Erika Franklin Fowler, Ph.D.

efowler@wesleyan.edu

Wesleyan University

Country: United States (Connecticut)

About Me:

Erika Franklin Fowler (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin - Madison) is Associate Professor of Government at Wesleyan University where she directs the Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks and analyzes all political and health insurance ads aired on broadcast television in real-time. Fowler specializes in political communication – local media and advertising in particular – and her work on local messaging on politics and policy has been published in political science, communication, law/policy, and medical journals. She is also co-author of Political Advertising in the United States.

Research Interests

Political Communication

Campaign Finance

Elections, Election Administration, and Voting Behavior

Health Politics and Policy

Public Opinion

Campaign Advertising

Local News

Outside Groups

Health Insurance Advertising

Politicization Of Science

Publications:

Books Written:

(2016) Political advertising in the United States, Westview Press

A comprehensive overview of political advertising in the United States, written by the co-directors of the Wesleyan Media Project, covering how advertising is created, tested, and targeted along with what is known about the content and effect of advertising in elections.

Media Appearances:

TV Appearances:

(2012) PBS Frontline/Marketplace

Interview in "Big Sky, Big Money" Investigative Documentary

Radio Appearances:

(2016) NPR

Interview on "All Things Considered"

Newspaper Quotes:

(2017) USA Today

Interview about 2016 presidential advertising

Blog Posts:

(2017) The Washington Post

The Monkey Cage blog post, "Here's how local TV news is making it harder for the Senate to repeal Obamacare"