The College of Journalism and Mass Communications welcomes Michael K. Park as the Jerry and Karla Huse Professor and an assistant professor of media law beginning in January 2024.
Park brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our institution, having completed his doctorate at the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, University of Southern California and his juris doctorate at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California.
Park is a renowned scholar in communication law and policy, First Amendment jurisprudence and sports communication. A notable aspect of his work involves examining how political and technological changes challenge and reshape First Amendment principles and values in public discourse. His approach is deeply informed by the civic conception of free speech and theories of democratic deliberation, focusing on the political aspects of free speech policies across various domains, including media education and sport.
His impressive publication record includes over a dozen scholarly works in prestigious journals and books. Some of his notable publications are in Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, Communication Law & Policy and the University of Colorado Law Review. Additionally, Park has been recognized with Top Faculty Paper awards at both the National Communication Association and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conferences. His expertise has also led him to serve as a commentator for NBC News and on the Editorial Boards of Communication Law & Policy and Communication Law Review.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Michael Park to our faculty,” said Shari Veil, dean of the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications. “We look forward to the valuable insights and contributions he will bring to the college and the field of media law.”
Before joining the college, Park served as a lecturer at the University of Southern California Los Angeles, an assistant professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, an assistant professor at Emerson College, an assistant professor at Syracuse University and an affiliate professor at the University of Idaho. Before joining academics, Park worked as a media and legal research attorney at the Federal Communications Commission, a motion picture agent trainee at William Morris Endeavor, a summer associate for Dillingham & Murphy, LLP and a legal extern for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
Park was awarded the Jerry and Karla Huse Professorship for a three-year term in recognition of his teaching ability, research ability and academic promise. The Professorship annually provides a $7,000 salary stipend and $5,000 in research support.
The Jerry and Karla Huse Professorship was established in 2001 at the University of Nebraska Foundation to support the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
