It is my pleasure to welcome you to the USC Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California, where we emphasize the strategic principles of Innovation, International and Impact.

Our work is guided by the three "I's," which are powerful forces in any environment undergoing significant change, and are also key to understanding and guiding the communication revolution.

As USC Annenberg advances the fields of communication, journalism, public relations and public diplomacy, we interpret and implement the three "I's" as follows:

• Innovation. USC Annenberg's deep commitment to strategic change and social transformation is evident in our analyses of network theory, international communication, digital technologies, and the links that bridge entertainment and the public sphere. By training journalists to become expert specialists in their field, and our belief in the renaissance of radio reporting in America, USC Annenberg is helping guide the future of the news industries and define the role of the journalist in today's media society.
• International. USC Annenberg is a center of academic progress and industrial advancement in one of the world's great media capitals. Our location allows us to operate from a position of strength within an increasingly global society, taking cues from researchers around the world to advance knowledge in fields in which an international perspective is increasingly crucial.
• Impact. The work of USC Annenberg's respected research centers and programs contributes significantly in areas of public policy, entertainment, journalism, international relations and the social sciences. We dedicate ourselves to creating all-important links between these worlds to help our students, faculty and alumni integrate innovative ideas and applications that impact academia and the communication industries.

These three principles result in exciting courses, cutting-edge research and the atmosphere of achievement present at USC Annenberg. I hope you will take a look at how some of our award-winning faculty and students embody the principles of Innovation, International and Impact every day by reading these profiles of our faculty and students.

Best wishes,

Ernest J. Wilson III, Ph.D.
Dean and Walter Annenberg Chair in Communication