Gyo Hyun Koo, Ph.D.

Hello, and welcome to my website! 

I'm Gyo "Hyun" Koo, an Assistant Professor of Communication, Culture, and Media Studies at Howard University in Washington, D.C. I hold a Ph.D. in Journalism & Media from The University of Texas at Austin, where my dissertation examined how news exemplifications influence perceptions of political polarization. 

My research focuses on how communication technologies shape people's knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors, with particular attention to their implications for democracy, science, and public health. I use experimental and computational methods to study how information technologies and their affordances, as well as the people who design and use them, shape perceptions of other citizens and beliefs about and dissemination of mis/disinformation. I also examine how platform governance and content moderation influence online engagement. My work develops interventions to support sustainable and culturally responsible media environments, strengthen newsroom practices, correct public misperceptions, and promote news literacy.  On the "Research" tab, you’ll find a list of my publications—please feel free to reach out if you’d like an online copy of any paper. 

My research has been recognized with the Mass Communication and Society Research Award from AEJMC, the Gene Burd Urban Journalism Research Grant, and multiple Top Paper Awards from AEJMC.

At Howard, I teach courses in Political Communication and Public Opinion, Media Ethics, Computational Methods,  Communication Theory, and Health Communication and Technology. I also share resources for students on this website, including tips and advice for PhD students at various stages of their journey. Feel free to explore, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you'd like to connect or have any questions!