Northwestern University and the University of Maryland Join Ongoing Effort with the American Press Institute and the AP-NORC Center to Advance Research on News, Media, and Democracy
April 15th, 2026 — The Media Insight Project, a collaboration of the American Press Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research since 2014, announced today the addition of two new partners — Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, and the Local News Network at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism — strengthening the initiative’s capacity to conduct rigorous, independent research on the evolving relationship between journalism and audiences.
The expansion reflects the Media Insight Project’s continued commitment to producing high-quality research that helps news organizations, researchers, and the public better understand how people engage with news and information in a rapidly changing media environment.
The Media Insight Project and its newly expanded group of partners will soon release a new study examining how adults and teens engage with news and information in today’s media environment. The forthcoming research will explore audience behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions across a wide range of news sources, with in‑depth analysis of local news organizations, independent creators and influencers, and how different age groups understand and navigate misinformation, information trust, and credibility of sources. The study is designed to provide timely, evidence‑based insights to help journalists, researchers, and civic leaders better understand how the public across generations gets and values news.
Medill at Northwestern University brings long-standing expertise in journalism, media innovation, and audience research, while the University of Maryland contributes strengths in data, investigative journalism and public trust. Together, the institutions will collaborate with the Media Insight Project on survey research, qualitative studies, and public-facing reports designed to inform newsroom strategy and public understanding.
“Partnering with the Media Insight Project allows Medill to contribute rigorous, audience-centered research on some of the most pressing questions facing journalism today,” said Stephanie Edgerly, Associate Dean of Research at Northwestern University Medill School. “By working alongside the American Press Institute, The AP-NORC Center, and the Local News Network at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, we can help ensure that scholarly insights meaningfully inform newsroom practice and strengthen the connection between journalism and the public.”
The Media Insight Project was created to bridge the longstanding gap between research and the practical needs of journalists and news organizations.
“Too often, high-quality research and newsroom decision-making operate in separate worlds,” said Tom Rosenstiel, Professor of the Practice and Eleanor Merrill Scholar on the Future of Journalism of the University of Maryland. “The Media Insight Project ensures that social science research doesn’t just sit on a shelf but directly informs how journalism serves the public in the real world.”
The addition of new partners also reflects growing interest among academic institutions in collaborating across disciplines and sectors to address questions of public trust, information quality, and the role of journalism in society.
“With the addition of Northwestern University Medill School and the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, the Media Insight Project deepens its connection to leading centers of scholarship in journalism, communication, and public policy,” said Robyn Tomlin, Executive Director of the American Press Institute. “These partnerships strengthen our ability to ask important questions and apply methodological rigor and then translate insights into practical tools, programs and strategies that help news organizations better serve their communities.”
Research produced through the Media Insight Project will continue to be made publicly available, with findings shared through reports, briefs, and presentations aimed at journalists, scholars, and civic leaders.
