Distinguished Research Professor · Political Science · University of Salamanca

Distinguished Professor of Media Effects & AI · Media Studies · Pennsylvania State University

Senior Research Fellow · Facultad de Comunicación y Letras · Universidad Diego Portales

Education

2008. Ph.D. in Mass Communication with a distributed minor in New Media at University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

2006. Summer Doctoral Programme at Oxford Internet Institute in the University of Oxford, UK.

2006. Ph.D. in European Studies (Estudios Europeos) at Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain.

2003. Master in Journalism & Mass Communication at University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

1999. Postgraduate studies in Multimedia and New Technologies at IMEFE. This is a 250 hours course (25 credits) of professional and practical training at Dysoft Company.

1999. B.A. (Licenciatura) in Information Sciences: Journalism at Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

 

Grants & Awards

2021. Spanish National Research Agency’s Program for the Generation of Knowledge and Scientific and Technological Strengthening Research + Development Grant PID2020-115562GB-I00. (PI – $198,401). “Youth Political Socialization, Journalism and Social Media: Understanding Democracy in Contentious Times.”

2021.  Identified as the most bridging intermediary and second most central node author in the field of Communication, according to a study on Latin American research networks: Segado-Boj, F., Prieto-Gutiérrez, J. J., & Díaz-Campo, J. (2021). Redes de coautorías de la investigación española y latinoamericana en Comunicación (2000-2019): cohesión interna y aislamiento transcontinental. Profesional de la Información, 30(3).

2020. Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications ‘VISION 2020’ Grant at Pennsylvania State University. Co-PI with Chris Skurka ($3,150). – Tuning out the news? A selective exposure study examining the behavioral correlates of news fatigue and the news-finds-me perception

2020.  Identified as one of the most prolific scholars in the field of Political Communication and Social Media over the 2008 to 2018 decade, according to a study on Political Communication publications in top JCR journals: Sierra, A. & Rodríguez-Virgili, J. (2020). Political Communication and Social Media: State of Art from 2008 to 2018. Revista Mediterránea de Comunicación. 11(1) 245-260. doi:10.14198/ MEDCOM2020.11.1.21

2020. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Worldwide Highly Cited Scholar. – “Each year, Clarivate™ identifies the world’s most influential researchers ─ the select few who have been most frequently cited by their peers over the last decade. In 2020, fewer than 6,200, or about 0.1%, of the world’s researchers, in 21 research fields and across multiple fields, have earned this exclusive distinction. You are among this elite group recognized for your exceptional research influence, demonstrated by the production of multiple highly-cited papers that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and year in the Web of Science.”

2020. Top Faculty Research Paper Poster Award at the Political Communication Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Paper: How Do People Learn About Public Affairs When Incidentally Exposed to News? Clarifying Political Knowledge Paradoxical Direct and Indirect Effects. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. {AEJMC} San Francisco, CA, USA.

2020. Top Faculty Research Paper Award at the Participatory Journalism Interest Group of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Paper:

Citizen News Content Creation: Perceptions on Professional Journalists and the Additive Double Moderating Role of Social Media. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. {AEJMC} San Francisco, CA, USA.

2020.   Identified as one of the most influential scholars in the field of Communication based on an Editorial Board Interlocking Network Analysis study: Goyanes, M., & De-Marcos, L. (2020). Academic influence and invisible colleges through editorial board interlocking in communication sciences: a social network analysis of leading journals. Scientometrics, 123(2), 791-811.

2018 – 2019. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in Social Sciences (Psychology): Vargas-Salfate, S., Paez, D., Khan, S., Liu, H.J., and Gil de Zúñiga, H. (2018). System Justification Enhances Well-being: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Palliative Function of System Justification in 18 Countries. British Journal of Social Psychology 57(3) 567–590 

2017 – 2018 – 2019. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Weeks, B., Ardèvol-Abreu, A., and Gil de Zúñiga, H. (2017).  Online Influence? Social Media Use, Opinion Leadership, and Political Persuasion. International Journal of Public Opinion Research 29(2), 214–239  

2017 – 2018 – 2019. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Gil de Zúñiga, H., Weeks, B., and Ardèvol-Abreu, A. (2017). Effects of the ‘News Finds Me’ Perception in Communication: Social Media Use Implications for News Seeking and Learning About Politics. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 22(3) 105–123.

