iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

🚨We're looking for a new tenure-track public relations colleague to join us at the @hubbardschoolumn.bsky.social with a focus on artificial intelligence and/or social media. Please help spread the word! hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/376...

Now Hiring: Assistant Professor, Strategic Communication. Full time, tenure track. Beginning August 2027. Application review begins October 21, 2026. Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Minnesota

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John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Democrats are more concerned than Republicans about restrictions on the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and the right to vote. Republicans are more concerned than Democrats about restrictions on the right to bear arms. www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2...

Chart showing that Democrats and Republicans in the United States differ in how concerned they are about potential restrictions on various constitutional rights. The chart is based on a June 2026 Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Minneapolis-St. Paul... exceptional as usual. (Part of an interesting thread on the demise of streetcar systems around the U.S.)

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Kat Matsa @katmatsa.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

New today from @pewresearch.org and the Pew-Knight Initiative: Americans don't split neatly into "engaged" and "disengaged." We found four distinct groups based on how people take part in public life 🧵 @knightfoundation.org

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Yeah wait what is this article? What is this publication? Are any of these people real?

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Dan Haugen @danhaugen.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

I'm back in the energy newsletter game! At @minnpost.bsky.social we are launching a pop-up newsletter called Headwinds, explaining the past, present and future of energy in Minnesota. Written by Brian Martucci, edited by me. Signup here to get it weekly through June: www.minnpost.com/headwinds-mi...

minnpost.com

Headwinds: MinnPost's Energy Newsletter - MinnPost

Exploring energy in Minnesota — from pioneering clean energy policy to power-thirsty data centers — written by journalist Brian Martucci. Weekly through June 2026.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

We are very excited that you’ll be joining us at the @hubbardschoolumn.bsky.social and @umnlawschool.bsky.social! Welcome!!

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Turns out, when people say they tend to bump into news without looking for it, that isn't necessarily the case for in-depth reporting or the most up-to-date information. There is also a lot of variation in terms of the types of news people say they encounter incidentally.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

So maybe it's appropriate that the first piece I have published as a visiting researcher with @pewresearch.org is a short post analyzing the different types of news people say they happen to come across by chance versus actively seek out. Full post is here: www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...

pewresearch.org

Types of news Americans seek out or come across by chance | Pew Research Center

About half of U.S. adults (49%) say they mostly get news because they happen to come across it today, up from 39% in 2019.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Among the first academic articles about news audiences I ever published was about news-finds-me perceptions and the changing ways people said they were discovering and engaging with (or avoiding) journalism: academic.oup.com/joc/article-...

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Public Opinion Quarterly - POQ @poqjournal.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Not all news clicks teach us something. In POQ, Cardenal et al., using digital trace data, find that only article-level exposure to Ukraine stories—not general news browsing—predicted who learned about the Russian invasion. Read now: doi.org/10.1093/poq/...

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Andrew Mercer @awmercer.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Exciting news! We just posted an opening for a Survey Associate on @pewresearch.org's Methods team! This is an amazing opportunity for someone relatively early in their career to join what is, IMO, the most fun methods team in the business. Full description at the link below.

pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com

Survey Associate, Methodology

Pew Research Center Organization Overview Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts publi...

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Geneva @genevavalerie.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

I’m recruiting Minnesotans for a confidential study about experiences during ICE Operation Metro Surge that includes both surveys and interviews. Please share widely!

Share your experiences with ICE in Minnesota -- Call for research participants

Objective: To learn about how Operation Metro Surge influences the political actions and attitudes of Twin Cities residents

Who can participate? You may be eligible if you are 18 years or older and currently live in the Twin Cities metropolitan area

What does participation involve? Participants may be asked to complete a short online survey and/or take part in a one-hour interview about their experiences and perspectives. Participation is confidential and will be compensated.

Questions? Contact Dr. Geneva Cole genevacole@arizona.edu

Take the screening survey here: https://bit.ly/3OjV3nA

This research is being conducted by Dr. Geneva Cole, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Arizona. This research is approved by U of A IRB #00007587

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Frederick Melo, Reporter (TwinCities.com, Pioneer Press) @frederickmelo.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Calling all Minnesota college journalists: Applications for the 2026 student scholarship are now open and will be accepted until May 15. This year, MNSPJ will award one $2,000 scholarship to a student pursuing a career in broadcast, print, online or visual journalism. Find out more here: MNSPJ.ORG

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Fascinating piece from @jayboller.bsky.social at @racketmn.com on the live streamers and creators who have been a critical part of the story in Minnesota and the increasingly blurry boundaries between journalists, protestors, activists, and citizen observers.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Congrats @atrexler.com! There is a major disconnect between what newsrooms think people want—often based on metrics about the highly engaged audiences they are currently serving—and what the public actually needs to make sense of political phenomena. Such important work!

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sam stroozas @samstroozas.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

hello minnesota and beyond! thank you for your kind messages. it is very weird to be the news when you cover the news. i love this beautiful state and journalism, and i am hopeful for better days. but we will be forever changed bc of the last two months.

mpr.org

Meet Minnesota Bathrobe Lady Sam Stroozas of MPR News | Minnesota Public Radio

Earlier this week, an unexpected and fast-moving incident unfolded in St. Paul, Minnesota involving both federal and local law enforcement. As crowds gathered and questions mounted, one of our MPR New...

