About the Report

Move them or Lose them part 3: From Research to Practice examines how immigrant narratives evolve across digital ecosystems and identifies opportunities to reach the “Moveable Middle” — audiences who are moderate on immigration and are open to shifting toward pro-immigrant attitudes. Key recommendations emphasize cultural storytelling through food, comedy, talent, and lifestyle content over adversarial or fear-based frames.

These findings became the foundation for Define American's research-to-practice model: audience insights, content creation, and rigorous testing with the field. Our central question: what actually shifts attitudes on immigration?

What the Research Revealed

• What resonates: Moveable middle audiences connect most with immigrant stories told through food, family, comedy, and educational content.
• What's missing: These audiences rarely see immigrant characters just living their lives — working, raising kids, navigating daily routines — without their immigrant identity being the whole point of the story.‍
• What works: Humor, caregiving, and achievement stories resonate with audiences regardless of their politics or demographics.‍
• Who is most reachable: Taking Responsibility and Doing My Own Thing audiences are most receptive to immigrant stories.‍
• A note of caution: News hooks and political framing can create backlash among these audiences; economic and human interest angles tend to work better.

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