Matthew Baum Photo
Marvin Kalb Professor of Global Communications
Contact:
617-495-1291
Assistant: Kevin Wren
617-495-1296

Matthew A. Baum (Ph.D., UC San Diego, 2000) is the Marvin Kalb Professor of Global Communications and Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and Department of Government. His research focuses on the domestic politics of international conflict and cooperation in general and American foreign policy in particular, as well as on the role of the mass media and public opinion in contemporary American politics. Additional research interests include the interaction of media and electoral institutions, fake news and misinformation, and the relationship between partisan media and polarization. His research has appeared in over a dozen leading scholarly journals, such as the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, and the Journal of Politics. His books include Soft News Goes to War: Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy in the New Media Age (2003, Princeton University Press), War Stories: The Causes and Consequences of Public Views of War (2009, Princeton University Press, co-authored with Tim Groeling), and War and Democratic Constraint: How the Public Influences Foreign Policy (2015, Princeton University Press, co-authored with Phil Potter). He has contributed op-ed articles to a variety of newspapers, magazines, and blog sites in the United States and abroad. He is also co-founder, principal investigator and co-editor of the Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review and co-founder and principal investigator of the COVID States Project. Before coming to Harvard, Baum was an associate professor of political science and communication studies at UCLA. 

Academic Journal/Scholarly Articles

Research Papers/Reports

Commentary

Magazine and Newspaper Articles

Transparent Engagement 

Harvard Kennedy School is proud of its energetic involvement in the world. To better understand how to solve public problems by improving policy and leadership, we engage directly with policymakers, public leaders, governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses whose activities affect those problems. However, we recognize that such engagement can raise questions about perceived and potential conflicts of interest, so we disclose publicly the key professional activities of our faculty outside the Kennedy School. The activities disclosed below are for the most recent reporting period, as defined by University policy. Some may be paid, some may be unpaid, and others may be in exchange for expense reimbursement only.

Outside Professional Activities For Matthew Baum

Organization Relationship
KingLead Consulting Consulting
Shanghai International Studies University Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation
Hong Kong Baptist University Speaking engagement, invited lecture, or presentation

Contact

Phone: 617-495-1291
Assistant: Kevin Wren

Expertise

Media
Politics
Fairness & Justice
Democracy & Governance
Public Leadership & Management
International Relations & Security

Mailing Address

Harvard Kennedy School
79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138