Deadline extended! Get $500 to interview disengaged community members

Published on March 13, 2025March 13, 2025 by Patrick Johnson | Reading Time: 3 minutes

Update: We’ve extended the deadline to apply to March 19. Applicants will hear back from us by March 21. At this time, we are not accepting any additional applications from student journalists. Questions? Reach out to researcher Patrick Johnson at patrick.johnson@marquette.edu.

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We’re looking for eight journalists eager to participate in a research study examining news avoidance and how LGBTQ+ topics influence disengagement from traditional media. 

This project, conducted in collaboration with Trusting News, seeks to provide journalists with actionable insights into audience disengagement and strategies for rebuilding trust with communities that feel alienated from news coverage.

Participating journalists will interview eight disengaged news consumers in your communities. Journalists will get a $500 stipend for their time. Interested? Apply here by March 19 or keep reading for more details. 

Why this study?

Previous research by Dr. Sue Robinson and me (2023) found that many disengaged news consumers — particularly those from politically conservative, Black, and Brown communities — actively reject LGBTQ+ content in news coverage. This pushback often leads to news avoidance, subscription cancellations, and increased distrust in journalism. While much scholarship has explored broader trends in media distrust, LGBTQ+ coverage remains an understudied factor in news disengagement.

This study aims to interrogate why LGBTQ+ content sparks avoidance, how journalists can navigate these challenges, and what strategies newsrooms can implement to better engage diverse audiences without compromising ethical, accurate, and inclusive reporting.

Why does this work matter?

The project takes place at a time of heightened political attacks on LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. From anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in multiple states to ongoing cultural and media debates over trans rights, education policies, and drag bans, LGBTQ+ issues have become central to national discourse. As these issues intensify, journalism’s role in accurate and fair representation is more critical than ever. Understanding how different audiences react to LGBTQ+ coverage will help journalists navigate trust, inclusivity, and audience engagement.

Note: This opportunity is only for journalists in the United States and Canada.

What does your participation involve?

I am recruiting eight journalists to conduct eight structured interviews with disengaged news consumers in your communities. Your role will be essential in gathering data on how newsrooms can foster trust and reduce disengagement.

If selected, you will:

• Conduct 8 structured interviews (45–60 minutes each) with disengaged news consumers using an interview protocol (provided). Interviews will be recorded and transcribed. Audio and transcript files will be submitted to a shared Google Drive.
• Complete a brief survey reflecting on your experience after conducting the interviews.
• Participate in a focus group with other journalists to discuss key findings and newsroom strategies.
• Ensure all interviews are completed by May 25, 2025.
• Receive $500 in payment upon completion of all required study components.

Why should you participate?

• Gain direct insights into how disengaged audiences view LGBTQ+ media coverage.
• Help develop practical newsroom strategies for inclusive and trust-building journalism.
• Contribute to a national research initiative focused on journalism, identity, and audience trust.
• Join a broader effort to examine the role of identity-based media representation in news engagement.

Note: Journalists and community members who participate in the project will not be directly named or identified. The research, however, will reference each journalist’s general geographic areas and some basic demographic information. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Patrick Johnson.

What are the next steps?

You can apply here by the extended deadline of March 19. If you have questions, please reach out at patrick.johnson@marquette.edu. 

This post was written by research partner Patrick Johnson, an assistant professor of journalism and the director of student media at Marquette University, who received an internal grant from Marquette University to support this research and testing with newsrooms.

At Trusting News, we learn how people decide what news to trust and turn that knowledge into actionable strategies for journalists. We train and empower journalists to take responsibility for demonstrating credibility and actively earning trust through transparency and engagement. Learn more about our work, vision and team. Subscribe to our Trust Tips newsletter. Follow us on Twitter, BlueSky and LinkedIn.