Faculty

Joshua Scacco

Associate Chair, Associate Professor
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contact information

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Office: CIS 3041

Biography

Joshua M. Scacco (PhD, University of Texas at Austin) is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Communication. Dr. Scacco also serves as a Faculty Researcher with the USF-Nielsen Sunshine State Survey and is a Faculty Research Associate with the award-winning Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. He specializes in political communication, media content and effects, and quantitative research methods.

Dr. Scacco’s research is focused on how agents and leaders in a democracy can effectively and ethically harness communication technologies to strengthen democratic governance. This position aligns with his commitment to and experience applying his research through partnerships that extend democratic representation and employ democratically-focused approaches for government officials, journalists, and citizens. He is the coauthor, with Kevin Coe, of the book The Ubiquitous Presidency: Presidential Communication and Digital Democracy in Tumultuous Times (Oxford University Press). In addition to research publications in communication, journalism, and political science journals, Dr. Scacco has applied his research in partnerships with the U.S. Department of State, news outlets and journalism nonprofits, and local governments. His perspectives also have been featured in The Washington Post, The Guardian, Newsweek, Slate, national and local podcasts, and local news outlets throughout Florida. Dr. Scacco has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work from the University of South Florida, Purdue University, the National Communication Association, American Political Science Association, and the Central States Communication Association.

Before becoming a university professor and researcher, Dr. Scacco worked in public relations at the state and federal level, and worked for a member of legislative leadership in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, as well as a U.S. senator.

RESEARCH AREAS

Political Communication, Media Content and Effects, and Quantitative Research Methods