Dr. Heather Hendershot

Biography

Heather Hendershot is a Professor at Northwestern University's School of Communication, where she holds the Cardiss Collins Professorship. Her research focuses on American film, television, and political culture, particularly examining the 1960s and 70s. She has published extensively on mainstream network news and the influence of conservative right-wing media. Hendershot's recent work has centered on the journalistic coverage of the Chicago 1968 Democratic National Convention, with essays appearing in prominent publications such as The Nation, The Washington Post, The Conversation, and Politico. She teaches courses that explore the interplay of creative, political, technical, and regulatory concerns in media, and is set to teach a doctoral elective seminar entitled “Media and American Politics” in the Winter 2024 quarter. Her book, 'When News Broke: Chicago 1968 Polarizing America', received acclaim from the New York Review of Books and was chosen as a “Best Book” by The New Yorker in February 2023. Hendershot has authored several influential works, including 'Open Debate: William F. Buckley and the Liberal America Firing Line' and 'What’s Fair Air? Cold War Right-Wing Broadcasting in the Public Interest'. She began her career focusing on children’s television and conservative evangelical media and is recognized as an expert in Hollywood cinema from the 1950s to the 70s. Hendershot's academic achievements include fellowships at institutions like Princeton University and Harvard University, and she has served as an editor for 'Cinema Journal', the official publication of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies.

Research Interests

Experience