Matthew C. Nisbet

Associate Professor of Communication, Northeastern University

Matthew C. Nisbet, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Communication Studies, Public Policy, and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University. Nisbet studies the role of communication and advocacy in policymaking and public affairs, focusing on debates over over climate change, energy, and sustainability. Among awards and recognition, Nisbet has been a Visiting Shorenstein Fellow on Press, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, a Health Policy Investigator at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and a Google Science Communication Fellow. In 2011, the editors at the journal Nature recommended Nisbet's research as “essential reading for anyone with a passing interest in the climate change debate,” and the New Republic highlighted his work as a “fascinating dissection of the shortcomings of climate activism."

Everything Videos Articles

Reinventing the System to Engage the Public

New models for media and better media literacy are important but not enough; we need to reexamine our public institutions, from local to federal levels.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Are Atheists or Believers Better Bloggers?

Atheists honed their online chops earlier than most religious bloggers, but church-goers have the advantage of large non-virtual communities that can be leveraged on the Internet.

Matthew C. Nisbet

How the Oil Spill Has Changed Public Opinion

Before the oil spill, the public favored energy exploration and economic development over environmental protection. Six weeks later, that public preference had flipped.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Why Internet Rumors Spread So Quickly

People tend to self-select themselves into ideological echo chambers, says Nisbet.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Bloggers Need Traditional Media

One survey found that 90% of all the information on blogs and independent media sites was repackaged from traditional news sources.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Is the Internet Making Us Smarter or Stupider?

The answer lies somewhere in between, says Nisbet.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Is This an Age of Engagement or Distraction?

Nisbet talks about his new blog, which will discuss the intersections of communication, culture, and public affairs.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Big Think Interview with Matthew Nisbet

A conversation with the professor and blogger.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet On Public Relations for Science

The same concepts that apply to a political campaign also work when communicating science explains Matthew Nisbet.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet On Balancing Education and Entertainment

Matthew Nisbet must first garner attention, then deliver useful information.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet On Studying Audience Behavior

New campaigns often use the same techniques to communicate, however Matthew Nisbet points out that this involves more than simplification.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet Explains “The Paradigm Sheep”

Matthew Nisbet explains an article that documents the history of a paradigm shift in the public relationship to science.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet On Crisis Management 101

PR advice to politicians from expert Matthew Nisbet.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet Outlines Successful Strategies

The best communicators focus on motivation, emotion, and framing, explains Matthew Nisbet.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet Weighs The Pros and Cons of Richard Dawkins

Matthew Nisbet walks a fine line in the age-old debate between religion and science.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet On How to Communicate the Climate Crisis

According to Matthew Nisbet, those who frame the issue most convincingly will win the global warming debate.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Wagging the Dog: Media and Public Policy

Matthew Nisbet emphasizes the cyclical nature of the relationship between public policy and media.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet Discusses A Case Study in Pharmaceutical PR

Pharmaceuticals know that trust comes with transparency and accessibility to information, says Matthew Nisbet.

Matthew C. Nisbet

Matthew Nisbet On Barack Obama as Master Communicator

Matthew Nisbet explains Obama’s appeal.

Matthew C. Nisbet

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