Description

Texas ranks at the bottom of national surveys measuring civic health and voter engagement. It is also the second largest state in population, one of three states with a Hispanic minority majority, where more than 17% of the population is immigrant (higher than the national share, with Asian Americans the fastest growing group), and the largest number of Black American residents. On demographics alone, the Lone Star State—illustrative of our democracy and emblematic of its challenges—makes a deeply compelling, even necessary, test-case for understanding the state of democracy in the U.S. and its civic health, while broadening our conception of democratic life.
 
Texas’ democratic challenges—lack of trust in government, low civic engagement, and polarization—exemplify and magnify critical questions we face as a nation. The Texas Tribune will conduct a statewide listening tour, leading “pop-up newsrooms” in several cities and partnering with local, community-based public media organizations. Understanding that voting is just one measure of democratic engagement, reporters will lead interviews using a solutions-based journalism lens, asking Texans how they define democracy and to share their experiences of democratic participation. Partnering with the George W. Bush Institute and LBJ Library, the Tribune will additionally produce a statewide poll, with representative sampling of the Texas population and the Texas electorate (these are not synonymous). Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from these surveys will lead to a “solutions series” highlighting stories from youth organizers, faith-based organizations, small businesses, and civic voluntary organizations with community-informed policy recommendations for programs, and initiatives to inspire renewed civic faith in democracy. The Tribune will additionally capture data on news avoidance and news fatigue throughout this research to critically examine media’s role in effective civic engagement and develop recommendations for what newsrooms can do to promote civic health. Research results will culminate in an explanatory series launched ahead of the Texas Tribune Festival during a democracy track of public programming in September 2024.
 
This grant would advance the DEPT Program’s efforts to “re-imagine and re-invigorate democratic culture and practices that promote participation, inclusivity, and well-being in American society.”