CHARLES N. DAVIS is a professor at the Missouri School of Journalism and the facilitator of the Media of the Future Initiative for Mizzou Advantage.

Davis’ scholarly research focuses on access to governmental information and media law. He has published in law reviews and scholarly journals on issues ranging from federal and state freedom of information laws to libel law, privacy and broadcast regulation. He has earned a Sunshine Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work in furthering freedom of information and the University of Missouri-Columbia Provost’s Award for Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching, as well as the Faculty-Alumni Award. In 2008, Davis was named the Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Teacher of the Year.

Davis has been a primary investigator for a research grant from the James S. and John L. Knight Foundation for the National Freedom of Information Coalition and another from the Rockefeller Family Fund for the study of homeland security and freedom of information issues. He was a co-investigator for an award from the U.S. Department of State for a curriculum reform project for Moscow State University in Russia.

Davis worked for newspapers and as a national correspondent for Lafferty Publications, a Dublin-based news wire service for financial publications, Davis reported on banking, e-commerce and regulatory issues for seven years before leaving full-time journalism in 1993. He completed a master’s degree from the University of Georgia’s Henry W. Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communication and earned a doctorate in mass communication from the University of Florida in 1995. He received his bachelor’s degree from North Georgia College.

Davis participates in numerous professional organizations, including the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

Recent Publications

Books

• David Cuillier and Charles N. Davis. “The Art of Access: Practical Strategies for Acquiring Public Records,” Congressional Quarterly Press (2010).
• Davis, C.N., & Splichal, S.L. (2001). “Access Denied: Freedom of Information in the Information Age.” Ames: Iowa State University Press.

Refereed Paper Presentation

• Michele Albert and Charles N. Davis. “Using Secrecy to Fight Terrorism? Access, Homeland Security and the ‘Mosaic Theory’ as a Rationale for Closure.” Security Cultures and Media Symposium, Melbourne, Australia, March 26-27, 2010.

Journal Articles

• Davis, C.N. (2005). “Expanding Privacy Rationales Under the Federal Freedom of Information Act: Stigmatization as Talisman.” Social Science Computer Review, 23(4), 453-462.
• Davis, C.N. (2005). “Conceptualizations of Privacy in Electronic Information. International Journal of Public Administration,” 28, 567-580.
• Davis, C.N. (2003). “Electronic Access to Information and the Privacy Paradox: Rethinking ‘Practical Obscurity’ and Its Impact on Electronic Freedom of Information.” Social Science Computer Review, 21(1), 15-25.
• Davis, C.N., & Craft, S.L. (2001). “Of Joint Ventures, Sock Puppets and New Media Synergy: Codes of Ethics and the Emergence of Institutional Conflicts of Interest.” Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 15(4).

Law Reviews

• Reinardy, S., & Davis, C.N. (2005). “A Real Home Field Advantage: Access to Public University Foundation Records.” Journal of Law & Education, 34, 389.
• Halstuk, M.E., & and Davis, C.N. (2002). “The Public Interest Be Damned: Lower Court Treatment of the Reporters Committee ‘Central Purpose’ Reformulation.” Administrative Law Review, 54(3).

Book Chapters

• Charles N. Davis. “Revenge of the Jammie Surfers: The Inevitable Clash of E-governance and Informational Privacy Over Online Court Records,” in “Handbook of Public Information Systems,” 3d ed., David Garson, ed., Taylor & Francis (2009).
• Charles N. Davis. “Newsgathering,” in “Communications and the Law,” Hopkins, W., ed., Vision Press, 2009.
• Davis, C.N. (2005). “Obstacles or Access: Reconsidering Anonymous Access to Government Information in a Post-Sept. 11 Environment.” In G.D. Garson (Ed.), “Managing the Virtual State: Public Information Technology and E-Governance.” Boston: Jones & Bartlett.
• Davis, C.N. (2005). “Privacy Considerations in Electronic Judicial Records: When Constitutional Rights Collide.” In G.D. Garson (Ed.), “Handbook of Public Information Systems” (2nd ed.). Taylor & Francis.
• Davis, C.N. (2001). “Newsgathering.” In W. Hopkins (Ed.), Communication and the Law. Northport, AL: Vision Press.