Seth Ashley is an associate professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Communication. He joined the department in 2026 after 15 years at Boise State University, where he worked as a professor, department chair, and student media advisor. His academic work examines the role of media in democratic society and focuses on media literacy and media sociology. His research has appeared in a range of journals, and he is the author of News Literacy and Democracy (Routledge, 2020). He received PhD and MA degrees from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, and a BFA in theater and film production from the University of Southern California. He has worked as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines as well as a production designer, audio technician, documentary filmmaker, and musician.