MONROE — The Monroe Public Library, 925 16th Avenue, will host a Badger Talk by University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Michael W. Wagner from 10-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 18. The event is free and open to the public.

Professor Wagner will present Media Bias and U.S. Politics. This talk describes research into media bias and the biased nature that individuals display when they process mediated messages. In a time of increased political polarity, exploring the impact of the media can help people address their own biases and better connect with others. 

Michael W. Wagner (Bachelor of Journalism, University of Nebraska; Ph.D., Indiana University) is a Professor and Louis A. Maier Faculty Development Fellow in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. His more than 40 academic journal articles and book chapters appear in outlets such as Journal of Communication, Annual Review of Political Science, and Journalism and Communication Monographs. The editor of Political Communication’s Forum, Wagner has earned grants from the National Science Foundation and the Carnegie-Knight Foundation. His latest book (co-authored with UNL’s Elizabeth Theiss-Morse), Political Behavior of the American Electorate, was released in January 2018.

Badger Talks reflects the tradition of the Wisconsin Idea — to extend the resources of the university to citizens of the state. Over 200 Badger Talks are hosted around the state each year, featuring faculty and staff with expertise in a variety of disciplines. Talk topics range from cutting edge discoveries to happiness in the workplace and everything in between. Professional, community, and civic organizations, as well as schools, are invited to request a UW-Madison speaker. 

For more information about Badger Talks or to find a speaker for your next event, contact 608-262-3880 or badgertalks@uwmad.wisc.edu.