معرفی
Michael W. Wagner is a Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication and the William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is Director of the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal (CCCR) and Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC). He holds additional appointments in the La Follette School of Public Affairs and the Department of Political Science.
His research examines how individuals' experiences in the information ecology influence their beliefs, policy preferences, and civic/political participation. Key areas include political communication, public opinion, and representation, with four major lines of inquiry: (1) media message influence, (2) psychological/contextual factors, (3) news logics in political coverage, and (4) industry-academy collaborations. He employs mixed methods including panel surveys, experiments, content analysis, and interdisciplinary approaches.
- Education: Bachelor of Journalism (University of Nebraska, 1998), Ph.D. in Political Science (Indiana University, 2006)
The 15 most recent publications highlight his work in energy systems, including concentrated solar power (CSP) design, nuclear-solar hybrid models, battery degradation, and dispatch optimization. These articles emphasize computational modeling, thermal engineering, and renewable integration challenges, though they appear unrelated to his primary social science focus.
- Scientific Awards: Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, Ken and Linda Ciriacks Outreach Award, four top article awards from ICA/AEJMC
He has advised over 10 Ph.D. students and served on 50+ committees across six departments. His grants include $11M+ from NSF, Knight Foundation, and Tow Foundation. As CCCR director, he leads a team of 25+ researchers, organizing conferences and fostering democracy-related communication studies.
