With information overwhelming social media users, it’s important for media organizations to ensure their audience can trust their reporting. Questions like, “How do people decide what news is trustworthy?” or “How can journalists influence what users consume and share?” have come up repeatedly at public forums that WITF journalists have participated in.
To help answer those questions, WITF is took part in the Trusting News project – an effort to create strategies designed to demonstrate the credibility and trustworthiness of journalism. In the links above, we explain our editorial process, we demonstrate our approach to ensure our stories are as balanced, accessible and responsive as possible, and we describe our ethics and funding.
The days of journalism’s one-way street of simply producing stories for the public have long been over. Now, it’s time to find better ways to interact with you and ensure we meet your high standards of what a credible media organization should be.
News Coverage
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Gene J. Puskar
Citing ‘unsustainable stress’ from price volatility, grid operator PJM lays out reform options
The grid serving Pa. and 13 other states faces data center growth and hurdles to build new power plantsBy Peter Hall, Pennsylvania Capital-Star -
Jeremy Long
U.S. Supreme Court restricts Voting Right Act, but effect on Pennsylvania likely limited
The court ruled race can’t play a factor in drawing voting districts.By Carter Walker, Votebeat -
At 250, the Declaration of Independence Still Sparks Hard Questions in Class
Teachers say debates over citizenship and equality are reshaping how students read the declaration today.By Greg Toppo, The 74 -
Matt Smith
Pa. primary election 2026: How to vote, where to vote, and everything you need to know for May 19
On May 19, Pennsylvanians will cast their votes in primary races, including governor, state House and Senate, and more.By Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PA -
Sarah Kovash
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s new owners make deep cuts to newsroom staff
By Julia Maruca, WESA -
Hanna Holthaus
Who owns Reading’s blighted homes? The answer is often unclear.
Not knowing who owns the buildings and how to contact them can limit the city’s efforts to increase the housing stock and tax base.By Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA -
Jared Wickerham
More Pa. voters are registering as independents, but barriers stop lawmakers from following
Elected officials say closed primaries, signature requirements, and money demands all make it hard to run as an independent.By Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA -
Commonwealth Media Services
Shapiro demands a stop to “excessive” utility rate increases, but has little authority to force change
As energy costs climb in Pennsylvania, Governor Shapiro pressures utilities to limit rate hikes and change how profits are determined.By Charlotte Keith and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA -
Shapiro enters Pa. into legal battle to keep access to abortion pill by mail
By Kiley Koscinski, WESA -
Pennsylvania sues AI company, saying its chatbots illegally hold themselves out as licensed doctors
By Marc Levy, Associated Press -
Blaine Shahan
Pa. House committee passes suite of six bills to combat child sex trafficking
Legislation would enhance penalties for traffickers, give victims immunity from prosecution and address deepfakes.By Peter Hall, Pennsylvania Capital-Star -
Jordan Wilkie
‘ICE out’ protest at Pa. Capitol calls on Shapiro to cut state ties with federal immigration enforcement
Shapiro and the immigrant rights activists both claim President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown is violating Constitutional protections. They disagree on whether Shapiro is doing enough in response.
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Jordan Wilkie
Pennsylvania has spent $1.4 million updating its voter registration system — but won’t provide progress reports
The state embarked on a project to update the antiquated SURE system last year. Officials hope to have the new version ready by 2027.By Carter Walker, Votebeat -
Tassanee Vejpongsa
Survey: Pennsylvanians’ dissatisfaction with healthcare in the commonwealth on the rise
Over one in four people surveyed said they or someone in their household struggled to access care in the last year due to cost.By Ian Karbal, Pennsylvania Capital-Star -
Marc Levy
Organizer pleads guilty in Pennsylvania voter registration fraud case
The suspicious registration applications were discovered just before the 2024 election and fueled accusations of voter fraud, but prosecutors determined their motive was not political.By Carter Walker, Votebeat
The Morning Agenda – a podcast from WITF
Each weekday morning, The Morning Agenda will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.
