معرفی
Jessica Sparks serves as Assistant Professor of Journalism in Auburn University's School of Communication & Journalism, researching news trust, credibility, transparency, and college media independence. Previously at Savannah State University, she led journalism programs and advised student media. With a decade of professional journalism experience at outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, she specializes in local news and politics.
Education:
- Ph.D., Mass Communication, University of Florida
- M.A., Digital Storytelling, Ball State University
- Honors B.S., Journalism (News/Editorial), Ball State University
Her research investigates how transparency practices (e.g., open records) influence media credibility and how readability serves as a heuristic for news judgment. She examines college media independence amid financial/editorial pressures, political journalism dynamics including partisan podcast consumption, and leaked document effects through communication theory integrated with practical journalism challenges.
Recent publications (2023-2025) address media credibility heuristics, college journalism sustainability, and political communication. Key studies analyze leaked documents' impact on trust, readability's role in credibility assessment, and legal/financial threats to student media independence using experimental, survey, and content analysis methodologies.
Dr. Sparks has advised student media at Savannah State University. While specific grants are not detailed, her active publication record in communication law and media trust indicates ongoing research projects that may involve external funding.
