Professor Profile: Lei Guo

Assistant Professor, Division of Emerging Media Studies

How did you become involved in the emerging media field?

I’ve been doing research for several years. I graduated in 2014 with a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin and my main area is in media effects—basically how traditional media influences public. When I was doing research previously and when we analyzed public opinion, we used to have to do a survey. Nowadays, we have social media, we have tweets, we have Facebook, and we can access public opinion through these emerging media platforms. That’s one part of my research. I also have an interest in how ordinary people can use emerging media sites to express their needs and share their voices. I do this research in both America and China, which is my home country.

What classes do you teach at COM? Overall, what are the main topics and discussions addressed in these classes?

Currently, I teach mainly two courses. One is Communication Research (CM321/CM722) for both undergraduate and graduate students. The other is Developing Interactivity (EM757/EM889). In this course, I teach not only theoretical concepts about this interactive media environment but also hands-on skills so students can learn how to research and develop an interactive website.

In the spring 2016 semester, I will be teaching Computer Assisted Text Analysis (EM855), which is about using computer-assisted methods to analyze large-scaled data, for example, millions of tweets.

What is your advice to students interested in joining the EMS program at COM?

Students in the EMS program should be very open-minded. The reason we call it “emerging media studies” is because everything is changing. Everything is new media. Students might have some thoughts about what they want to do next, but they need to know that everything is changing—technology, our mindsets. Students will learn a lot of theories and skills and they may not expect that.

What was the most current research you’ve published? Why was this topic of interest to you?

I just finished a book, The Power of Information Networks, about media effects theories I’ve developed in the last several years—basically how media connects different things and how that affects public opinion. It will be out at the end of this year.

When you have free time, what is you favorite activity to do in Boston?

I like to go out looking for different dining options. One place I like is Shanghai Gate. I’m from Shanghai and they actually serve authentic food. I also joined a dragon boat team here with the Fudan University Alumni Association, which is the university I graduated from in Shanghai.

What is your favorite emerging media platform/device?

It’s not my favorite, but I’m interested in WeChat, which is a combination of What’sApp and Facebook, specific to China. I’m doing research on how they use it for civic engagement. It’s so easy for people to use and not just young people, but now everyone can use it no matter if they’re high tech, no matter how old they are.