معرفی
Michael Franz is the DeAlva Stanwood Alexander Professor of Government and Legal Studies at Bowdoin College, Maine. He co-directs the Wesleyan Media Project, studying political advertising trends, and previously contributed to the Wisconsin Advertising Project. His research focuses on campaign finance, political advertising, interest groups, and media's role in elections. He teaches courses on campaigns, voting behavior, and research methods.
Education: PhD (2005), MA (2000) in Political Science from University of Wisconsin-Madison; BA (1999) in Political Science from Fairfield University.
Research Interests: Franz investigates how political advertising shapes electoral outcomes, particularly digital and traditional media strategies. He analyzes interest group influence, campaign finance regulations, and the efficacy of targeted messaging. His work bridges empirical studies with policy implications, emphasizing transparency in political communications.
Recent Work Trends: His articles (2020–2025) explore digital advertising on platforms like Meta and Google, comparative ad strategies across media, and the evolving role of dark money. He also examines the FEC's regulatory dynamics and public perceptions of political ads.
Awards: His doctoral work earned the APSA’s E.E. Schattschneider Award, and a 2015 article received the Jack L. Walker, Jr. Award for Outstanding Article.
Grants/Advising: Leads major research initiatives on political advertising, co-authored influential books (e.g., Political Advertising in the United States), and collaborates with institutions like the University of Wisconsin and Wesleyan University. No formal advisee list is provided, but his projects involve graduate researchers.
Labs/Teams: Co-directs the Wesleyan Media Project, a collaborative effort tracking political ad spending and content across presidential and midterm elections.
