Cory Barker
Assistant Teaching Professor at Penn State and co-host of News Over NoiseCory Barker, PhD, is an assistant teaching professor in the Film Production & Media Studies department and co-host of News Over Noise. His research explores media industry convergence, focusing on legacy media's use of new technologies in production and distribution. His book, Social TV: Multi-Screen Content and Ephemeral Culture (2022), examines the U.S. television industry's failed social media revolution and won the 2023 Outstanding Book Award from the Media Industries Studies Interest Group. Before joining Penn State, Cory was a tenured faculty member at Bradley University and earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University.
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Billionaires aren’t just buying newspapers—they’re investing in bylines. In this episode of News Over Noise, Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with journalist Eoin Higgins about how right-wing donors and think tanks are funding respected journalists and media outlets to promote elite-friendly, anti-democratic narratives. It’s not always obvious, and that’s the point. We dig into how this influence campaign works, why it matters, and what it means for the future of journalism. -
Even in an age of fact-checking, misinformation keeps winning hearts and headlines. In this episode, Matt Jordan and Cory Barker with Dr. Michelle Amazeen about why corrections don’t always change minds, how people perceive fact-checking, and what that means for trust in media. It’s a deep dive into the psychology, politics, and power dynamics behind what we choose to believe. -
Universities are under attack—not by students or faculty, but by a wave of misinformation framing higher education as a threat to free speech. On this episode of News Over Noise, Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with Dr. Bradford Vivian, author of Campus Misinformation, about how these distorted narratives take shape, why they spread, and what’s really at stake for democracy when public trust in higher ed erodes. -
PBS and NPR are facing renewed political pressure, with calls to cut federal funding resurfacing under the Trump administration. Media scholar Victor Pickard joins Matt Jordan and Cory Barker to unpack what these challenges mean for the future of public broadcasting—and why a healthy democracy may depend on what happens next. -
From the decline of Google search to the hidden economics of surveillance and algorithmic coercion, science fiction author and activist Cory Doctorow talks with Matt Jordan and guest host Jenna Spinelli about how monopolies distort our information ecosystem, erode public trust, and supercharge disinformation. But it’s not all doom and gloom: they also explore real-world strategies for reclaiming digital space—from antitrust reform to coalition building to radical imagination.THIS EPISODE CONTAINS EXPLICIT CONTENT -
President Trump has frequently been framed as a “strong man” and “strict father.” When news outlets lean into this type of rhetoric, they miss a vital opportunity to draw attention to critical issues at the heart of a story. This goes beyond burying the lede; it fundamentally changes the nature of a story, downplaying the threats posed to the Constitution, democracy, and the very idea of law, while simultaneously bolstering the personal mythology of the person behind these actions. On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with we'll talk with journalist Gil Duran about the role framing plays in our perception of the news. -
In recent years, a network of conservative podcasters has gained significant influence, particularly among disaffected men, by positioning themselves against traditional media institutions. On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker speak with reporters Davey Alba and Leon Yin to examine how these podcasters build trust, spread political messages, and shape public discourse—often without adhering to journalistic standards. They also explore the broader implications of this media ecosystem, including its role in supporting political agendas and its impact on news consumption and media literacy. -
When the Supreme Court struck down the Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, it opened the door to legalized sports betting. Today, almost 40 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico allow some form of this pastime. But an unintended consequence has been the growing presence of gambling coverage in the news. On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker with sports writer Bill King to tackle this issue and explore the ramifications of this shift on sports journalism. -
Once upon a time, Americans turned to trusted news organizations to learn about their shared reality. Today, the media people consume as “news,” fractures that shared world, leaving a divided and distrustful public. What can news organizations do to reverse this? And why does the survival of journalism as an institution matter for communities and democracy? On this episode of News Over Noise, hosts Matt Jordan and Cory Barker talk with media scholar Andrea Wenzel about success stories in local news organizations and what they mean for the future of journalism. -
The history of news is also the history of how technology changes the way it’s delivered. From radio to television to streaming, each new platform brings with it unique opportunities and challenges—and influences the norms around how news is curated and presented. On this episode of News Over Noise, host Matt Jordan talks with media scholar Cory Barker about the implications of streaming the news.