2017 – 2018 – 2019. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Gil de Zúñiga, H., Molyneux, L., and Zheng, P. (2014). Social media, political expression and political participation: Panel analysis of lagged and concurrent relationships. Journal of Communication. 64(4) 612-634.

2013 – 2014 – 2015 – 2016 – 2017 – 2018 – 2019. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Gil de Zúñiga, H., Jung, N., & Valenzuela, S. (2012). Social media use for news and individuals’ social capital, civic engagement and political participation. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 17(3), 319-336.

2012 – 2013 – 2014 – 2015 – 2016 – 2017 – 2018 – 2019. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Gil de Zúñiga, H., & Valenzuela, S. (2011). The mediating path to a stronger citizenship: Online and offline networks, weak ties and civic engagement. Communication Research 38(3), 397-421.

2011 – 2012 – 2013 – 2014 – 2015 – 2016 – 2017 – 2018 – 2019. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in Psychology/Psychiatry: Correa, T., Willard, A., & Gil de Zúñiga, H. (2010). Who interacts on the Web? The intersection of users’ personality and social media use. Computers in Human Behavior. 26, 247-253

2015 – 2016 – 2017 – 2018. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Gil de Zúñiga, H., García, V., and McGregor, S. (2015). What is second screening? Exploring motivations of second screen use and its effects on online political participation. Journal of Communication, 65(5) 793–815. 

2019. Selected as Fellow to the International Communication Association. 

2018. Recipient of the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) 2017 Denis McQuail Award: “The award was established in honor of Denis McQuail and is awarded each year to the best article advancing communication theory published in a peer-reviewed journal in the previous year.” Paper: Gil de Zúñiga, H., Weeks, B., and Ardèvol-Abreu, A. (2017). Effects of the ‘News Finds Me’ Perception in Communication: Social Media Use Implications for News Seeking and Learning About Politics. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 22(3) 105–123.

2018. Portuguese Science Foundation grant PTDC/CPO-CPO/28495/2017 for HATE project Grant. International Project Investigator, with Prof. Susana Salgado as PI ($288,444). 

2018. Internationalization in the Humanities Grant by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research Grant. Member in the executive committee and co-participant, with Prof. Marcel Broersma as PI ($73,200). “Practices, discourse and re-definition of journalistic roles in social media: A comparative study of Twitter and Instagram digital platforms.”

 

2018. International Associated Researcher to Chilean Ministry of Education’s Fondecyt Grant #1180443. With Prof. Claudia Mellado as PI ($400,000). “Practices, discourse and re-definition of journalistic roles in social media: A comparative study of Twitter and Instagram digital platforms.”

2018. Best Information Technology & Politics Published Article of the Year Award from the American Political Science Association. Paper: Gil de Zúñiga, H., Weeks, B., and Ardèvol-Abreu, A. (2017). Effects of the ‘News Finds Me’ Perception in Communication: Social Media Use Implications for News Seeking and Learning About Politics. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 22(3) 105–123. Assigned by the American Political Science Association. {APSA} Boston, Massachusetts.

2018. Top Faculty Research Paper Award at the Communicating Science, Health, Environment, & Risk Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Paper: Diehl, T., Huber, B., Gil de Zuñiga, H., Liu, J. Social Media and Concerns about Global Climate Change: News Use and Political Ideology in 20 Countries. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. {AEJMC} Washington, D.C.

2018. Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University Top List of most influential papers published in the field of journalism in 2018.
– Gil de Zúñiga, H., Diehl, T., and Ardèvol-Abreu, A. (2018).When Citizens and Journalists Interact on Twitter: Expectations of Journalists’ Performance on Social Media and Perceptions of Media Bias. Journalism Studies 19(2) 227–246

2018. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly Outstanding Research Article Award (Finalist) published in the year 2017.
– Yoo, S. W., Kim, J., and Gil de Zúñiga, H. (2017). Cognitive Benefits for Senders: Antecedents and Effects of Political Expression on Social Media. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. 94(1) 17–37

2018. Robert M. Worcester Prize for Outstanding Article Published in the International Journal of Public Opinion Research in the year 2017. Assigned by the World Association for Public Opinion Research
– Weeks, B., Ardèvol-Abreu, A., and Gil de Zúñiga, H. (2017). Online Influence? Social Media Use, Opinion Leadership, and Political Persuasion. International Journal of Public Opinion Research 29(2), 214–239

2015 – 2017. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Gil de Zúñiga, H., García, V., and McGregor, S. (2015). What is second screening? Exploring motivations of second screen use and its effects on online political participation. Journal of Communication, 65(5) 793–815

