Matthew LaPlante

Journalism & Communication

Associate Professor


Matthew LaPlante

Contact Information

Office Location: Logan (AGRS 315)
Email: matthew.laplante@usu.edu
Additional Information:

Educational Background

PhD, Climate Science, Utah State University, 2024
MS, Education, (Online teaching and learning), California State University East Bay, 2010
The New Fourth Estate: Online model for instruction of citizen journalism
BS, Liberal Studies, (Politics and the media), Oregon State University, 2001

Biography

Matthew LaPlante, PhD, is an author, journalist, climate scientist, radio program host, advocate for educational equity, and associate professor of journalistic writing at Utah State University.

Teaching Interests

• Journalistic writing
• Narrative non-fiction
• Crisis communication
• Science communication
• Opinion writing
• Online education

Research Interests

• Climate variability
• Climate prediction
• Climate change
• Online pedagogy

Awards

American Society of Journalists and Authors Award for Science Writing , 2020

Foreword Indie Silver Award Winner for Science, 2019

Utah Society of Professional Journalists Award for Sports Reporting, 2019

Quintus C. Wilson Ethics Award, 2018

Society of Professional Journalists

Nautilus Book Award, Gold: Health and Healing, 2017

Dart Award for Excellence in Coverage of Trauma (finalist), 2015

Deborah Howell Award for Non-Deadline Writing (finalist), 2015

American Society of Newspaper Editors

Kavli Award for Science Journalism, 2015

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Dean's Giraffe Award, 2014

USU College of Humanities and Social Science

Ancil Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism, 2012

Quintus C. Wilson Ethics Award, 2012

Utah Society of Professional Journalists

Finalist, Hillman Prize for Newspaper Journalist, 2011

The Hillman Foundation

Top of the Rockies Award for Public Service Reporting, 2011

Society of Professional Journalists

Don Baker Award for Investigative Reporting, 2010

Society of Professional Journalists

Utah Newspaper Reporter of the Year, 2010

Society of Professional Journalists

Roy B. Gibson Award Freedom of Information Award, 2009

Society of Professional Journalists

William H. Cowles Memorial Award for Public Service Reporting, 2009

Society of Professional Journalists

Top of the Rockies Award for Blog Writing, 2008

Society of Professional Journalists

Utah Newspaper Reporter of the Year, 2008

Society of Professional Journalists

Finalist, Livingston Award for Young Journalists, 2007

Roy B. Gibson Award Freedom of Information Award, 2005

Society of Professional Journalists


Publications | Books

  • LaPlante, M., (2019). Superlative: The Biology of Extremes. BenBella *
  • Day, J., LaPlante, M., (2017). Simplicity: 33 Little Things You Are Doing to Mess Up Your Life, and 33 Easy Tips To Make It Better . *
  • Moalem, S., LaPlante, M., (2014). Inheritance: How Our Genes Change Our Lives and Our Lives Change Our Genes. *

    Publications | Book Chapters

  • LaPlante, M.D, (2024). Making Asynchronous Online Discussions Meaningful: An Introduction to The Pioneer Method with Robust Scaffolding : Habits of Mind.

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | MultiMedia

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Other

Magazine/Trade Publications

  • LaPlante, M., (2018). Statewide, libraries are changing. Salt Lake Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2018). Ski (all of) Utah: How to ski all of Utah's 14 resorts in seven days. Salt Lake Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2016). A long way from Peoa. Liberalis *
  • LaPlante, M., (2016). Fire starter. Liberalis *
  • LaPlante, M., (2016). The search for story. Liberalis *
  • LaPlante, M., (2016). The story of water. Utah State Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2015). How Salt Lake City Got Tech Commercialization Right. Innovation Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2015). Coming up Rubies. *
  • LaPlante, M., Hamilton, M., (2013). Lies in the land of hope. Salt Lake Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2013). Historical Fiction. Salt Lake Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2012). Farmer. Statesman. Immigration Martyr.. Salt Lake Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2012). Let the little children come: Dashed plans and disappointment give rise to a new vision in Addis Ababa. Prism Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2012). The Myth of Mitt. Salt Lake Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2012). Finding Zion: Ethiopia’s Dorze Tribe. Standard Magazine *
  • LaPlante, M., (2012). Open arms, closed doors: What is behind Ethiopia’s adoption bottleneck?. Christianity Today *

