College of Journalism and Communication
University of Florida
![118537428_10108513459026868_417639814729](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d2bcf3_e7bda67bc0d64524874393dd5abcbbee~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_265,y_265,w_867,h_1050/fill/w_454,h_550,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/118537428_10108513459026868_417639814729.jpg)
Jessica F. Sparks, MA
University of Florida
College of Journalism and Communication
I am a journalist-turned-academic currently working toward a Ph.D. in mass communications at the University of Florida. My areas of interest include open records, open government, college media, news production, media trust and media credibility.
![Newspapers](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_67a6e6d64f6244788d13db9fc3e2e2db~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_38,h_26,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/11062b_67a6e6d64f6244788d13db9fc3e2e2db~mv2.jpg)
![Typewriter](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2d581bf53078d5f786db88fcd2d0b357.jpg/v1/fill/w_82,h_24,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/2d581bf53078d5f786db88fcd2d0b357.jpg)
![Interview Time](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_be86b7b07dc34c49b9a69664c83206a6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_38,h_26,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/11062b_be86b7b07dc34c49b9a69664c83206a6~mv2.jpg)
Research and Scholarship
I am currently working on my dissertation, which focuses on techniques to foster media trust among audiences. I have published work on the readability of partisan media and the effect on the pandemic on college media outlets. Additionally, I have an active research agenda focused on open records, media trust, podcasts and social media, as well as college media independence.
![74506093_10107326280651848_2987328592511](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d2bcf3_fee889f4e0c34d56ba7a65bb17437144~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_439,h_439,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/74506093_10107326280651848_2987328592511.jpg)
![64953655_10106862628150178_1146559060313](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d2bcf3_58918233b7d8494399cf8e0123577295~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_104,h_104,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/64953655_10106862628150178_1146559060313.jpg)
Teaching Portfolio
I've been teaching at the collegiate level since 2009, when I was a graduate assistant at Ball State University. In 2014, I started working full-time at Savannah State University as an instructor. In 2015, I was hired into a full-time tenure-track position as an assistant professor of journalism. In 2018, I was appointed track coordinator for the journalism concentration in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications.
In 2020, I started in the Ph.D. program at the University of Florida, where I served as teacher of record for two reporting courses in the Department of Journalism.
I've earned certifications in virtual education from the University of California- Irvine, through Coursera. I have also earned online instructor certifications at Savannah State University and the University of Florida. I am also certified and practiced in conducting study abroad courses through the University System of Georgia.
![Keyboard and Mouse](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0c2d11194b8042ca9f11f7f681339102.jpg/v1/fill/w_99,h_66,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/0c2d11194b8042ca9f11f7f681339102.jpg)