2011 – 2017. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in Psychology/Psychiatry: Correa, T., Willard, A., & Gil de Zúñiga, H. (2010). Who interacts on the Web? The intersection of users’ personality and social media use. Computers in Human Behavior. 26, 247-253

2013 – 2017. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Gil de Zúñiga, H., Jung, N., & Valenzuela, S. (2012). Social media use for news and individuals’ social capital, civic engagement and political participation. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 17(3), 319-336

2017. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Weeks, B., Ardèvol-Abreu, A., and Gil de Zúñiga, H. (2017).  Online Influence? Social Media Use, Opinion Leadership, and Political Persuasion. International Journal of Public Opinion Research 29(2), 214–239 

2017. Web of Science/Journal of Citations Report Top 1% Highly Cited Paper in General Social Sciences: Gil de Zúñiga, H., Weeks, B., and Ardèvol-Abreu, A. (2017). Effects of the ‘News Finds Me’ Perception in Communication: Social Media Use Implications for News Seeking and Learning About Politics. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication 22(3) 105–123

2017. All Divisions’ conference wide News Audience Research Top Paper Award at Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Paper: Multi-Platform News Use and Political Participation across Age Groups. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. {AEJMC} Chicago, IL.

2017. Top Faculty Research Paper Award at the Political Communication Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Paper: Social Media as a Sphere for “Risky” Political Expression: A 20-Country Multi-Level Comparative Analysis. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. {AEJMC} Chicago, IL.

2015. Krieghbaum Under-40 Awardat the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). – “This award was created and funded by the late Hillier Krieghbaum, New York, a long-time AEJMC member and a past president, to honor AEJMC members under 40 years of age who have shown outstanding achievement and effort in AEJMC’s three key areas: teaching, research and public service.”

2015. Top Faculty Research Paper Award at the Political Communication Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Paper: Motivations for Political Discussion: Antecedents and Consequences on Civic Participation. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. {AEJMC} San Francisco, CA.

2015. Recipient of the Cátedra de Excelencia de Investigación (Excellence Research Chair) at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain.

2014. Outstanding Journal Article of the Year in Journalism Studies (Honorable Mention): Awarded by the Journalism Division of the International Communication Association {ICA}. Paper: Gil de Zúñiga, H., & Hinsley, A. (2013). The press versus the public: What is “good journalism? Journalism Studies 14(6) 926-942.

2014. Top Faculty Research Paper Award at the Communication Technology Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication {AEJMC}. Paper: Gaming Social Capital: Finding Civic Value in Multiplayer Video Games. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. {AEJMC} Montreal, Canada.

2014. Top Faculty Research Paper Award at the Political Communication Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Paper:
Cognitive Benefits for Senders: Antecedents and Effects of Political Expression on Social Media. Association for Education in Journalism and MassCommunication.
{AEJMC} Montreal, Canada.

2014. Top Faculty Research Paper Award at the Participatory Journalism Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Paper: Reciprocity and the News: The Role of Personal and Social Media Reciprocity in News Creation and Consumption. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. {AEJMC} Montreal, Canada.

2014. Research grant from the Asian Office of Aerospace Research & Development ($2,274,126). Co-PI (with Prof. James Liu).  – “Implicit and explicit attitudes towards Americans in socio-digital influence: Trust and social identity in cyberspace.”

2013. Top Faculty Research Paper Award at the Mass Communication Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication {AEJMC} Paper: News Use and Cognitive Elaboration the Mediating Role of People’s Perceptions of Media Complex Issues Comprehension. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. {AEJMC} Washington, DC.

2013. Top Faculty Research Paper Award at the Communication, Theory & Methodology Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication {AEJMC} Paper: The Peripheral Elaboration Model: How Incidental News Exposure Predicts Political Participation. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Washington D.C

2013. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s Baskett Mosse Award for Faculty Development. – “The Baskett Mosse Award for Faculty Development recognizes an outstanding young or midcareer faculty member in journalism or mass communication. Its recipient is awarded a stipend to be used toward work on a development or enrichment activity in any appropriate aspect of teaching, research or public service.”

2013. Center for European Studies and European Union’s Faculty Research Award at University of Texas – Austin.

2013. Department of Education & European Commission of the European Union for the Center for European Studies at University of Texas – Austin.
 “European Public Sphere: Understanding the Role of Mass Media and Interpersonal Discussion in Shaping Today’s European Citizenship.”

