Public Agenda is a New York City-based non-profit organization engaged in non-partisan research projects in subjects ranging from education to government leadership. The organization was founded by social scientist Daniel Yankelovich and former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance. Public Agenda works to engage journalists, policymakers and the general public in policy-related discussions and deliberations. Public Agenda also works to bring together multiple perspectives to facilitate greater understanding of various opinions about domestic issues of importance.
According to Caroline L. Gilson of DePauw University, "The audience for Public Agenda Online is wide-ranging: from researchers and policy-makers to concerned citizens and activists. For an academic audience, this site serves as a starting point for students exploring a topic who want to understand how the public weighs in on key issues".[1] One of Public Agenda's self-described goals is to bridge the divide that so often exists between American leaders and the American people.
In addition to education and leadership, subjects of interest include crime, poverty, the American economy and the federal budget.
The current president of Public Agenda is Ruth A. Wooden, who joined Public Agenda in 2003. While the organization is based in New York, it retains a small office in Washington, D.C.
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In 2007, Public Agenda joined forces with a number of heavy-hitting political non-profits: The Brookings Institution, The Heritage Foundation, the Concord Coalition and Viewpoint Learning. The result of the relationship is Facing Up to the Nation's Finances, a web site that focuses on American budgetary issues. In 2008, Public Agenda released its first book entitled Where Does the Money Go? The book, authored by vice-presidents Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson, has turned out to be a campaign hit.
Bloggers have often criticized the organization for right or left-leaning research.[2] At various times, Public Agenda has received this criticism on both ends of the spectrum, although the vast majority of citations refer to the organization as "non-partisan" in its work.