Bruno Takahashi Ph.D.

Bruno Takahashi

Brandt Endowed Professor of Environmental Communication

Department
  • Journalism
btakahas@msu.edu
(517) 432-2454

Bio

Bruno Takahashi is a professor of environmental journalism and communication at Michigan State University with a joint appointment in the School of Journalism and AgBioResearch. Dr. Takahashi is the research director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. He is also affiliated to the Health and Risk Communication Center, the Environmental Science and Policy Program, and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at MSU. He received his bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Lima, Peru, and his M.S. and Ph.D in environmental science from SUNY ESF. His research interests include media coverage of environmental affairs, environmental journalism practices, risk communication, and the links between media and policy. He has a particular interest in the coverage of environmental issues in Latin America media and US Latino media.

Current research projects:

Recent publications:

  • Van Witsen, A. & Takahashi, B. (2021). How science journalists verify numbers and statistics in news stories: Towards a theory. Journalism Practice, 1-20.

  • Duan, R., Takahashi, B., & Zwickle, A. K. (2021). Refining the application of construal level theory: Egocentric and nonegocentric psychological distances in climate change visual communication. Environmental Communication.

  • Hautea, S., Parks, P., Takahashi, B., & Zeng, J. (2021). Showing they care (or don’t): Affective publics and ambivalent climate activism on TikTok. Social Media + Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051211012344

  • Duan, R., Takahashi, B., & Zwickle, A. K. (2021). How engaging are concrete images? The moderating role of construal level in climate change visual communication. Science Communication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10755470211008192

  • Camacho, K., Portelli, R. A., Shortridge, A. M., Takahashi, B. (2021). Sentiment mapping: Point pattern analysis of sentiment classified Twitter data. Cartography and Geographic Information Science, 48(3), 241-257. DOI: 10.1080/15230406.2020.1869999

  • Albert, L. & Takahashi, B. (2021). Emergency communications policies in Puerto Rico: Regulatory institutions and stakeholders’ interaction during Hurricane Maria. Telecommunications Policy, 45(3).

  • Takahashi, B., Adams, E., & Nissen, J. (2020). The Flint water crisis: Local reporting, community attachment, and environmental justice. Local Environment, 25(5), 365-380. 

  • Dorrance Hall, E., Ma, M., Azimova, D., Campbell, N. L., Ellithorpe, M., Plasencia, J., Chavez, M, Zeldes, G., Takahashi, B., Bleakley, A., Hennessy, M. (2021). The mediating role of family and cultural food beliefs on the relationship between family communication patterns and diet and health issues across racial/ethnic groups. Health Communication, 36(5), 593-605.    

  • Takahashi, B., Zhang, Q., Chavez, M. (2020). Preparing for the worst: Lessons for news media after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Journalism Practice. 14(9), 1106-1124.

Teaching

  • JRN 365 International News and Governments  (Spring)

  • JRN 372 Environment, Health, and Science Jrn Seminar (Spring)

  • JRN 873 Environment, Health, and Science Jrn Seminar (Fall)

  • Education Abroad (Summer 2018): Environmental Communication and International News in Peru. Summer 2018 program blog 

  • Education Abroad (Summer 2022): Environmental and Science Communication in the Netherlands and Belgium

Roles

Research Director, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism

Interim Director, Journalism Ph.D. program

Immediate past Chair, Environmental Communication Division, International Communication Association

Associate Editor, Environmental Communication

Research and Teaching

Environmental journalism

Environmental Communication

Environmental behaviors

Latin America

Research Centers and Labs

Knight Center for Environmental Journalism
Health and Risk Communication Center

Awards, Honors and Recognitions
  • 2021    Fellow of the Institute for Diverse Leadership, AEJMC.
  • 2019    Winner of the Knudson Latin America Book Prize from AEJMC. News Media Coverage of Environmental Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean
  • 2019    ICA Conference, Environmental Communication Division, Top Faculty Paper
  • 2017 AEJMC Conference, Top Faculty Paper, Scholastic Journalism Division
  • 2013 AEJMC Conference, ComSHER division, Top Poster Award
  • 2013 ICA Conference, Environmental Communication Interest Group, Top Faculty Paper
Contact Information

404 Wilson Rd., Room 348
Communication Arts and Sciences Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824