Crisis in Democracy: Renewing Trust in America

This report puts forward solutions for the sharp decline in trust in democratic institutions, including the media. The recommendations apply broadly to journalism, technology, and citizenship, and provide a compass for rebuilding trust in the 21^st century. Among the key recommendations:

• All journalists, news and information distributors, including major technology companies, must commit to “radical transparency;” providing users with the information regarding how outlets select stories to cover, what sources they use, how they reach their conclusions, and proactively solicit user input;
• With traditional business and financial models for journalism under siege, major investments in and new approaches to supporting sustainable nonprofit and journalism collaborations are essential, particularly at the local level;
• Technology companies and online services that collect user data should become “information fiduciaries” and responsibly protect user information while proactively addressing disinformation and “filter bubbles”;
• Newsrooms must work to diversify their staff and coverage to reflect the communities they serve; and
• All Americans must possess civic and media literacy, with greater emphasis on the fundamentals of how a democracy functions and the media’s role within it, and national civic service reprioritized.