News & Media – TheMinotVoice.com

Here’s how much public media relies on federal funding, and what could happen next

by: MinotVoice | April 28, 2025

Public media has fought off funding threats before—but this time, the stakes are higher. With the White House reportedly planning to eliminate federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, stations across the country—especially in rural and underserved areas—face an uncertain future. While some networks have grown less dependent on government dollars, others, particularly those

Read & Share sourced from: Current

Reconnecting Science Research with Hometown Roots

by: MinotVoice | April 24, 2025

Sometimes the best way to push back is to go home. As science funding dries up under the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts, researchers like Jessica Cantlon are reaching back to where they came from—small towns and local newspapers—to make the case for why science matters. Through the Science Homecoming project, scientists are penning op-eds for

Read & Share sourced from: Nature

Measles Misinformation Is on the Rise — And Americans Are Hearing It, Survey Finds

By: Arthur Allen, KFF Health News | April 23, 2025

While the most serious measles epidemic in a decade has led to the deaths of two children and spread to 27 states with no signs of letting up, beliefs about the safety of the measles vaccine and the threat of the disease are sharply polarized, fed by the anti-vaccine views of the country’s seniormost health

Read & Share sourced from: KFF Health News

Jury finds ‘The New York Times’ did not libel former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

by: MinotVoice | April 23, 2025

A jury has once again ruled that The New York Times did not defame Sarah Palin in a 2017 editorial that linked her political messaging to a mass shooting—a connection the paper quickly corrected. Though Palin argued the error damaged her reputation and spurred threats, the court found no evidence of malice or reckless disregard

Read & Share sourced from: Associated Press

When Going Viral Means Going Low

by: Josh Wolsky | April 23, 2025

When social media rewards bad behavior, it reshapes the incentives for public servants. A new study from a team of computational social scientists suggests that U.S. state legislators who spread low-credibility information or use hostile language—especially during politically volatile periods—can boost their visibility online. But not all harmful content has the same effect. This research

Read & Share sourced from: The Conversation

Alabama Senate passes bills requiring device filters, app store age checks for minors

by: MinotVoice | April 22, 2025

Keeping kids safe online isn’t just a parental challenge—it’s increasingly becoming a legislative priority. In Alabama, the Senate has passed two new bills that would require built-in filters on smartphones and age verification for app stores. The idea is simple: if a child activates the device, the filter turns on; if they want to use

Read & Share sourced from: Alabama Reflector

Viewpoint: North Dakota newspapers thankful for legislative votes

by: MinotVoice | April 20, 2025

Cecile Wehrman leads the North Dakota Newspaper Association, and she’s spent the legislative session keeping an eye on efforts that could weaken the public’s access to government information. In her view, this year brought good news. Lawmakers across party lines rejected proposals that would sideline newspapers in favor of government-run websites, instead reaffirming the role

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

Google just lost a major ad tech antitrust case. What happens next could rewire the web

by: MinotVoice | April 18, 2025

A federal judge has ruled that Google illegally maintained its dominance in online advertising—at the expense of local publishers and the broader public. By controlling key parts of the ad tech pipeline, the court found, Google diverted crucial ad dollars away from news outlets, weakening their ability to fund quality journalism. While the technical fallout

Read & Share sourced from: Fast Company

When the owners of 3 small North Dakota newspapers died, family and friends saved them

by: MinotVoice | April 13, 2025

In Ashley and Wishek, North Dakota — two small towns rooted in prairie tradition — the local newspaper isn’t just newsprint, it’s community memory. After the sudden passing of longtime publisher Tony Bender, his children are fighting to keep the Ashley Tribune and Wishek Star alive. They’re printing papers, taking calls, and holding on until

Read & Share sourced from: InForum

Nebraska social media age-verification bill moves forward

by: MinotVoice | April 12, 2025

Nebraska is one step closer to requiring age checks for social media accounts. Lawmakers advanced a bill that would make users verify their age before creating an account — and give parents broad control over their kids’ online activity. Supporters say it’s a needed response to rising mental health concerns among young people. Critics argue

Read & Share sourced from: Nebraska Examiner

Social media platforms could be in for a popularity tax in Minnesota

by: Josh Wolsky | April 4, 2025

The data we give away online has built empires—and now, one Minnesota lawmaker says it’s time those empires paid rent. Senator Ann Rest is pushing a new tax on social media giants, targeting the platforms that profit from Minnesotans’ personal data. With a looming budget shortfall, she calls it a fair share. Critics see it

Read & Share sourced from: MPR

Idaho Legislature unanimously passes media shield law bill protecting journalists’ sources

by: Josh Wolsky | March 23, 2025

In a rare display of unity, Idaho lawmakers have sent a clear message: protecting journalists protects the public. With unanimous votes in both chambers, the state is one step closer to joining the majority of the country in adopting a media shield law. The bill would guard reporters from being forced to reveal confidential sources—an

Read & Share sourced from: Idaho Capital Sun

North Dakota Senate passes bill addressing false information in political advertisements

by: MinotVoice | March 20, 2025

North Dakota lawmakers are looking to tighten the rules on political messaging. The state Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill aimed at curbing misleading ads, expanding existing laws to include social media, text messages, and phone calls. Supporters argue that evolving election tactics demand updated protections, especially after recent controversies over deceptive campaign texts. While enforcement

Read & Share sourced from: Bismarck Tribune

On This Day | Beware of the Wolves of Unscrupulous Media

by: MinotVoice | March 20, 2025

The above 'story' was printed recently in the Saturday Blade published in Chicago. The Blade has a very large circulation and its editor, W. E. Boyce, has become a millionaire publishing just such truck

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What declaring war on The Associated Press really means

by: MinotVoice | March 19, 2025

The battle over renaming the Gulf of Mexico may seem trivial, but it’s part of a larger effort to intimidate the press. When the Associated Press refused to adopt “Gulf of America” in its stylebook, the White House retaliated—barring AP reporters and triggering a lawsuit. This is just one move in a broader strategy to

Read & Share sourced from: Grand Forks Herald

North Dakota Senate vote allows funding for public broadcasting, but no guarantee

by: MinotVoice | March 18, 2025

State funding for Prairie Public Broadcasting remains uncertain after the North Dakota Senate rejected a bill banning public dollars for the network. While the vote spared Prairie Public from an outright funding ban, some lawmakers still want to cut its support through the state budget process. Supporters argue the network provides valuable local programming, emergency

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor