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Lee Rainie

Former Director, Internet and Technology Research

Expertise:Internet and Technology

Lee Rainie is the former director of internet and technology research at Pew Research Center. Under his leadership, the Center has issued more than 800 reports based on its surveys and data-science analyses that examine people’s online activities and the internet’s role in their lives. The American Sociological Association gave Rainie its award for “excellence in the reporting on social issues” and described his work as the “most authoritative source of reliable data on the use and impact of the internet and mobile connectivity.”

Rainie is a co-author of Networked: The new social operating system and five books about the future of the internet that are drawn from the Center’s research. He regularly speaks to government officials, media outlets and leaders, scholars and students, technology executives, librarians, civic and nonprofit groups about the changing media ecosystem.

Prior to launching Pew Research Center’s technology research, Rainie was managing editor of U.S. News & World Report.

Publications

  • report

    Preliminary results of survey of musicians

    Between March 15 and April 15 of this year, 2,755 musicians and songwriters responded to a Web-based survey about the way they use the Internet and their views on a host of public policy questions related to copyright and music file-sharing on the In…

  • report

    14% of Internet users say they no longer download music files

    14% of the 128 million American adults now online report that they downloaded music at one time, but no longer do so. About a third of these former music downloaders – 6 million adults – say that the RIAA’s tactics are the reason they stopped.

  • report

    The Rise of Wireless Connectivity and PIP’s Latest Findings

    In our Internet tracking survey in February, 2004 we recorded our highest readings ever on the number of Internet users who are e-shoppers, the number who participate in online auctions, and the number of Americans who use computers. In addition, we …

  • report

    The CAN-SPAM Act has not helped most email users so far

    The impact of the CAN-SPAM legislation is mixed, but not very encouraging so far. A new survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project between February 3 and March 1, 2004 shows the following: 29% of email users say they have reduced their overal…

  • report

    Use of the Internet in places other than home or work

    As use of the Internet becomes more appealing and more essential to Americans, a growing number are using multiple locations to go online. And significant numbers are moving beyond the tradition places of access – home and work.

  • presentation

    Internet Use and Newsgathering During the Election Season

    This presentation summarizes data from the report: “Cable and Internet Loom Large in Fragmented Political News Universe” and was done in conjunction with the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

  • report

    America’s Online Pursuits

    This report analyzes the responses of more than 64,000 Americans to phone surveys in the past three years. It finds that 63% of U.S. adults now are online and many of them have built Internet use into their lives in practical ways.

  • presentation

    Robert Lewis Shayon Lecture

    This speech is an informal discussion of the history of the Pew Internet & American Life Project.