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John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

"The firm that pioneered political polling will no longer measure presidential job approval ratings, leaving Americans with a dimmer view into our politics." Gallup to end job approval polls after nearly 90 years. (via @sfcpoll.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com) www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Screenshot of a Washington Post article about Gallup's decision to discontinue presidential job approval polling after nearly 90 years.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Lots more in the report itself. This is one a few projects we collaborated on with newsrooms over the last year. We’ll be publishing more of this work in the coming months.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Reaching beyond that likely requires strategic partnerships with outside organizations, focusing on distinct topics or speakers, as well as sustained and ongoing follow-through with relevant audience segments groups beyond the event itself.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Bottom line is public events hold a lot of potential for deepening trust—at least among those who take the time to attend them—but reaching audiences beyond those who are already engaged with news can often be challenging. Event attendees tend to be a specific type with time and resources available.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

In collaboration with @texastribune.org with support from the Alliance for Trust in Media, last year we surveyed past attendees of Tribune events and conducted follow-up in-depth interviews to better understand who attends events, why, and what they get out of the experience.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Many news organizations hope to expand the reach of their journalism through sponsoring public events—showing up in person in the communities they serve as a way to build trust and broaden their appeal. But do they? Who do events reach? And how do they impact attitudes towards news?

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John Gramlich @johngramlich.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Attention undergrads! @pewresearch.org has more than a dozen paid internships for rising juniors and seniors this summer in Washington, DC. Find more info here: www.pewresearch.org/about/intern... Apply here: pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Center...

pewresearch.org

Internships

Our 2026 summer internship program will be open to applications January 16-February 11, 2026. Our paid summer internship program is a learning and

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Jon Collins @jcollins.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

One reason Minneapolis remains in the world's eye is we have one of the most robust & independent media ecosystems remaining in the country. You all need this...and more! @mprnews.org @startribune.com @sahanjournal.bsky.social @minnesotareformer.com @minnpost.bsky.social @racketmn.com etc.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Many congratulations to @hubbardschoolumn.bsky.social postdoc @meagandoll.bsky.social! Colorado’s journalism school is getting a fantastic new colleague and researcher!

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Matt DeLong @mattdelong.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Incidentally, the Minnesota Star Tribune is hiring a sports editor and investigative reporter. Say goodbye to the backwater of DC and come to where the action is! recruiting2.ultipro.com/STA1013/JobB...

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Committee to Protect Journalists @pressfreedom.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

💬Journalists covering protests: Use CPJ's WhatApp chatbot to access all of our physical, digital, and psychosocial #JournalistSafety resources. 📲 Add CPJ’s chatbot using the number +1 206-590-6191, text the number “Hello” and select “protest safety resources.”

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Does anyone have recommendations for how to take care of a baby during a period of intense democratic instability? Would appreciate suggestions…

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Matt DeLong @mattdelong.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

“Every peaceable Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms—including while attending protests, acting as observers, or exercising their First Amendment rights. These rights do not disappear when someone is lawfully armed, and they must be respected and protected at all times.”

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

News audiences are very clear that they demand and expect media orgs to disclose virtually any use of AI even for fairly basic tasks (translation, transcription, summarizing). hsjmc.umn.edu/news/2025-04... Ordinarily, one might expect the federal government to abide by stricter standards…

hsjmc.umn.edu

Report: As newsrooms look to innovate with AI, Americans remain skeptical and distrusting | Hubbard School of Journalism

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Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Please share: Pew Research Center will provide $3,000 each for 19 new papers using our recent global datasets. We encourage reuse of our Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures data! www.pewresearch.org/2026/01/16/seek…

To encourage reuse of our data, Pew Research Center, with support from the John Templeton Foundation, invites researchers to submit proposals for new research publications that use one or more of the following datasets (collectively, Datasets) from the Global Religious Futures (GRF) project: Global Restrictions on Religion 2007-2022 dataset. This cumulative dataset includes measures of government restrictions on religion and social hostilities involving religion in nearly 200 countries and territories. Spring 2024 Survey. This dataset includes measures of religion and spirituality in 35 countries. (Comparable data was also collected in 2023 and 2024 for the United States. The downloadable materials which accompany the international dataset include additional information about U.S. data.) Dataset of Global Religious Composition Estimates for 2010 and 2020. This dataset includes estimates of the size of seven major religious groups in more than 200 countries and territories. We encourag

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MPR News @mprnews.org · 16/01/2026

Six weeks into the immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities and observers say the violence employed by ICE agents is getting worse. While this kind of response isn't new to immigrants, the difference is that many ICE observers are also having their basic constitutional rights violated.

mprnews.org

Fear factor: Intimidation becomes a calling card as Twin Cities ICE surge widens

Six weeks into the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, observers say there are signs that federal agents are employing violence more frequently and with little apparent restraint against citiz...

