معرفی
Rachel R. Mourão is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of Journalism and Media Management at the University of Miami, focusing on political news narratives about social movements and protests in Brazil and the United States. Her research addresses journalism's role in improving democratic discourse amid social inequality and declining media trust.
She earned her PhD from The University of Texas at Austin.
Mourão's scholarship centers on three core questions: how political news about protests is shaped by internal/external influences; how media fragmentation challenges news creation/consumption; and journalism's interdisciplinary role in solving societal issues. Her work bridges political communication, media studies, and protest dynamics, emphasizing real-world applications for journalistic practice.
Her recent publications (2019-2024) reveal consistent analysis of protest coverage across diverse contexts including the US Capitol Insurrection, Black Lives Matter, Ferguson, and Brazilian demonstrations. Key themes include ideological biases in reporting, social media's impact on news consumption, disinformation ecosystems, and the evolution of anti-government movements, demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches to strengthening democratic processes through media.
Mourão has received significant recognition:
- 2024 Top Faculty Paper, Community Journalism Interest Group, AEJMC
- 2023 Distinguished Partnership Award for International Community-Engaged Scholarship, Michigan State University
- 2021 Teacher-Scholar Award (Michigan State University-wide)
- 2019 Top Reviewer, ICA Journalism Studies Division
- 2017 Gene Burd Outstanding Dissertation Award, ICA
- Dissertation award, AEJMC Mass Communication and Society Division
As Graduate Director, Mourão mentors students and oversees academic programs. She has secured major grant funding for collaborative initiatives:
- 2022-24: Mott Foundation grant for "Energy Convergence for Off-Grid Amazonian Communities Program" (Co-PI)
- 2020-23: NSF grant for "GCR – Convergence for Innovative Energy Solutions" (Co-PI)
- 2018-19: U.S. State Department grant for "Michigan-Brazil Multimedia Journalism Program" (Co-PI)
- 2018-19: U.S. State Department grant for "Michigan-Chile Investigative Journalism Program" (Co-PI)
