Have you ever considered the role of social media in democracy or the way political conversations occur based on what may be trending on social media? Whether you are an avid Twitter user or not, these conversations are happening on a national and a global level. Sometimes for good but sometimes not. Today’s guest–Dr. Matt Barnidge, an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Creative Media at the University of Alabama–studies these types of things. More specifically, his research revolves around the three interrelated topics of (1) media trust, credibility, and bias; (2) news exposure and engagement; and (3) social networks, discussion, and expression. Furthermore, his research on these topics focuses on multiple national contexts beyond the United States, including countries in Europe and Latin America. Ultimately, my goal is to improve our understanding of the dynamics of news and public opinion in democratic societies, and in light of the growing threats to democratic institutions worldwide, doing so has rarely been more important than it is now. I’ll be honest…we learned a lot in today’s episode, and I am sure you will as well. Tune in to learn more and hear from one of the experts in this field, Dr. Matt Barnidge!
To follow Matt on Twitter: @mbarni109
To follow us on Twitter: @ICIRAlabama
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