MEDIA & DEMOCRACY POLICY

Can Journalism Still Save Democracy?

Sanford faculty members Margaret Sullivan and Phil Napoli recently discussed the current state of journalism in this era of disinformation and misinformation. As the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy at the Sanford School celebrates its 50th anniversary, these acclaimed media experts look back at the last half-century of journalism's role in protecting American democracy. This conversation touches on the history of the Fairness Doctrine, how to deal with lies and disinformation, and whether government regulation is possible without infringing on press rights and free speech. Listen to this conversation. 

(Photo: DeWitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy)

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT POLICY

Economic Benefits of Water Pollution Cleanups Outweigh Costs

Water pollution is a significant problem in the U.S., with over $1.23 billion spent since 2004 for Great Lakes cleanup. New research co-authored by Robyn Meeks shows that federal grants for Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) had a significant impact on housing prices within a 12-mile radius. Initially, AOC designation reduced property values by $25,700 per house, but subsequent grants raised values by $27,295, resulting in a net benefit of $1,595 per house. This research, published in the Journal of Public Economics, suggests that clean water initiatives outweigh costs, highlighting the value people place on clean water. The findings have broader implications for other states and regions. Read the publication.

(Photo: Aaron Burden via Unsplash)

SOCIAL POLICY

Optimizing Workplace Safety: Targeted OSHA Inspections Prevent Injury

Workplace injuries can devastate the lives of employees, but safety inspectors don’t always have the resources to cover everything. Matthew Johnson and co-authors analyzed the impact of targeting workplace inspections by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Randomly allocated inspections led to a 9% decrease in serious injuries, preventing 2.4 injuries per inspection over five years. New machine learning methods were used to assess alternative targeting rules, revealing that OSHA could have prevented double the injuries by focusing on establishments with the highest expected injury reductions. This would have generated nearly $1 billion in social value over a decade. While alternative targeting policies could have been more effective, the study suggests that OSHA inspections substantially improved workplace safety. Read the publication.

(Photo: Life Of Pix on Pexels)

HEALTH POLICY

A Place to Thrive: Creating Opportunities to Age Well in North Carolina

By 2028, one in five North Carolinians will be 65 and older. To address the needs of this increasing population, the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) has unveiled a set of 12 actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing social connections, falls prevention, food and nutrition security, and mobility for the aging population in North Carolina. These recommendations, part of the report "A Place to Thrive: Creating Opportunities to Age Well in North Carolina," were formulated by the Task Force on Healthy Aging, which includes Sanford’s Nathan Boucher. With a focus on addressing the state's diverse and aging demographics, the report offers a comprehensive approach to healthy aging and received support from various stakeholders, including The Duke Endowment, AARP NC, and government divisions. Read the report.

(Photo: Marcus Aurelius on Pexels)

Under the co-leadership of Sanford faculty member Lisa Gennetian, the National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families (Center) has received a $7.75 million grant from the Office of Planning Research and Evaluation within the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which extends the Center’s research through 2028. Read more. 

Cal Newport, a computer science professor at Georgetown University and a prominent writer on technology's impact, spoke Oct. 5 as part of Sanford’s Crown Lecture Series. Newport delved into the concept of "techno-distraction" and its broader implications on society. His insights shed light on the unintended consequences of technology use and the need for a more nuanced understanding of its effects. Read a recap and watch the lecture.

Sanford faculty members Alexandra Zagbayou and Sarah Komisarow discuss the groundbreaking organization "Student U", dreamed up by Sanford students almost 20 years ago. This community collaboration in Durham, N.C. has given these two Sanford faculty valuable data about effective education policy. Listen to the episode.

Veteran journalist John Harwood, a Distinguished Fellow at Sanford's Polis Center for Politics, interviews politicians and voters, academics and activists about the 21st century divisions imperiling our national experiment in self-government. Listen to the first episode with President Biden.

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