I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Arizona. I joined the faculty at Arizona in 2008 after completing my Ph.D. in Communication at the University of Illinois. I also hold an M.A. and B.A. in Communication, both from the University of Washington.
My research focuses on the interaction of American political discourse, news media, and public opinion. This work has appeared in a variety of top journals, including Communication Monographs, Communication Research, Journal of Communication, Political Communication, and Public Opinion Quarterly. I am the coauthor, with David Domke, of The God Strategy: How Religion Became a Political Weapon in America (Oxford University Press, 2010). I have also written opinion pieces for a wide range of popular news outlets, including the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, and Time.com. I teach courses focusing on mass communication, media effects, and American press and politics.
Recent News
In August of 2013 I will be leaving the University of Arizona to join the faculty of the Department of Communication at the University of Utah. Leaving Arizona was a difficult decision, but I'm very excited about my new position at Utah.