Todd Schack

Todd Schack is an Associate Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Ithaca College's Roy H Park School of Communications, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Park Center for Independent Media. His academic work focuses on the intersection of media, power, and social justice, with particular emphasis on independent media forms and critical approaches to journalism.

Education:

• Professional Certificate in Online Teaching, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2013)
• Ph.D., Media Studies, University of Colorado at Boulder (2006)
• M.A., Communications, Colorado State University (1996)
• B.A., English, Creative Writing, Colorado State University (1992)

Schack's research interests span multiple dimensions of contemporary media studies, with particular focus on independent media ecosystems, the historical evolution of literary journalism, and critical examinations of media representations related to the wars on terror and drugs. His work explores how social media platforms have become sites of political struggle, examining the weaponization of digital communication and its relationship to rising illiberal tendencies globally. Schack also investigates niche journalism forms including graphic non-fiction, comics journalism, and music journalism, analyzing how these formats challenge conventional journalistic paradigms through innovative narrative techniques and visual-verbal integration.

Schack's recent publications reveal a consistent thematic trajectory examining media's role in shaping public understanding of complex social issues. His research demonstrates how media narratives construct meaning around drug policy, border politics, and social control mechanisms, often revealing tensions between journalistic objectivity and committed reporting. The scholarship shows particular attention to how marginalized voices and alternative media forms challenge dominant narratives, especially regarding international sex trafficking, opioid addiction, and the cultural production of war discourse.

Schack has been an active participant in academic discourse, presenting his research at numerous international conferences across multiple continents. His recent work includes presentations on social media weaponization, literary journalism traditions, and the cultural production of drug war discourse. He has also engaged in scholarly exchange through visiting positions at the Institut Américan Universitaire in Aix-en-Provence, France.

As an educator, Schack has developed curriculum in independent media studies, narrative journalism, journalism history, graphic non-fiction, and critical examinations of the cultural production surrounding the wars on drugs and terror. His teaching reflects his research interests, emphasizing critical media literacy and the historical context of contemporary media challenges.