the political process dn especially political parties, grassroots participation, and ethical behavior. Visit us at uakron.edu/bliss.
CONTACT: Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 305-908-2646, [email protected]