Media advisory: CSU experts and story ideas for 2024 election coverage
As a land-grant institution, Colorado State University is committed to protecting democracy and preparing the next generation of leaders to confront the world’s greatest challenges. With the 2024 election poised to be one of the most consequential in modern history, this mission is more important than ever.
Below is a list of CSU experts who are available to discuss the 2024 election and potential story ideas to assist you in your coverage. To arrange interviews, please contact Jennifer Dimas at [email protected] or Allison Sylte at [email protected].
New research: Trust in elections shapes more than just voter turnout, study reveals
A recent Colorado State University study examining the interplay between trust in the electoral process and political participation has revealed some significant differences between liberals and conservatives. Using data from a comprehensive survey of more than 8,000 U.S. adults, conducted around the 2020 general election, the research highlights how political beliefs can shape civic engagement in democratic processes beyond voting.
How does the Electoral College work, and why does it exist?
With both major candidates seemingly in a dead heat in polling, the Electoral College will once again take center stage as the first votes are tallied. Matthew Hitt, an associate professor of political science at CSU, can discuss the history of this uniquely American institution, how it works and who it most benefits.
How CSU is preparing its students to be engaged in civic life on campus and beyond
Colorado State University has a mission this election season: to get 80% of its students to vote. It’s an audacious goal, but students and campus leaders are committed to making it happen. Numerous people on campus are available for interviews about student engagement and efforts to make democracy a focus at CSU during the election year and beyond.
From Joe Rogan to Greg Gutfeld, more conservative comedians are stepping into the spotlight
Nick Marx, an associate professor of Communication Studies at Colorado State University, shared how right wing comedy is making its impact on culture and how we vote.
How do you know your vote is secure?
CSU Computer Science Professor Indrajit Ray has been studying election security for decades. He can share his insights about the cybersecurity processes that keep votes safe.
Does the future of democracy depend on Nextdoor?
Kjerstin Thorson, the dean of the CSU College of Liberal Arts, researches digital platforms and their role in our civic lives. She is currently part of a National Science Foundation study on volunteer moderators of social media groups in local communities. The project is designed to help local community groups combat information threats that emerge around political issues.
How do we navigate AI in the 2024 election and beyond?
Bruce Draper is the chair of the Colorado State University Department of Computer Science and formerly worked for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He can share insights into how to tell whether content is real or AI, as well as what social media companies are doing to combat fake images on their platforms.
How to navigate the world of politics with family and friends who you might disagree with
It’s an intense election year, and politics tend to dominate pretty much every conversation, even if you don’t want it to. CSU Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Natalie Pennington’s research focuses on the dynamics of friendship, and she can share some tips for navigating potentially awkward conversations on and offline.
Additional CSU experts:
Martín Carcasson, professor, Department of Communication Studies
Carcasson is the founder and director of the CSU Center for Public Deliberation, an impartial resource dedicated to enhancing local democracy in Northern Colorado. His research focuses on helping local communities address “wicked problems” more productively through improved public communication, community problem solving and collaborative decision-making.
Courtenay Daum, professor, Department of Political Science
Daum’s research focuses on the interaction between law and society, including LGBTQ politics, intersectional and feminist legal theories, and organized interest mobilization and litigation in the courts. She can speak to LGBTQ politics, gender and the law, gender and politics, critical race theory, U.S. civil rights and civil liberties, social justice movements and American constitutional law.
Robert Duffy, professor, Department of Political Science
Duffy’s research focuses on a variety of environmental and energy issues, environmental policy, and the role of organized interests in federal elections. He can also speak to Colorado elections, both state and federal.
Peter Harris, associate professor, Department of Political Science
Harris teaches classes related to international security, U.S. foreign policy and international relations. His research focuses on U.S. foreign relations in the Indo-Pacific region and, particularly, diplomacy between the U.S. and China.
Kyle Saunders, professor, Department of Political Science
Saunders’ primary interests are in American politics: political parties, political behavior, public opinion, national and Colorado elections and public policy. Saunders also studies energy policy and election administration and survey methodology.
Karrin Vasby Anderson, professor, Department of Communication Studies
Vasby Anderson researches the culture of politics and the politics of culture, examining the ways in which political identity is rhetorically constructed and contested in popular media. She has authored numerous pieces for The Conversation analyzing current political discourse, including the presidential and vice presidential debates.