Wyatt Dawson Assistant Professor, Media & Communication |
Education
Teaching Interests
I teach courses in media theory, media effects, media ethics, and emerging technology because I want students to understand how information is created, how it spreads, and how it influences behavior, policy decisions, and the adoption of new ideas. I encourage students to ask precise questions, use data to test ideas, and connect evidence to real-world outcomes. I also want them to see how new technologies raise new ethical questions in everyday life. In my classes, students learn to approach questions both theoretically and empirically, developing tools they can use to inform decisions, shape policy, and advance evidence-based solutions.
Research, Scholarship or Creative/Artistic Interests
I'm interested in understanding how different types of media, including legacy news outlets and new digital platforms, shape the way information spreads and influences people’s behavior and policy decisions. Using mixed methods, I explore how media messages around issues like surveillance and privacy can affect public opinion and lead to changes in policy.
A key part of my research examines how various sources of information can influence attitudes toward significant social and political issues. I study public opinion to understand how media coverage influences what people think and how they behave, particularly about privacy concerns and government surveillance.
Overall, my research aims to explore the connections between media, public opinion, and policy, helping to explain how communication affects social outcomes in our rapidly changing information landscape.