Civic Nebraska is looking for residents of Scotts Bluff County and the city of Lincoln to participate in a short interview about their views on the news and who they trust for information.
Media play an important role in a thriving democracy. At best, our media provide sound information that promotes constructive discourse on complex issues. At the local level, positive media influence can drive out rumors, keep the community connected, and support good decision-making.
We know, however, that the current media landscape has many Nebraskans feeling a little disoriented. The 2021 Nebraska Rural Poll showed a decrease in trust among nearly all sources of information since 2017.
This project will interview 15 residents from Scotts Bluff County and 15 from the city of Lincoln to document which sources participants trust, why they trust them, and how their concerns about media relate to concerns for their community. In the fall, a focus group will be invited to participate in a session to discuss the findings.
This project is funded by a private foundation grant called “Crossing Divides” as a part of the Kindle Foundation. This is a private, non-governmental, non-politically affiliated fund that has created projects in Nebraska, Mississippi, and Arizona to build understanding across divides in community life.
