She is an expert on race and activism, social movements, the use of media and technology by racial justice and feminist activists, the black press, and the role of journalism in social movements. Jackson explored the cultural significance of African American celebrity protest in her book Black Celebrity, Racial Politics, and the Press. Her current research focuses on how racial justice and gender justice activists use Twitter and the role of collective memory in media framing of contemporary activism. She is regularly called upon as an expert by news outlets and has been interviewed by Politico, the Boston Globe, NPR, and PBS among others.