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Overview
Jodi Cohen analyzes, interprets and evaluates public communication, including political speeches, debates, television, film, talk radio, and public meetings. As a communication critic, Cohen’s overriding goal is to facilitate awareness of how communication influences how we think, who we are, and what we do. Her research and teaching qualifies her to address the effectiveness of persuasive communication; the ways communication shapes cultural identities, beliefs, values, and knowledge; the ways communication can facilitate and discourage democratic decision making; how to watch television and film critically; how to critically evaluate a speech; and how to argue effectively. Her critical case studies examine the social construction of environmental risk, poverty, gender, sex, sexuality, and diversity. She teaches courses in public speaking, the criticism of popular culture, presidential rhetoric, and the relationship between language, thought, knowledge and power.


Publications
Communication Criticism, Sage Publications; "The Significance of Critical Communication Skills in a Democracy" in Public Voice in a Democracy at Risk; "Critical Viewing and Participatory Democracy" in Journal of Communication, "The ‘Relevance’ of Cultural Identity in Audiences’ Interpretations of Mass Media" in Critical Studies in Mass Communication; "Poverty: Talk, Identity, and Action" in Qualitative Inquiry "Communicating Risk through Drawing on the Words of Others” in Language and Society.