Dr. Alan Mittelstaedt

Biography

Alan Mittelstaedt believes that changes in the journalism industry are necessary to ensure the survival of American democracy. He teaches at the USC Annenberg Media Center, where he encourages students to take on stories and projects that advocate for voting rights and scrutinize disinformation campaigns that undermine governmental integrity. Advocating for a reshaping of journalism in response to the chaos caused by refusing to accept the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, Mittelstaedt started as an adjunct instructor before joining USC Annenberg full-time in 2009. He has played a significant role in running Neon Tommy, a pioneering online student news outlet. He advises the Politics Desk and coaches graduate students in the media center. His specialties include accountability journalism, investigative reporting, and opinion writing. He co-teaches a course on international religion, politics, and culture and has produced stories in collaboration with the GroundTruth Project. His students have traveled internationally to report on significant issues affecting democracy. With long-term goals, he continues to work with colleagues to tap into the media center’s full potential, aiming to transform it into the leading newsroom in Southern California.

Research Interests

Courses