Heesoo Jang

Media Law, Ethics

Ph.D. candidate, University of North Carolina

Heesoo Jang is an Assistant Professor in Media Law and Ethics in the Journalism Department. 
 
Currently, Jang is finalizing her Ph.D. in Media and Communication at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Throughout her Ph.D. program, Jang has immersed herself in understanding the challenges and transformations digital platforms and AI introduce to concepts of responsibility, ethics, and governance in the digital era. 

Her dissertation investigates how various stakeholders—including the government, tech companies, and news organizations—frame AI ethics. This inquiry sheds light on the dynamics of influence and conflict within the discourse, aiming to foster a more inclusive debate that accommodates diverse viewpoints. Ultimately, she hopes to enhance the conversation around AI ethics, ensuring it gets to the core of equity and democracy.

Her work has been published in journals such as the International Journal of Press/Politics, Information, Communication, & Society, and Public Relations Review, among others. She has received a Top Paper Award from the International Communication Association (ICA) for her research, which has also been presented at top international and national conferences.

Before joining UNC, Jang worked at the SNU FactCheck Center, South Korea’s first and only fact-checking platform, established through cooperation between Seoul National University and 31 major Korean media outlets.