Research

SMPA faculty are among the most widely cited in journalism and political communication research publishing their innovative research in books and peer-reviewed journals. Faculty also work closely with students to collaborate and produce their own award-winning research presented at academic conferences around the country and develop white papers on topics at the forefront of journalism and communication research.

New Research

Writing Hollywood: The Work and Professional Culture of Television Writers

August 23, 2017

Patricia Phalen highlights the writing process for television drama and comedy series in the U.S. and explains writers’ efforts to control risk and survive in a constantly changing environment.

Rhetoric and Recollection: Recounting the George W. Bush Administration's Case for War in Iraq

July 28, 2017

Professors Babak Bahador and William Youmans co-authored a study of President George W. Bush's Iraq war communication campaign with Jeremy Moses.

The Evolution of Black Women in Television: Mammies, Matriarchs and Mistresses

July 21, 2017

Imani M. Cheers examines explores how an increase of Black women in media ownership and executive roles has affected the portrayal Black women on television screens and in American society.

The Rise of Attention Metrics: Can a New Digital Currency Help Sustain Journalism?

July 17, 2017

The report documents the rise of attention analytics, explores the current role of attention metrics in the newsroom and in display advertising sales, and offers analysis of what the future holds for time-based advertising transactions.

An Unlikely Audience: Al Jazeera's Struggle in America

June 14, 2017

William Youmans investigates the inner workings of the Al Jazeera Media Network, a complex news organization fighting to overcome deep obstacles, foster strategic alliances and build its identity in a country notoriously disinterested in international news.