Professor and director
Center for Research in Journalism and Mass Communication

Xinshu Zhao began his career in communication as a labor worker on the assembly lines of Shanghai 27th radio factory, during the last three years of the Cultural Revolution and the two years after. He then worked for New China News Agency and People's Daily, among other news organizations, as a reporter, photographer and editor. After earning his graduate degrees in the U.S., Zhao has taught at such Chinese institutions as China University of Political Science and Law, and Renmin University's Department of Political Science, Department of International Relations and School of Journalism.

In the U.S., Zhao taught at University of Hawaii College of Business Administration, University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Pennsylvania State University College of Communications. He has done consulting work for such companies as DDB Needham Worldwide (Chicago), Public Broadcasting System's The News Hour With Jim Lehrer and the Minneapolis StarTribune. He also has also worked for Madison Academic Computing Center in Madison, WI, as a statistical and computing specialist.

Zhao's writings in English have appeared in such journals as American Behavioral Scientist, Asian Journal of Communication, Asian Survey, Communication Research, Comparative Education Review, Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics, International Journal of Advertising, International Journal of Public Opinion Research, Journal of Advertising Research, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly and Public Opinion Quarterly, in addition to several book chapters and monographs.

Zhao has authored or co-authored three books in Chinese: Breaking the Plight of Elections: the Past and the Future of Democracy (Taipei: Asia Pacific Publishing House, 2004), Plight of Elections: A Critique of the World's Election Systems and the Constitutional Reforms (Chengdu: Sichuan People's Publishing House, 2003), The Power of the Media (Guangzhou: Southern Daily Publishing House, 2002), in addition to dozens of book chapters and journal articles in Chinese.

Zhao's research interests include advertising, political communication and health communication in the United States and in China.

Office phone: (919) 962-1465
Office location: Carroll 234
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