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Michael Lipka

Associate Director, Research

Expertise:News and Information

Michael Lipka is an associate director of research at Pew Research Center, where he studies Americans’ experiences with news and information. Over more than a decade at the Center, he has been a part of several major projects related to the information environment, including our study of news influencers, our five-year lookback at the COVID-19 pandemic, and our surveys on how Americans consume local news and election news. Michael also spent several years writing about trends in religion in the U.S. and globally, contributing to dozens of reports and short reads on various topics. He has a degree in journalism from Boston University and started his career as a sportswriter for The Boston Globe and the Associated Press.

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short readsMar 13, 2014

Controversy over new Israeli law highlights growing ultra-Orthodox population

Ultra-Orthodox Jews have been at the center of a controversy in Israel over whether they should be subject to the draft. Their counterparts in the U.S. tend to be more insular than other Jews.
short readsMar 12, 2014

U.S. Catholics more hopeful than expectant of changes to church teachings

Many Catholics would like to see changes on specific church doctrines but they are less certain that those changes will happen, even under Pope Francis.
short readsFeb 27, 2014

Strong support for Israel in U.S. cuts across religious lines

The American Israel Public Affairs Council meets in Washington starting Sunday to lobby on issues affecting that country, and it can look to American Christians as a source of support for Israel.
short readsFeb 25, 2014

Arizona bill sparks debate about religious objections to gay marriage

The bill would allow business owners to cite religious beliefs as a reason for denying services – including to same-sex couples – without fear of legal retribution.
short readsFeb 12, 2014

Support for death penalty drops among Americans

More than half of Americans favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, down from 78% in 1996.
short readsFeb 10, 2014

Few in LGBT community see pro sports as friendly

Just 4% of LGBT adults in the U.S. said that professional sports leagues are friendly toward LGBT people.
short readsFeb 7, 2014

Sochi Olympics shine spotlight on Russia’s Muslim population

Security has been among the main storylines leading up to the Winter Olympics, set to begin in Sochi, Russia. Sochi is not far from the city of Volgograd, the target of several recent suicide bombings, and according to The Associated Press, up to 100,000 security personnel have been deployed to guard against potential terrorist acts. […]
short readsFeb 6, 2014

Obama advocates for global religious freedom at a time of high restrictions

About two-thirds of the world’s population lives in countries with high or very high government restrictions on religion.
short readsFeb 3, 2014

Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham: Are evolution and religion at odds?

Religion and evolution will take center stage Tuesday evening in Petersburg, Ky., home of the Creation Museum and the site of a debate between Ken Ham, the museum’s founder, and Bill Nye. The topic: “Is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern scientific era?”
short readsJan 21, 2014

Pope Francis moves beyond Europe with first class of cardinals

Pope Francis named his first group of new cardinals, often called “princes of the church,” last week. The 19 men will be formally appointed next month. Media reports have observed that Francis, the first pope from outside Europe in modern times, chose several cardinals from the developing world. Francis’ immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, selected […]