{"id":11,"date":"2022-11-02T18:17:51","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T18:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/professorposner\/?page_id=11"},"modified":"2025-08-04T02:59:46","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T09:59:46","slug":"content","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/professorposner\/","title":{"rendered":"Help Your Students Protect Our Democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--video-with-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--video-with-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Democracy &#038; the News\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <div style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-size: 36px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;\"><a style=\"color: black; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.democracyandthenews.org\/2020-10-05-21-28-52\">A free resource for professors that raises student awareness<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\">Students should know why there is a compelling reason to vote<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\">Following the news gives it to them<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  \n\n      <div class=\"video-container\">\n              <div class=\"image-container\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/professorposner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/322\/2023\/12\/votesuper-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/professorposner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/322\/2023\/12\/votesuper-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  role=\"none\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/professorposner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/322\/2023\/12\/votesuper.jpg\" data-lity aria-label=\"Play video in lightbox\" class=\"play-video\">\n              <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 75 75\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 75 75\" xml:space=\"preserve\">\n                <rect fill=\"#FFCC00\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\"\/>\n                <polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" points=\"44.4,37.5 34.2,43.9 34.2,31.1 \"\/>\n              <\/svg>\n            <\/a>\n                  <\/div>\n      \n    <\/div>\n\n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--statistics \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--statistics\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          College students represent a powerful force  that can help preserve our democracy \u2014 if they vote\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n                        \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p>.<\/p>\n<p>Most students are underinformed about major issues in the news, and most professors, like me, do not have the time to teach them.<\/p>\n<p>We do not have the time needed to create supplemental lessons that track the news, develop extra homework assignments, and do additional grading while covering the same material as we ordinarily do.<\/p>\n<p>We created Democracy &#038; the News to help colleagues keep students informed about crucial news that will shape the nation&#8217;s future for a generation. The assignments are concise, and they do not interfere with regular coursework. Registration is free for anyone with an .edu email address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  \n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--modal-image-gallery \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--modal-image-gallery\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n\n      <div class=\"text-container\">\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          College students are underinformed.\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <p><span style=\"font-size: 26px;\">Students who follow the news are more likely to vote.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-container\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/professorposner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/322\/2023\/12\/mediasourcescropped-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/professorposner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/322\/2023\/12\/mediasourcescropped-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/professorposner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/322\/2023\/12\/mediasourcescropped-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  role=\"none\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n    \n      <div id=\"gallery-1753425247\" class=\"gallery-container lity-hide\">\n\n      <div class=\"swiper images\">\n        <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n                                    <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n                              <\/div>\n                              <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"swiper captions\">\n        <div class=\"controls-container\">\n          <button class=\"button-prev\" aria-label=\"Previous Image\">\n            <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"\n            x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" xml:space=\"preserve\">\n            <polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#FFF\" points=\"15.7,27.5 5.7,17.5 \n            15.7,7.5 18.7,10.4 13.6,15.4 28.3,15.4 28.3,19.6 13.6,19.6 18.7,24.6 \"\/>\n            <\/svg>\n          <\/button>\n          <button class=\"button-next\" aria-label=\"Next Image\">\n            <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"\n\t x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#FFF\" points=\"19.3,27.5 29.3,17.5 \n\t19.3,7.5 16.3,10.4 21.4,15.4 6.7,15.4 6.7,19.6 21.4,19.6 16.3,24.6 \"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n          <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n                                    <div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n                              <\/div>\n                              <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--spacer \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--spacer\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n    \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--link-list \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--link-list\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          85% of my students said Democracy &#038; the News strengthened their determination to vote\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n                        \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  <div style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: white; font-size: 8px; font-weight: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\">.<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Peter Levine at Tuft\u2019s Center for Civic Learning &amp; Engagement reports, \u201cI\u2019ve often encountered young people who say that the reason they don\u2019t think they personally should vote is they\u2019re not well informed,\u00a0and they take that as kind of a moral position that they\u2019re not really qualified to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to Michael Sinkinson at Harvard and his colleagues\u00a0Jesse Shapiro and\u00a0Matthew Gentzkow from the University of Chicago,\u00a0\u201cMost theories of voting predict that individuals will be more likely to vote when they are better informed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, college student voter turnout climbed to a record high, with 52% voting in 2016, jumping to 66% four years later. Their research shows that following the news prompts\u00a013% of non-voters to cast ballots in future elections.\u00a0A similar increase in student voter turnout could be decisive in upcoming contests.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 28px;\"><a style=\"color: black; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/democracyandthenews.org\/index.php\" target=\"&quot;_blank\"><strong>Democracy &amp; the News only features reports from reputable news sources<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<p style=\"font-size: 32px;\">\u2193<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"color: black; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/democracyandthenews.org\/index.php\" target=\"&quot;_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" style=\"width: 100%; filter: contrast(110%) sharpen(3px);\" src=\"https:\/\/democracyandthenews.org\/mediasources.jpg\" alt=\"News sources\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: white; font-size: 8px; font-weight: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\">.<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 20px;\">\n<div>I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth,<br \/>\nthey can be depended upon to meet any national crisis.<br \/>\n<span class=\"authorOrTitle\">~\u00a0Abraham Lincoln ~<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: white; font-size: 8px; font-weight: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\">.<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n          <\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"links-container\">\n\n                        \n        \n          \n            <div class=\"column\">\n                <ul>\n                                                                  <li>\n                                \n<div class=\"f--field f--link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n<a \n  class=\"link\"\n  href= https:\/\/democracyandthenews.org\/index.php\n  target=\"_blank\"  aria-label=\"Read more about Visit Democracy &#038; the News\"  \n>\n    Visit Democracy &#038; the News \n  <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" points=\"19.3,27.5 29.3,17.5,19.3,7.5 16.3,10.4 21.4,15.4 6.7,15.4 6.7,19.6 21.4,19.6 16.3,24.6 \"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                          <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n\n          \n          \n        \n          \n            <div class=\"column\">\n                <ul>\n                                                                  <li>\n                                \n<div class=\"f--field f--link\">\n\n    \n    \n  \n<a \n  class=\"link\"\n  href= https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&#038;source=web&#038;rct=j&#038;opi=89978449&#038;url=https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/steve-posner\/&#038;ved=2ahUKEwjOh-KS6PCOAxVhRUEAHUd3LusQFnoECAkQAQ&#038;usg=AOvVaw1_azJ2jOQewsuhbxf3QZye\n  target=\"_blank\"  aria-label=\"Read more about About Professor Posner\"  \n>\n    About Professor Posner \n  <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 35 35\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 35 35\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><polygon fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill=\"#000\" points=\"19.3,27.5 29.3,17.5,19.3,7.5 16.3,10.4 21.4,15.4 6.7,15.4 6.7,19.6 21.4,19.6 16.3,24.6 \"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                                          <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n\n          \n          \n        \n\n\n\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--spacer \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--spacer\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-content-detail.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - 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