Newspaper

  • LaPlante, M., (2019). This is the (other) place: Searching for the Greatest Snow on Earth in the Land of the Rising Fun. Salt Lake City Weekly *
  • LaPlante, M., (2018). In Utah, the fight against porn is increasingly framed as a public health crisis. The Washington Post *
  • LaPlante, M., (2018). Ethiopia emerges as an African success story, but a new health challenge has emerged. The Deseret News *
  • LaPlante, M., (2017). A Terrible Choice. The Deseret News *
  • LaPlante, M., (2016). Amputation is no longer a surgery of last resort. The Deseret News *
  • LaPlante, M., (2015). The Last Leg. The Salt Lake Tribune *
  • LaPlante, M., (2015). Deadly days in El Salvador. Los Angeles News Group *
  • LaPlante, M., (2015). In the midst of El Salvador’s epidemic violence, soccer shines a light of hope. The Salt Lake Tribune *
  • LaPlante, M., (2015). Salvador gang leaders testing limits of power in U.S.. Los Angeles News Group *
  • LaPlante, M., (2014). Written in the stars: After this year’s surprise success, the pressure’s on for Real Salt Lake.. City Weekly *
  • LaPlante, M., Christiansen, P., (2013). Devastated: The world’s largest known organism is in Utah — and it’s dying.. City Weekly *
  • LaPlante, M., (2013). Cytherea’s Comeback: The rise and fall of Mormon girl who charted a new course adult entertainment. Las Vegas City Life *
  • LaPlante, M., (2011). Swift Justice: A Utah town is still trying to recover, five years after a high-profile immigration raid. City Weekly *
  • LaPlante, M., (2011). Special Service: Are Utah’s vets getting justice or a free pass?. City Weekly *

Miscellaneous Extension

    Other

    • LaPlante, M., (2013). Real Salt Lake lifted to win over Whitecaps. The Canadian Press *
    • LaPlante, M., (2012). Chivas USA get first goal, first win. The Associated Press *

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Teaching

    JCOM 3110 - Feature Writing, Fall 2023
    JCOM 3140 - Opinion Writing, Fall 2023
    JCOM 4760 - Special Topics: Advanced Critical Thought in Media, Fall 2023
    , Spring 2023
    JCOM 3120 - Copy Editing and Publication Design, Spring 2023
    JCOM 4130 - Immersive Crisis Communication, Spring 2023
    JCOM 1500 - Introduction to Mass Communication, Spring 2023
    JCOM 5110 - Literary Journalism, Spring 2023
    JCOM 1560 - Radio Production (Audio), Spring 2023
    JCOM 4120 - Sports Writing, Spring 2023
    JCOM 6510 - Directed Readings in Mass Communication, Fall 2022
    JCOM 3110 - Feature Writing, Fall 2022
    JCOM 3140 - Opinion Writing, Fall 2022
    JCOM 4130 - Immersive Crisis Communication, Spring 2022
    JCOM 1560 - Radio Production (Audio), Spring 2022
    JCOM 3100 - Reporting Public Affairs, Spring 2022
    JCOM 4120 - Sports Writing, Spring 2022
    JCOM 3110 - Feature Writing, Fall 2021
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Fall 2021
    JCOM 3140 - Opinion Writing, Fall 2021
    JCOM 4130 - Immersive Crisis Communication, Spring 2021
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Spring 2021
    JCOM 1560 - Radio Production (Audio), Spring 2021
    JCOM 4120 - Sports Writing, Spring 2021
    JCOM 3110 - Feature Writing, Fall 2020
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Fall 2020
    JCOM 3140 - Opinion Writing, Fall 2020
    JCOM 4530, 6510 - Directed Readings in Mass Communication, Spring 2020
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Spring 2020
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Spring 2020
    JCOM 4530 - Special Topics in Communication, Spring 2020
    JCOM 3110 - Feature Writing, Fall 2019
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Fall 2019
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Fall 2019
    JCOM 4500 - Projects in Communication, Summer 2019
    JCOM 3110 - Feature Writing, Spring 2019
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Spring 2019
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Spring 2019
    JCOM 4530 - Special Topics in Communication, Spring 2019
    JCOM 3110 - Feature Writing, Fall 2018
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Fall 2018
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Fall 2018
    JCOM 3120 - Copy Editing and Publication Design, Spring 2017
    JCOM 3110 - Feature Writing, Spring 2017
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Spring 2017
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Spring 2017
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Fall 2016
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Fall 2016
    JCOM 1130 - News Writing, Fall 2016
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2016
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2016
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2016
    JCOM 4530 - Special Topics in Communication, Spring 2016
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2015
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2015
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2015
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2015
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2015
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2015
    JCOM 4530 - Special Topics in Communication, Spring 2015
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2014
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2014
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2014
    JCOM,TEPD 4500,5560,6500 - Projects in Communication, Summer 2014
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2014
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2014
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2014
    JCOM 4530 - Special Topics in Communication, Spring 2014
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2013
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2013
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2013
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2013
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2013
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2013
    JCOM 4530 - Special Topics in Communication, Spring 2013
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2012
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2012
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Fall 2012
    JCOM 4530 - Special Topics in Communication, Summer 2012
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2012
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2012
    JCOM 1130 - Beginning Newswriting for the Mass Media, Spring 2012
    JCOM 4530 - Special Topics in Communication, Spring 2012

    Teaching Interests

    • Journalistic Writing
    • Narrative non-fiction
    • Crisis Communication
    • Science Communication
    • Opinion Writing
    • Online Education

    Research Interests

    • Climate science
    • Online pedagogy
    • At-promise student learning