Our research and learning community recognizes that journalism, news, and information have consequences for how societies function, adapt, and thrive. We have three broad, overlapping goals:
The Center for Journalism Studies is committed to making journalism better and the study of journalism better. It works to facilitate its innovation centerpiece, the American Communities Project; support collaborative projects, both within MSU and across the world; collect and curate news and journalism research resources; welcome journalism scholars for collaborative projects.
The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism teaches student and professional journalists how to better report on the world’s most important beat.
The Social Media and Neuroscience Lab researches how the human brain processes socially communicated information.
The American Communities Project uses data and reporting to make sense of the social, cultural, and political changes transforming America at the local level.
Employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, Dr. Mourão focuses on how journalists cover political events in a changing media ecosystem. Her projects have focused on elections and protests, both in the United States and in Brazil. At MSU, she teaches courses on social media, media literacy, media theory, and multimedia reporting.
Dr. Chavez works on issues of international relations, security, democracy, and the press. He studies models of access to information, accountability and transparency, especially related to the news media in Latin America.
Tim P. Vos is Professor and Director of the Michigan State University School of Journalism. He is a past president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), the field’s leading research, teaching, and service organization.
Serena Miller joined Michigan State University’s School of Journalism in 2012 and specializes in storytelling, social media, theory building, and measurement. She worked at Arizona State University from 2007-2012 specializing in the research and teaching of digital technologies and mass communication theory.
Dr. Folu Ogundimu is a professor in the School of Journalism and the College of Communication Arts & Sciences at Michigan State University, East Lansing. At MSU, Dr. Ogundimu teaches courses on international journalism and media globalization, broadcasting, health communication and documentary research in journalism and mass communication.
Bruno Takahashi is associate professor of environmental journalism and communication at Michigan State University with a joint appointment in the School of Journalism and AgBioResearch.
Eric Freedman is Professor of Journalism and former Associate Dean of International Studies and Programs. During his 20-year newspaper career, he covered public affairs, environmental issues and legal affairs for newspapers in New York and Michigan, winning a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of a legislative corruption scandal.
Dr. Lucinda D. Davenport is a University Distinguished Professor in the School of Journalism at Michigan State University and heads the Graduate Program in Journalism. She recently stepped aside as Director of the School of Journalism after 10 years. Before that, she was the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research for the College of Communication Arts and Sciences.
Geri Alumit Zeldes, Ph.D., is a tenured professor in MSU’s School of Journalism. Her anthology includes journal articles, documentary films, radio documentaries, book chapters and a comic book - many works recognized by international communication associations such as the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the Broadcast Education Association.
David Poulson is the senior associate director of Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental journalism. He also directs the translational scholars program at MSU's Global Center for Food Systems Innovations.
Joanne C. Gerstner is an award-winning multi-platform sports journalist, concussion researcher/expert, speaker and book author.