Joe Hayden

Dr. Joe Hayden is a Professor at the University of Memphis's Department of Journalism, based in the Meeman Journalism Building. His academic career spans over 20 years of teaching writing and media-related disciplines. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Indiana University, alongside advanced degrees in Journalism (University of Missouri) and History (Vanderbilt University), complemented by a B.A. in English from Centre College.

Dr. Hayden's research focuses on media history, political communication, and disinformation. He has authored influential works such as A History of Disinformation in the U.S. (2024) and co-produced the civil rights documentary Once More at the River (2018). His scholarship also includes studies on U.S. presidential-press relations and Southern journalism during the Civil War era.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., History, Indiana University
  • M.A., History, Vanderbilt University
  • M.A., Journalism, University of Missouri
  • B.A., English, Centre College

His accolades include the Thomas W. Briggs Award for Excellence in Teaching (2008) and a three-year Faudree Professorship (2015). Dr. Hayden has also taught internationally in Germany, Egypt, and China, reflecting his commitment to global academic exchange.

His publications on writing pedagogy, such as The Little Grammar Book and The Little Style Book, emphasize clarity and precision in communication. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary media challenges, particularly in addressing disinformation's societal impacts.