Bryan McLaughlin

Biography

Bryan McLaughlin (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison) is an associate professor in the department of Advertising and Brand Strategies. Most broadly, his research interests include political communication, media effects, and social identity. More specifically, he examines how political narratives are processed and experienced by citizens, and the consequences of these experiences on attitudes and political conflict. His current research examines problematic news consumption and its implications for individual and societal health.

Selected Publications

• McLaughlin, B., Gotlieb, M.R., Mills, D.J., Serra, M., & Cloudy, J. (2024).  Living in a (mediated) political world: Mindfulness, problematic news consumption, and political hostility. Communication Research, online first.

• McLaughlin, B., Gotlieb, M.R., Mills, D.J. (2023).  Caught in a dangerous world: Problematic news consumption and its relationship to mental and physical ill-being. Health Communication, 38(12), 2687-2697.

• McLaughlin, B., Wilkinson, K., Rendon, H., & Martinez, T.J. (2022). Deliberating alone: Deliberative bias and giving up on political talk. Human Communication Research, 48(4), 579-590.

• McLaughlin, B. (2020). Tales of conflict: Narrative immersion and support for political aggression in the United States. Media Psychology, 23, 579-602.

• McLaughlin, B., Velez, J., & Dunn, J. (2019). The political world within: How citizens process and experience political narratives. Annals of International Communication Association, 43, 156-172.

Teaching Focus

My teaching interests include consumer insights, advertising research, mass communication theory, political advertising, and public opinion.

• Advertising Research & Consumer Insights (MCOM 3318)
• Advertising Media Planning (ADV 3351)
• Public Opinion (MCOM 5344)
• Advanced Theory (MCOM 6366)

Leadership & Awards

• AEJMC Senior Scholar Award, 2025, Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication
• Sharon Dunwoody Early Career Award, 2025, University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Journalism & Mass Communication
• Billy I. Ross Mass Communications Faculty Achievement Award, 2024, Texas Tech University, College of Media & Communication
• Reviewer of the Year, 2023, Mass Communication & Society
• Texas Tech University Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Research Award, 2022
• Head, Political Communication Interest Group, Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication, August 2018 - August 2019
• AEJMC Emerging Scholar Award, 2017, Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication