Susan Robinson

Susan Robinson is the Helen Firstbrook Franklin Professor of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Journalism & Mass Communication since 2007. She specializes in applied research that bridges academic scholarship with newsroom practice, focusing on trust-building strategies in journalism. Her recent work includes groundbreaking books on engagement journalism and post-Trump media landscapes.

• Endowed Chairholder since 2007
• Publisher of Madison Commons hyperlocal site
• Founder of Journalism Educator Collaborative

Education:

• Ph.D in Mass Media & Communication (Temple University, 2007)
• M.A. Journalism (Northeastern University, 2000)
• B.A. Journalism (University of New Hampshire, 1994)

Research focuses on:

• Qualitative methods: ethnography, network analysis
• Trust-building paradigms
• Journalism's evolving role in democracy
• Community-based reporting practices

Current projects include a multi-phase book on journalism disruptions with Syracuse's Dr. Joshua Darr, collaborating with Trusting News and Spaceship Media. Past work has examined racial divides in media discourse and post-Trump journalism challenges.

Awards include AEJMC Tankard Book Award (2018), Krieghbaum Under-40 Award, and multiple fellowships. Teaches qualitative methods, news reporting, and social media journalism at both graduate and undergraduate levels.