Internet

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is widely regarded as the start of the winter holiday shopping season in the United States. Each November, newsrooms gear up to cover this annual rite of retail, dispatching journalists in the early morning to shopping malls and discount stores to help report on the frenzied — and sometimes violent — competition for the best deals of the day.

Throughout the academic year, Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy hosts panel discussions, a speakers series and other events, many of which feature prominent journalists and media personalities. The following are audio and video highlights from Fall 2015, with a focus on tips for journalists and reflections on the evolving media landscape:

The issue: As news and technology continue to evolve, media organizations and scholars are curious how these changes affect how people use and access news. A new study compares new consumption by adolescents and their parents.

“Pope Francis Shocks World, Endorses Donald Trump for President”; “ISIS Leader Calls for American Muslim Voters to Support Hillary Clinton.”

Decades ago, if someone had trouble affording a medical procedure or paying a child’s hospital bill, friends and community members sometimes organized bake sales, car washes or other fundraisers to help out.

Countries with greater press freedoms tend to be less corrupt, researchers have found. A free press may even help fight corruption.