Ava Francesca Battocchio
Hiya! My name is Ava Francesca and I’m an Assistant Professor of Journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School , where I specialize in community information systems and rural media environments. I completed my PhD in Information and Media from Michigan State University in 2025.My research focuses on how residents in rural, remote, and post-industrial communities learn about public issues amidst changing technology, digital access disparities, and shifting local news environments. Through this work, I examine how place identity shapes critical information access and dissemination.