Martin teaches courses in media law and ethics; First Amendment law; political communication; reporting, writing, and editing skills; and advanced specialty reporting at undergraduate and graduate levels in data journalism, public records reporting, and statistics for journalists.
His research focuses on the intersection of journalism, technology, and democracy, including a focus on political communication outcomes and First Amendment implications of public affairs journalism.
His work has been published in journals such as Digital Journalism, Journalism Studies, Journalism, Communication Law & Policy, North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology, University of Florida Journal of Law and Public Policy, Journal of Mass Media Law & Ethics, Newspaper Research Journal, Mass Communication and Society, Journal of Communication Inquiry, International Journal of Public Opinion, Mobile Media and Communication, International Journal of Mobile Communications, and Electronic News.
He also has authored book chapters on political communication in "News Agendas in Communication," "The Global Journalist in the 21st Century," and "The Routledge Handbook of Chinese Media," "The Routledge Handbook of Political Communication," and “Data Journalism and the COVID-19 Disruption (2024),” all published by Routledge, and "Social Media, Culture, and Politics in Asia," published by Peter Lang.
In 2019, Dr. Martin completed the Management Development Program for higher education leaders at Harvard University. In 2017, Martin was named a Wicklander Fellow in service of his research on journalism ethics. In 2016, he was honored with the College of Communication's Excellence in Teaching Award from the DePaul Quality of Instruction Council.
In 2015, Martin and two colleagues were awarded a $10,000 grant by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Mass Communication and Society Division, to study the political and health communication effects of journalists' coverage of the Affordable Care Act.
Martin is the past head of the AEJMC Law and Policy Division and the chair of the Watchdog Awards Committee of the Chicago Headline Club. He served part of 2014-15 as interim advisor for the DePaul SPJ/ONA Student Chapter and his classes routinely deliver final projects to be published and broadcast in DePaul's student media. In 2023, his students collaborated with the Better Government Association on a series of stories that was a finalist for
best healthcare coverage from the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation.
Martin was a professional journalist for about a decade at daily newspapers and wire services in West Virginia and Indiana, primarily covering sports. His last job in journalism was beat coverage of the Indianapolis Colts and the Indianapolis 500 for the Daily Journal in Franklin, Ind. His coverage of the politics and business developments surrounding the building of Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis sparked his interest in research about the influence and effects of media and government communications. Across his journalism career, he won numerous reporting awards including best sports news coverage, best sports feature writing, and best sports opinion column writing.
Martin lives in Chicago with his wife, Deanna, a former Associated Press statehouse reporter who is a vice president at the American Hospital Association; and his daughters, Quinn and Sloane. Outside of class and the office, he enjoys distance running, exploring the numerous great restaurants in Chicago and attending rock concerts. He has completed six half-marathons, one full marathon, too many meals and 30+ Pearl Jam concerts.