Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy has become a focal point for discussions about media bias and academic influence in journalism. Established in 1986, the center has strong ties to liberal media figures and has been criticized for promoting left-leaning narratives while sidelining opposing viewpoints.
The center is named after Joan Shorenstein, a journalist whose parents were influential in its founding. Interestingly, her widower, Michael Barone, was removed from the center’s name after he became a conservative commentator. This change reflects the center’s alignment with liberal ideologies.
Notable members of the Shorenstein Center’s advisory board include prominent journalists like Katie Couric and former Washington Post editor Marty Baron. Financial support comes from well-known liberal donors, including George Soros’s Foundation to Promote Open Society and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The center has produced many fellows who have gone on to work for major media outlets, reinforcing its liberal agenda.
The center runs a website called Journalist’s Resource, which aims to connect journalism with academic research. It sends out weekly emails to over 50,000 subscribers, primarily journalists and educators, providing articles that often reflect a left-leaning perspective on news coverage. For instance, managing editor Denise-Marie Ordway has been known to suggest that journalists focus on academic findings that favor Democratic candidates.
The Shorenstein Center’s partisanship became more visible after Donald Trump’s election in 2016. A report from the center criticized the media for treating Trump and Hillary Clinton equally, claiming this approach helped right-wing narratives. In 2018, the center hosted an event that suggested Russian interference was a key factor in Trump’s victory.
The center has also expressed concern about "misinformation" leading to the election of conservative politicians. It collaborates with universities and tech companies to promote liberal narratives and limit free speech online. Its Misinformation Review has categorized consumers of right-leaning media as more likely to hold "inaccurate beliefs," while claiming that Democrats engage with more reliable sources.
After the January 6 Capitol riot, Shorenstein faculty reiterated their belief that mainstream media was not critical enough of right-wing figures. Research Director Joan Donovan criticized social media platforms for failing to censor conservative content adequately.
The center’s efforts to combat misinformation include partnerships with organizations like First Draft News, which aims to train journalists to counter what they consider misinformation. This group has been involved in shaping news narratives and has faced scrutiny for its role in suppressing stories like the Hunter Biden laptop controversy.
Additionally, the center’s Information Disorder Lab tracks online misinformation and provides research to newsrooms, while its Technology and Social Change Project treats misinformation as a public health issue. Workshops organized by the center have drawn comparisons between conservative Americans and terrorists, seeking to find ways to counter conservative movements globally.
The Shorenstein Center advocates for government regulation of social media to address what it sees as hate speech and misinformation. This collaboration between academia and media emphasizes a belief that journalism should uphold leftist values.
As the landscape of media continues to evolve, the Shorenstein Center remains a significant player in shaping narratives. Its partnerships and funding highlight the ongoing tension between liberal and conservative viewpoints in American journalism.