Rico Neumann

Rico Neumann is a Research Fellow at the Center for Civil Society Research at WZB Berlin and a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Sociology, Department of Political Science and Social Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Washington (2021), an M.A. from the University of Arizona, and a B.A. from the University of Leipzig. His primary research focuses on political communication, public opinion, and intergroup phenomena, particularly examining how civil society groups navigate polarized information environments and discursive dynamics.

Neumann’s recent projects include the Einstein Research Unit on 'Coping with Affective Polarization' and the Berlin University Alliance initiative on 'Social Cohesion and Civil Society: Discourses of Cohesion.' He has published extensively on topics such as presidential discourse, media effects, and intergroup communication. His work has appeared in journals like Journalism Practice, Social Indicators Research, and International Journal of Communication.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Communication, University of Washington (2021)
  • M.A. in Communication, University of Arizona
  • B.A. in Communication and Media Studies, University of Leipzig

His research interests span political language, media effects, and the rhetoric of solidarity. He has received prestigious awards, including the Distinguished Dissertation Award and the Naomi C. Turner Prize. Neumann teaches courses on empirical research methods, media effects, and political discourse at Freie Universität Berlin and Technische Universität Berlin.

His academic service roles include Chair of the Publications Committee at WAPOR and membership on AAPOR’s Book Award Committee. He actively contributes to conferences such as the International Communication Association and World Association for Public Opinion Research.