Standards for Information Ecosystems Research

Steward: Fiona Morgan 

What set of standards should we advocate for in local news and information ecosystem assessments? The advent of Press Forward has amplified the wave of efforts to map local news and information needs around the U.S. This preliminary step is essential, yet some research efforts fall short of advancing the kind of local journalism investments we at News Futures know are needed. Inaccuracy, poor data collection and management, and extractive approaches to community engagement can compromise trust and, in some cases, put participants at risk.

We plan to establish a set of shared standards centered around community well being and ethical research practices. We plan to explore existing research, compile examples and conduct interviews. We’ll convene discussions, gather feedback and produce a report with models, key principles, practical options for researchers, and recommendations for the field.

Looking for contributors who want to:

• Gather and share relevant research models and ethical frameworks

• Participate in virtual discussions

• Provide close reading and feedback on written drafts of the report

• Help us develop practical standards and design an independent review board

Watch Fiona describe the Standards for Information Ecosystems Research Working Group at our February 26 launch event: