Contact Information
Office Hours
Research Areas
Biography
Tanner is a Master's student from Kansas City, Kansas. His research focuses on the social and psychological effects of mass media and the representation of marginalized groups within mass media.
In his free time, Tanner enjoys watching a plethora of different sports (NFL, NBA, WNBA, etc.), going on walks, and trying new places to eat.
Research Interests
Social and Psychological Effects of the Mass Media
Effects of Mass Media Stereotyping on Consumers
Representation of Marginalized Groups within the Mass Media
Selectivity in Internet Media Consumption and its Effects
Education
B.A. in Communication and Political Science, University of Missouri, Summa Cum Laude
Awards and Honors
2025 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention
2024 Fulbright Canada Mitacs Gloabalink Research Fellowship
Courses Taught
CMN 101: Public Speaking
Highlighted Publications
Josey, C.S., Smith, T., & Riles, J. (2026). Breaking the model: Examining the content of Asian American identity focused news sites. In R. A. Lind (Ed.), Race/Gender/Media: Considering diversity across audiences, content, and producers (6th ed., pp. 124-128). Routledge.
Smith, T. M., Kraft, S., Waugh, A., Harding, K. D., Bombak, A., & Riediger, N. D. (2025). Mothers Marketing to Mothers: An Exploration of Cannabis Use and Constructions of Motherhood on Instagram and Blog Posts. Substance use: Research and treatment, 19, 29768357251403255. https://doi.org/10.1177/29768357251403255
Liu, J., Niederdeppe, J., Tong, C., Margolin, D., Chunara, R., Smith, T., & King, A. J. (2024). Associations between news coverage, social media discussions, and search trends about celebrity deaths, screening, and other colorectal cancer-related events. Preventive medicine, 185, 108022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.108022