2012. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication‘s Presidential Citation for Outstanding Service & Dedication.

2012. Distinguished Political Communication Research Award (Top Three) for outstanding scholarly journal article published in the field of Political Communication. Awarded by the Political Communication Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication {AEJMC} Paper: Gil de Zúñiga, H., & Valenzuela, S. (2011). The mediating path to a stronger citizenship: Online and offline networks, weak ties and civic engagement. Communication Research 38(3), 397-421.

2012. Summer Research Assignment Grant at University of Texas – Austin.

2012. University of Texas’ College of Communication: New Agendas series grant.
 “New Technologies & Civic Engagement: New Agendas in Communication.”

2012. Top Research Paper Award at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s Newspaper and Online News Division {AEJMC} Paper: Gil de Zúñiga, H., & Willard-Hinsley (2012). The press versus the public: What is “good journalism? Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Chicago, IL.

2012. Student Enrichment Funds Grant at University of Texas – Austin.

2012. Department of  Education & European Commission of the European Union for the Center for European Studies at University of Texas – Austin.
 “European Public Sphere: Understanding the Role of Mass Media and Interpersonal Discussion in Shaping Today’s European Citizenship.”

2011. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s Mass Communication and Society Research Award.
 “Digital Democracy as Social Experience: Understanding How Social Media is Shaping Today’s Civil Society.” 

2011. Legacy Scholar Grant by the Arthur W. Page Center at Penn State University. “The dialogic potential of Social Media: Assessing the reasoning of companies’ public relations on Twitter and Facebook.”

2011. Nominated to the University Co-operative Society Research Excellence Award for the category of 2010 “Best Research Paper Award” at University of Texas – Austin. “The Dean of each College in the University may submit one nominee for the University Co-operative Society Research Excellence Award. The award will be accompanied by a $5,000 check.”

2011. College of Communication Grant Preparation Award at University of Texas – Austin.

2010. Title VI Award for National Resource Center, Department of Education for the Center for European Studies at University of Texas – Austin. Grant research participant – Member of the executive committee administering the grant with Prof. Douglas Biow as PI.

2010. Dean’s Fellow, College of Communication, University of Texas – Austin.  

2010. Top Research Paper Award at International Symposium on Online Journalism {ISOJ}.

2010. College of Communication Junior Faculty Fellow Award at University of Texas – Austin. 

2009. Study Breaks Magazine “Top Professor.” SB Magazine is a student oriented publication at University of Texas – Austin. The magazine is entirely “produced by students, for the students.”

2009. Programa Interinstitucional de Estudios sobre la Región de América del Norte {PIERAN}. Grant Project to clarify Media Uses and Mexican Immigration in the USA and Canada. Co-PI with Dr. Sara Nuñez de Prado at Tecnológico de Monterrey – Guadalajara.  

2008. Appointed Reddick Fellow by the Dean of the College of Communication at University of Texas – Austin.

2008. College of Communication’s Summer Fellowship at University of Texas – Austin.

2007. Department of Information Technology’s Engage Podcasting Plus Award.

2007. European Union Center of Excellence Grant funded by the European Commission.

2006. LACIS’ Tinker Nave Field Research Grant.

2006. Department of Information Technology‘s Adaptation Award.

2006. Walden Jay and Clara Charlotte Damm Research Award.

2006. Vilas Research Fellowship.

2005. Participant of the National Communication Association’s Doctoral Honors Seminar.

2005. Graduate Student Council Mentor Award.

2005. Neil Shively and the Fodder & Starching Society Scholarship.

2004. Top Paper Award – Naomi C. Turner Prize: Honorable Mention by the World Association for Public Opinion Research {WAPOR}.

2004. Harry J. Grant Scholarship, University of Wisconsin – Madison.

2003. Chancellor’s Extension Award for Excellence from UW-Extension. Madison, Wisconsin.

2003. University of Wisconsin Graduate School in support of “Community Engagement through Public Television: Innovations in the Development and Measurement of Social Capital,” PI Dr. Dhavan Shah.

2002. Public Broadcasting Service Research Grant in support of “‘Connecting’ and ‘Disconnecting’ with Civic Life,” PI Dr. Dhavan Shah.

2001. University of Wisconsin Graduate School in support of “‘Connecting’ and ‘Disconnecting’ with Civic Life,” P.I. Dr. Dhavan Shah.

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