2016 Presidential Election
Annenberg Public Policy Center
University of Pennsylvania
Through Factcheck.org, the Annenberg Public Policy Center at Penn confirms the facts behind claims made by political candidates. A non-partisan, non-profit project, it monitors the factual accuracy of messages from major U.S. political players in their debates, speeches, interviews, advertisements and press releases.
Media contact: Michael Rozansky at 215-746-0202 or mrozansky@asc.upenn.edu
Matthew Levendusky
Associate Professor, Political Science
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Levendusky focuses on understanding how institutions and elites influence the political behavior of ordinary citizens, the impact of partisan media on the average voter, mass polarization, elections and voter cue taking. He also works with the Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies.
Media contact: Jill DiSanto at 215-898-4820 or jdisanto@upenn.edu
Associate Professor, Political Science
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Meredith researches the restoration of voting rights of formerly incarcerated people, how America’s high rate of incarceration shapes political participation and engagement, the ways in which electoral administration shapes the outcomes of elections and how one’s perception of the overall state of the economy influences a voter’s decision-making. In addition, he is part of the Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies.
Media contact: Jill DiSanto at 215-898-4820 or jdisanto@upenn.edu
Diana Mutz
Samuel A. Stouffer Professor of Political Science and Communication
Director, Institute for the Study of Citizens and Politics
School of Arts & Sciences and the Annenberg School for Communication
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Mutz has created a measurement tool that detects how many times each candidate appears on TV during the debates, the role of the media in the election, presidential election coverage, people’s level of trust in the media, public opinion, incivility in political discourse, political discussion in the workplace, political psychology and mass political behavior.
Media contact: Julie Sloane at 215-746-1798 or jsloane@asc.upenn.edu
Daniel Gillion
Presidential Associate Professor, Political Science
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Gillion highlights the issues surrounding racial and ethnic politics, political behavior, public policy and the American presidency. He’s the author of the newly released Governing with Words: The Political Dialogue on Race, Public Policy and Inequality in America and the award-winning The Political Power of Protest: Minority Activism and Shifts in Public Policy. He also works with the Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies and the Department of Africana Studies.
Media contact: Jill DiSanto at 215-898-4820 or jdisanto@upenn.edu
Dean
Annenberg School for Communication
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Delli Carpini can talk about the presidential debates, political advertising, partisan polarization and youth voting and participation.
Media contact: Julie Sloane at 215-746-1798 or jsloane@asc.upenn.edu
Associate Professor of Communication
Annenberg School for Communication
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Pickard can discuss how the news covers the presidential candidates and the commercial imperatives that encourage the media to focus on conflict, personality quirks and other superficial aspects. His research focuses on media policy, including bias, the digital divide, media ownership and support for public broadcasting.
Media contact: Julie Sloane at 215-746-1798 or jsloane@asc.upenn.edu
Professor of Political Science and Associate Dean for Social Sciences
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Smith researches constitutional law, American political thought and modern and legal political theory, with special interests in questions of citizenship, race, ethnicity and gender. He’s the author of Still a House Divided: Race & Politics in Obama’s America, Living in a Promiseland? Mexican Immigration and American Obligations and Civic Ideals: Conflicting Visions of Citizenship in U.S. History.
Media contact: Jill DiSanto at 215-898-4820 or jdisanto@upenn.edu
Frances Yates Professor of Communication
Annenberg School for Communication
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Marvin focuses on free speech issues, along with the ritual and symbolic aspects of political and campaign communication.
Media contact: Julie Sloane at 215-746-1798 or jsloane@asc.upenn.edu
Director, Annenberg Public Policy Center
Professor, Annenberg School for Communication
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Jamieson studies political communication, rhetorical theory and criticism, campaign communication and presidential discourse. She’s authored or co-authored 15 books, including Presidents Creating the Presidency, UnSpun: Finding Facts in a World of Disinformation and The Obama Victory: How Media, Money and Messages Shaped the 2008 Election.
Media contact: Michael Rozansky and 215-746-0202 or mrozansky@asc.upenn.edu
