Nicole Dahmen, Ph.D.

Adjunct Professor

---

Dahmen approaches her scholarship through a normative lens, asking not just what journalism is, but what it should be. In a time of journalistic disruption, an overabundance of negative and sensational news, extreme political partisanship, and low levels of public trust in the news media, journalism can and should do better. Her research often illuminates journalism’s shortcomings, not to criticize unjustly, but to advocate for the principles of professional, credible, and ethical journalism in a democracy. Dahmen has gained a national and international reputation for her scholarship, which falls into three key areas, sometimes standing alone but more frequently intersecting: visual journalism, ethics, and contextual reporting. In sum, her research seeks to advance public-interest journalism—reporting that holds the powerful accountable, elevates underrepresented voices, and makes a positive impact in society. Her research, while academic in nature, has critical implications for the journalism profession, which is paramount in a professional discipline. When journalism is stronger and more just, society is better served. With more than 20 years of university teaching experience, Dahmen has developed and taught a range of undergraduate and graduate courses—from large lectures to hands-on labs to doctoral seminars. She’s the 2021 Scripps Howard Teacher of the Year, a prestigious award from AEJMC and Scripps Howard.

Education

Ph.D., School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007
MMC, Manship School of Mass Communication, Louisiana State University, 2001