Regulate Social Media More?
The Social Dilemma’s Viewers Say Yes
A survey of nearly 4,000 people by our Media Impact Project found that viewers of the Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, were more knowledgeable about persuasive techniques employed by social media companies and supported more government regulation of social media platforms. Viewers were also more likely to have placed limits on their own smartphone use and taken civic engagement actions on the issue — like signing a petition or joining a volunteer group.
Writing the Wrongs of the Past
In 1968, President Johnson convened the landmark Kerner Commission to examine the causes of civil unrest in American cities. More than 50 years later, it served as the jumping-off point to ask how entertainment can help heal a divided society. In collaboration with the Eisenhower Foundation, the Hollywood, Health & Society discussion (clockwise from top left) was moderated by author and educator Jelani Cobb and featured Freeform channel President Tara Duncan; TV producer Kenya Barris; TV writer Elle Johnson; and film/TV producer Franklin Leonard, the founder/CEO of The Black List.

Climate Change in Entertainment
We analyzed more than 37,000 TV and film scripts to see how often climate change content appeared. Between 2016 and 2020, only 2.8% mentioned climate change or dozens of related keywords. To rectify that, our study partner Good Energy has released a free storytelling resource for screenwriters who are including climate change in their scripts.

Research Director Erica Rosenthal shared our latest research in climate and sustainability at USC's annual Earth Week celebration. Watch the video (begins at 28:13).


Ukraine, Russia and the Nuclear Threat
The Nuclear Threat Initiative’s Joan Rohlfing and The Washington Post’s David E. Hoffman thought about the unthinkable in an online Hollywood, Health & Society panel moderated by David Grae, former executive producer and writer for the CBS series, Madam Secretary.

Quotable
Lear Center Director Marty Kaplan in the news:

  • "We are so divided today, so revved up, that even Disney is having a hard time bringing us together.” The New York Times.
  • “Boycotts are more powerful as public relations tools than they are at economic sanctions. I don’t think there is any risk at all in following Disney’s lead.” Deadline.
  • Ukraine war coverage “is genuinely suspenseful. We don’t know what is going to come next. It could end up in horror. Or it could end up being the triumph of the human spirit." Associated Press.
  • The Oscar slap: "We are so used to things being scripted. And we’re kind of hip and savvy about these things — except we’re not…. This one pierced the veil." Associated Press.
Upcoming Event
Fri., May 6, 2022 | 1 PM PST
E.J. Dionne and Miles Rapoport are interviewed by USC Annenberg Professor Roberto Suro about their book, 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting. If Americans are required to pay taxes and serve on juries, why not require everyone to vote? RSVP here.