​The Democracy Stories Lab, a new initiative from People Powered in partnership with the Democracy Narratives Alliance, is calling on creators worldwide to submit visual storytelling that reimagines what democracy could look and feel like in everyday life. The call invites short videos, illustrations, and graphics that move beyond policy talking points to explore voice, fairness, belonging, and what happens when communities hold real power over the decisions that shape their futures. Submissions must engage with the Democracy Narratives Alliance's research on how to talk about democracy, giving participants a practical framework for translating dialogue and deliberation principles into accessible, creative formats. Applications open July 14, 2026, with a submission deadline of September 14, 2026, and winners receiving cash awards plus amplification across both organizations' networks. The initiative reflects NCDD's mission of expanding who gets to shape conversations about democracy, extending the field's reach into creative and media spaces it rarely touches.

People Powered, a global hub for participatory democracy, has launched the Democracy Stories Lab in partnership with the Democracy Narratives Alliance, an open call inviting creators worldwide to submit visual stories that reimagine what democracy could look and feel like. The initiative moves conversations about democracy beyond policy circles by inviting films, illustrations, and graphics that capture voice, fairness, belonging, and what happens when communities hold real power over their own decisions. Creators anywhere in the world, working in any visual medium, can apply by the September 14, 2026 deadline, with four winners receiving $1,000 each and five honorable mentions receiving $500 each. The initiative reflects NCDD's broader interest in expanding who tells the story of democracy and how, connecting narrative strategy directly to the practice of dialogue and civic participation.

The Pro-Democracy Narrative Playbook, an initiative coordinated by Metropolitan Group, is hosting a webinar series in September 2026 that examines how democracy intersects with public health, higher education, environmental and climate justice, limits on power, and civil and human rights. Each session introduces a sector-specific narrative and message guide, developed with practitioners in that field, and shows how evidence-based framing research can help professionals talk about their work in ways that also strengthen a free and fair democracy. The premise running through the series is that democratic values, institutions, and civic health make progress on nearly every social issue more possible, and that how advocates communicate about democracy shapes public will to protect it. The sessions run online across September 8, 10, 16, 17, and 24, each pairing the initiative's team with sector partners applying the guides in practice. For the NCDD network, the series offers a useful complement to convening work: research-grounded language for talking about democracy across the many issue areas where dialogue and deliberation take place.

Harmony Labs, a media research organization, has released a series of findings from its multi-year partnership with Democracy 2076, examining how entertainment media shapes Americans' beliefs about government and democratic participation. Drawing on behavioral data from more than 300,000 opt-in panelists and content analysis of thousands of streaming programs, the research finds that 58% of scripted streaming content Americans watch daily is government-relevant — and that stories set in schools, workplaces, and community organizations can be as civically formative as those set in government itself. The lab has also released the Democracy Audience Map, a free values-based segmentation tool identifying eight distinct ways Americans relate to democratic institutions, offering civic communicators and practitioners a data-grounded framework for audience strategy. This research enriches NCDD's mission by equipping dialogue and deliberation practitioners with evidence-based insights about the media landscape in which civic engagement — and disengagement — is being shaped.

​The National Issues Forums Institute has welcomed Christine Fernando as its new Communications and Creative Coordinator, bringing to the role a distinguished journalism career that includes national democracy reporting for the Associated Press and coverage of civil rights and democratic institutions for USA TODAY and other outlets. Fernando's approach to storytelling — grounded in trust-building across difference, clarity amid complexity, and centering lived civic experience — translates directly into strengthening the way NIFI communicates deliberative practice to communities, partners, and the broader public. In her new role, she will help shape NIFI's narrative presence as the organization moves toward the launch of What's Next, America? ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. Her hire represents a meaningful investment in the field's ability to connect deliberative democracy to the communities it most needs to reach, advancing NCDD's mission to strengthen public engagement and democratic participation.

Democracy needs better stories. On January 22, the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard’s Ash Center hosts an online webinar exploring how creators and artists make democracy feel vivid, relevant, and worth caring about—especially for younger audiences. Drawing lessons from television, podcasts, science fiction, and online creator communities, the session looks beyond alarm bells and academic frames to ask what actually captures attention and moves people to engage. The webinar takes place online on January 22 (time listed on the registration page) and is hosted by the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard University. Registration is open now at https://ash.harvard.edu/events/making-democracy-interesting-tips-from-tv-podcasts-science-fiction-and-online-creators/

​​The Kettering Foundation is deepening its work to strengthen democracy amid rising authoritarianism and declining public trust by expanding its leadership, elevating diverse perspectives, and investing in robust public-facing content. With the appointment of senior fellows Stacey Abrams and David French, Kettering signals a commitment to cross-ideological dialogue grounded in shared democratic values, using blogs, podcasts, videos, and public conversations to explore democracy’s challenges and possibilities. Through platforms like From Many, We, Resilience & Resistance, The Context podcast, and its support of PBS’s America at a Crossroads, the Foundation documents both the threats facing democratic systems and the local and global efforts working to renew them. Together, this multi-platform approach offers practitioners timely analysis, practical insights, and hopeful examples of civic resilience, reinforcing Kettering’s role as a key hub for democratic learning and renewal.

The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD) and Colorado State University’s Center for Public Deliberation will co-host “Talking Democracy (or Not): How Local Newsrooms Choose Their Words”, tomorrow, November 12, 2025. Drawing on new research from Press Forward and PACE’s Civic Language Perceptions Project, the webinar will reveal how terms like community, service, and connection often inspire more participation than explicitly “democracy”-focused language. Featuring experts in journalism and civic engagement, the session will offer practical strategies for inclusive communication that build trust and strengthen democratic communities. Participants will leave with tools to use language more intentionally—inviting people into civic life rather than alienating them.

The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD) will co-host a webinar with Colorado State University Center for Public Deliberation, titled “Talking Democracy (or Not): How Local Newsrooms Choose Their Words” on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 9–10 a.m. Pacific (12 p.m.–1 p.m. Eastern). This post-2024 election discussion will explore how the language used by local journalists and civic practitioners shapes public understanding and participation in democracy. Drawing on new research from Press Forward and PACE’s Civic Language Perceptions Project, the event will examine how words like community, service, and connection often foster more engagement than explicit democracy-focused terms. Participants will hear from experts in journalism and civic engagement about how newsrooms can communicate democratic values effectively while building trust across differences. The session aims to equip attendees with practical tools for inclusive, authentic civic communication that bridges divides and strengthens community participation.

In a recent interview with Ana Kasparian, Professor James Fishkin explored how deliberative democracy can address America’s deepening political divides and institutional distrust. Drawing from decades of research and his new book Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy?, Fishkin makes a compelling case for structured dialogue as a powerful tool to rebuild trust, foster understanding, and renew democratic engagement from the ground up. Read more in the blog post below.