Chau Tong

Chau Tong is an Assistant Professor in the Missouri School of Journalism and the Institute for Data Science & Informatics at the University of Missouri. Her interdisciplinary work bridges data science and communication, focusing on how digital technologies shape public discourse, misinformation, and information equity.

Her research expertise includes:

• Computational Methods
• Digital News
• Health Communication
• Political Journalism
• Social Media Analytics
• Misinformation and Disinformation
• Algorithmic Bias and Filter Bubbles
• Data Science for Communication Equity

Dr. Tong employs advanced data collection and analysis techniques, combining survey research with social media analytics to study public opinion on polarizing issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. Her work aims to detect information disorders and design interventions that promote access to high-quality information.

She is affiliated with the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI), where she contributes to impact-driven research for local news organizations. Her work aligns with initiatives addressing news deserts through algorithmic analysis of news coverage quality.

She has been selected for the prestigious Mizzou Fellows Program, recognizing her innovative contributions to journalism and communication research.

Dr. Tong teaches emerging technologies courses that equip journalism students with skills in machine learning and data-driven storytelling. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2021), an M.A. in Communication from Ewha Womans University, South Korea (2013), and a B.A. in English from Hanoi University, Vietnam (2009). Born and raised in Hanoi, her personal experience with state-controlled media fuels her interest in democratic journalism and the societal impacts of digital platforms.

She collaborates with faculty such as Damon Kiesow and works across disciplines to integrate data science into journalism practice, aiming to reduce the harms of technological innovations while maximizing their benefits for public knowledge and democratic engagement.