Michael Sessa

Michael Sessa is a Ph.D. candidate who studies the relationship between queer identity and news reporting. His ongoing research explores avoidance of news, utilizing interviews and content analysis to examine ways identity mediates avoidant behaviors. Sessa teaches JOUR200: Journalism History, Roles, and Structures and JOUR150: Introduction to Mass Communication. 

Before coming to the University of Maryland, Sessa worked in a variety of reporting and editorial positions at a nonprofit newsroom in Syracuse, New York. His reporting included articles about botched collegiate conduct proceedings, lawsuits, prejudice on college campuses and an investigative series that chronicled Syracuse University’s attempts to dodge responsibility for prolific sexual abuse by a former coach. He later spent a year thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail and teaching outdoor skills and climbing.

Areas of Interest 

• Queer representation in news reporting
• Representation 
• News avoidance
• Outdoor journalism

Education 

• B.S., Syracuse University

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