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Michelle S. Phelps @michellesphelps.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I tried to turn my rage yesterday into something that brings us some light. For @newrepublic.com, I wrote about how 2020 prepared Minneapolis for the current crisis of Trump's DHS. newrepublic.com/article/2050...

newrepublic.com

Minneapolis Knows How to Resist This Violence

From George Floyd to Renee Good, the city has become all too familiar with fatal violence by law enforcement—and it knows exactly how to respond.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

“I’ve lived through COVID. I’ve lived through George Floyd. Now I’m living through this going on right now,” said Minneapolis high school senior Dulce, who asked that her last name not be used. “It’s a lot of piling up emotions.” www.startribune.com/parents-stan...

startribune.com

Parents stand watch for ICE outside Minnesota schools

Some Twin Cities schools are responding to rumors about ICE agents on school properties.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

This description of Minneapolis is still pretty apt: "a Yankee with a small Puritan head, an open prairie heart, and a great, big Scandinavian body"

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Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 08/01/2026

Statement from the Minnesota Star Tribune:

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Matt DeLong @mattdelong.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

The Twin Cities' robust media ecosystem that is able to immediately push big local news national

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Antonis Kalogeropoulos @antoniskalog.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

In a new article with @richardfletcher.bsky.social and @rasmuskleis.bsky.social, we examine inequalities in news use in high-choice digital media environments. Drawing on ten years of survey data from six countries in Europe and the US, we compare offline and online news consumption patterns.🧵

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Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Please share - @pewresearch.org wants to hire a data archivist who will be an advocate for data users, helping to ensure that our datasets are easy to discover and reuse by researchers, journalists, and the public. pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CenterExtern...

Pew Research Center is seeking a Data Archivist to support our commitment to open science and data transparency. This newly created role will play a key part in enhancing the accessibility, usability, and reproducibility of our research data while continuing to protect the privacy and identity of our survey participants.

As Data Archivist, you will lead efforts to create and implement best practices for preparing, documenting, and disseminating datasets. These best practices should maximize FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles while minimizing disclosure risk. You will work across teams to ensure our data is well-organized and thoroughly documented.

You will serve as an internal advocate for data users, helping to ensure that our datasets are not only accurate and comprehensive but also easy to discover and reuse by researchers, journalists, and the public.

This is a full-time, Pew Research Center position. The position is funded by an external grant and limited to a two-year term.

Primary Responsibilities

Develop optimization procedures to improve discoverability of our datasets on internal and external platforms

Develop and maintain standards to improve accessibility of our microdata and tab plans by changing/adding formats and/or adding documentation

Identify metadata documentation best practices and a process to implement those best practices at the Center

Work with Legal to evaluate most appropriate license to publicly share the Center's survey data, including Creative Common options

Identify and correct processing inefficiencies in our data publication process

Sit on the internal Disclosure Risk Taskforce

Document analytical decisions and code to support transparency and replicability, including the development of a RACI chart for publishing code to recreate derived variables that are used in reports but are not included in the microdata

Manage/create merged time series datasets for select Center datasets

Identify a process for internally archiving data and projects that are no longer in active use

Identify and implement a process to assign Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) to microdata

Prepare and upload public-facing datasets and restricted-use datasets for external sharing.

Train staff on FAIR principles and best practices in data archiving.

Education/Training/Experience

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in library sciences, organizational management, or a related field.

5-7 years of experience with data archiving, database management, or survey research. This may include graduate training at the MA/PhD level or equivalent experience in an applied setting.

At least 3-5 years of experience applying FAIR and open science principles.

Background in social science research or data curation.

Experience in data management, archiving, or research support.

Familiarity with FAIR principles, Creative Common licensing, data privacy principles, and exposure risk.

Proficiency in metadata standards and documentation tools.

Experience managing research projects, including working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team.

Experience with statistical software (e.g., R, Python, Stata) and reproducible research workflows.

Knowledge, Skill and Workplace Requirements

Strong organizational and communication skills.

Detail oriented with exacting standards to maintain accuracy and impartiality in all work products.

Ability to work independently to carry out special projects from start to finish.

Ability to balance numerous tasks simultaneously.

Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with other team members, as well as with staff from other Pew Research Center teams.

Ability to balance competing priorities and identify optimal solutions

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation: Starting salary is commensurate with experience within the range of $100,000 - $120,000.

Hybrid Work Schedule: Pew Research Center staff are required to be present in the Center’s Washington, D.C., office three core days weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). Staff may work virtually from remote locations on other days in a typical work week.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

People don't go to their favorite restaurants just to eat, and they don't rely on news organizations solely for information. The business of news is about more than selling bits of information in exchange for attention. It's about delivering an EXPERIENCE that people actually want to participate in.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

The industry has focused on maximizing clicks and time spent and not enough on the overall user experience and whether people actually enjoy and value the time they spend engaging with news, not as a civic obligation but as a practice in itself.

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Benjamin Toff @benjamintoff.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

That doesn’t have to be about the information at all. Although technology has made it easier to find and encounter more information more quickly, it’s the other stuff that people value that hasn’t been replaced.

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