Research
My research examines how digital platforms are reshaping the practice and distribution of journalism, with a particular focus on Reddit as a news ecosystem. Using computational and quantitative content analysis methods, I study how journalism organizations and everyday users compete for authority in user-governed news spaces. This work draws on gatekeeping theory, boundary work, and participatory journalism frameworks to understand how platform affordances shape news flows in online communities.
Current projects include a study of r/worldnews examining how news travels through large Reddit communities, and a quantitative content analysis of r/politics investigating boundary work between professional journalism organizations and average users. I am also developing a survey instrument targeting Reddit news moderators to better understand how platform-level governance intersects with journalistic norms.
Earlier work examined audience media experiences and the external forces that shape them — including a content analysis of FiveThirtyEight.com following its merger with the New York Times, a coauthored study of ESPN’s Top 10 Plays segment, and research on how live polling overlays in political debate broadcasts may influence viewer preferences. More recent work explored how recommendation algorithms on platforms like Netflix may shape how audiences enjoy content.
An up-to-date list of publications is available on my Google Scholar profile.
Teaching
As a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University, I teach a range of journalism courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Current courses include Introduction to Journalism, Critical Analysis of Journalism, Feature Story Writing, and Sports Communication. I have also taught courses on online journalism, web design, social media, multimedia technologies, and — at the doctoral level — Algorithms and Society. I serve as faculty advisor for the Mace & Crown, ODU’s student newspaper.
Contact
Please feel free to contact me at jeremy (at) jeremysaks.com.