Biography

Gyo “Hyun” Koo, Ph.D. (The University of Texas at Austin) is an Assistant Professor at Howard University’s Department of Communication, Culture and Media Studies (CCMS). Hyun’s research explores how individuals process and interact with online information and news, primarily via emerging technologies. Using quantitative and computational methods, she investigates the impact of these interactions on individuals’ knowledge and engagement in political and public health domains.

In her recent work, she has examined the factors behind people's beliefs in mis/disinformation, as well as strategies to mitigate them. She underscores the importance of restoring institutional trust and fostering healthy news skepticism—a constructive form of news distrust that encourages critical thinking. Additionally, she has investigated how news media and social media users shape the discourse surrounding political and public health crises.

Central to Hyun’s work is her commitment to reducing disparities in accessing and comprehending quality information and fostering civic engagement, especially for those from historically disadvantaged communities.

She teaches courses in Technology & Health Communication, Political Communication & Public Opinion, Internet & Society, and Quantitative Methods.

Selected publications:

○ Chen, B., Lukito, J., & Koo, G. H. (2023). Mobilizing the “Stop the Steal” Movement: Comparing Discourse in Facebook, Twitter, and Parler. Social Media + Society. [Link]

○ Koo, G. H., Johnson, T. J., Lee, T. & Jia, C. (2023). Politically Contested Beliefs: Support for Trump Better Predicts Having Inaccurate Beliefs About COVID-19 Than Conservative/Republican Political Identity. Mass Communication and Society. [Link]

○ Lee, T., & Koo. G. H. (2022). What Drives Belief in COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories? Examining the Role of Uncertainty, Negative Emotions, and Perceived Relevance and Threat. Health Communication. [Link]

○ Chen, B., & Koo, G. H. (2022). Journalistic Roles and News Framing: A Comparative Framing Analysis of COVID-19 Pandemic Across China, South Korea, and the United States. International Journal of Communication. [Link]

○ Peifer, J., Lee, T. & Koo, G. H. (2022). Selectively sharing satirical news: Strengthening an empirical understanding of how agreement, mirth, and perceived informativeness contribute to the diffusion of mediated comedy. Computers in Human Behavior. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2021.107108 [Link]

○ Koo, G. H. (2021). Are You Frightened? Children’s Cognitive and Affective Reactions to News Coverage of School Shootings. Mass Communication and Society. doi:10.1080/15205436.2021.1996609 [Link]