Intergenerational communication is not always an easy thing. Add in politics and an increasingly polarized country and it can become even more difficult. As college students come home for the holidays, it could be easy to prepare to clash with Gen Z and worry about having more conflict than connection.
Dr. Jennifer Thompson sat down with Dr. Lindsay Hoffman, associate professor of communication and political science at the University of Delaware, to talk her experience working with students to have respectful conversation about their political values. She shares a refreshing optimism about this generation of students, their openness and curiosity, and gives us some concrete tips for engaging in civil discourse with them.
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Show Notes:
Lindsay’s interview with Joe Biden and John Kasich
The National Agenda Speaker Series
Heterodox Academy and Lindsay’s panel with Heterodox on polarization on campus
Free Intelligent Conversations
Three Strategies for Moral Disagreement, Heterodox Academy
About our guest:
Dr. Lindsay Hoffman joined the faculty of the Department of Communication at the University of Delaware in September, 2007 after receiving her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. Her research examines how citizens use internet technology to become engaged with politics and their communities. She also studies individual and contextual effects of media on individuals’ perceptions of public opinion; the effects of viewing political satire on knowledge and participation; social capital and communication; and factors leading to public-affairs news use.
Dr. Hoffman’s research is theoretically grounded in political communication, mass communication, and public opinion. Her work emphasizes both the social circumstances and psychological predispositions that influence individual media uses and effects. Her research also examines the components of mediated messages that encourage individuals to participate in — or distance themselves from — political activities such as voting, news viewing, or simply expressing opinion.
Dr. Hoffman holds a joint appointment in the Department of Political Science and International Relations, and is the Associate Director of the Center for Political Communication. She is also the Director of the annual National Agenda Speaker and Film Series. She teaches courses in political communication, politics and technology, media effects, and research methods.