News Over Noise Episode 101: News Avoidance and Why It Matters
The U.S. has one of the highest-news avoidance rates in the world, with more than 42 percent of Americans saying they actively avoid the news. On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Leah Dajches and Matt Jordan talk with Dr. Kirsten Eddy about news avoidance, what it is, and why it matters. They also offer some strategies for how to overcome your own reluctance to engage with journalism.
Special thanks to guest:
Kirsten Eddy is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, a senior researcher with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and a research affiliate with UNC’s Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life.
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Episode Credits:
- Matt Jordan, Host
- Leah Dajches, Host
- Lindsey Whissel Fenton, Producer
- Mindy McMahon, Executive Producer
- Holly Lowe, Project Development Manager
- Clint Yoder, Audio Recordist and Audio Mix
- Kristin Bittner, Instructional Designer
- Katie O’Toole, Advisor
- Greg Petersen, Advisor
- Sydney Forde, Graduate Assistant
Leah Dajches, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral scholar at Pennsylvania State University working on the News Literacy Initiative. Her research focuses on media representation, effects, and literacy as it relates to adolescent development and marginalized group experiences. In particular, Leah is interested in understanding the role of entertainment media and fandom in various components of identity development. Her research has been published in top-tier journals such as Health Communication, Journal of Children and Media, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, and Psychology of Popular Media, among others. When she’s not in the studio or the office, Leah enjoys playing tennis, baking gluten-free/vegan pastries, and spoiling her cats and dog.
Matt Jordan is head of the Department of Film Production and Media Studies in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State University, and Director of the News Literacy Initiative. He writes and teaches classes about how today’s media systems have been altered by digital technology and what it means for democracy. He is executive producer of the documentary series HumIn Focus and author of dozens of articles and books on popular culture in America and Europe. His latest book is Danger Sound Klaxon! The Horn that Changed History.
News Over Noise is produced by the Penn State, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications and WPSU. This program has been funded by the office of the Executive Vice President and Provost of Penn State and is part of the Penn State News Literacy Initiative.
News Over Noise is a co-production of WPSU and Penn State’s Bellisario College of Communications.