His interest in media and public policy developed indirectly. After initially studying biological sciences in college, he became interested in philosophy and religion, so changed his major to philosophy in order to pursue a degree in theology, not with the intent to become a minister but to prepare to teach religious studies and ethics at the college level. While in divinity school, he took courses in political science and other social sciences and decided to continue his studies in public policy rather than in social ethics.
His graduate work included analysis of Swedish energy politics, but since then he has emphasized American politics. His specific political communication focus emerged from the intersection of his interests in public policy and in media and public opinion. He has taught at SUNY Buffalo and Fredonia, at Purdue, and at Oregon State University.
When not analyzing media and public affairs, he enjoys traveling with his wife and snorkeling, especially in the Caribbean.
Media and complex public policy areas such as macroeconomics, budgets, and taxes. Media and public opinion. Information and misinformation in American society and politics, especially in relation to media practices.
Effects on journalist practices of charges of “liberal media” and similar.
Media coverage of complex policy issues such as taxing, budgets, and macroeconomic policy, particularly in relation to media framing and changes over time.
Analysis of public views of taxing (costs) and spending (benefits), especially in relation to “asymmetries” in perception, measurement, and understanding.
“Asymmetric Journalistic Portrayals of Proposed Tax and Spending Changes: A Content Analysis,” paper being revised
“Using Inflation-Adjusted Dollars in Analyzing Political Developments,” PS [Political Science, a journal of the American Political Science Association], April 2004; this and a related online site allows journalists and others to convert dollar figures of any year starting 1774 to dollars of a recent year, available at http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/spp/polisci/research/inflation-conversion-factors
“U.S. Media Framing of the 1990 Nicaraguan Elections,” in David L. Paletz, ed., Political Communication Research: Approaches, Studies, and Assessments, revised edition (Ablex, 1996)
“Taking Inflation Seriously,” Columbia Journalism Review, November/December 1995
“Credentialing Experts: The Climate of Opinion and Journalist Selection of Sources in Foreign and Domestic Policy,” in Robert Spitzer, ed., The Media and Public Policy (Praeger Publishers, 1993)
“Levels of Political-Economic Information and Support of ‘Reaganomics’ Among University Students,” Presidential Studies Quarterly, summer 1984
“Energy as a Non-Issue in 1980 Coverage,” in William Adams, ed., Television Coverage of the 1980 Campaign (Ablex Publishing Corporation, 1983)
Tipping Right: The Emergence, Operation, and Effects of a Conservative-leaning Political-Media Regime (working title), book manuscript in early stages of development
B.A., philosophy, Washington State University, 1966
M.Div., Yale University Divinity School, 1970
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, political science, 1979