Dean’s Report 2019
This year, inspired by our students’ talents and commitment and the support of our USC Annenberg community, we strengthened our academic foundations, fostered new intellectual connections and reinforced our position as a thought leader.
As we prepare the next generation of leaders who will transform our fields, we offered meaningful opportunities to engage with scholars and industry experts. Fostering conversations globally, nationally and locally around critical issues facing our society and reshaping our industries of practice, we advanced our understanding of the important role communication, journalism and public relations play in this era of complex and rapid change. Our events and public programs combined with the media's coverage of our faculty and student's research, reflect our robust engagement with the issues — scholarly and professional — that is essential to propelling our academic disciplines and industries into a vibrant future.
Willow Bay
Dean, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Walter H. Annenberg Chair in Communication
Classroom and Beyond
Shaping the next generation
Annenberg Youth Academy for Media and Civic Engagement prepares local high-school students to be civic-minded thought leaders and innovators.
Shining a light
Griffith Estate gift establishes first summer reporting internship program to delve into USC’s culture and governance.
The Trojan Family steps in
When loans, scholarships and part-time jobs aren’t enough, Student Success and Emergency Aid Funds can help.
A new chapter
Doctoral students workshop their dissertations at summer institute on difference in media and culture.
Publications
Critical Conversations
Our position at the heart of Los Angeles and USC provides the perfect epicenter for advancing dialogue among scholars, industry leaders and cultural icons. This year, we learned about race, gender and identity from Nigerian author, cultural critic and feminist Chimamanda Adichie. We talked with Academy Award-winning actor Mahershala Ali about how he maintains a deep sense of purpose and intentionality. Actor and director Elizabeth Banks explored the importance of female-driven projects. This Fall, our students took center stage to question 2020 presidential candidates about their climate change proposals as part of MSNBC's Climate Forum.
275
events hosted by USC Annenberg
Research and Impact
Safeguarding democracy
With support from Google, USC Annenberg expands effort to protect elections from digital attacks
Empowering emerging leaders
Innovation Lab launches Civic Media Fellowship with grant from MacArthur Foundation.
The new normal
Teens join USC Annenberg and Common Sense in Mexico City to discuss global study on mobile device use.
By the Numbers
Media Highlights
Robert Kozinets, the Jayne and Hans Hufschmid Chair in Strategic Public Relations and Business Communication, explores how tobacco companies are using social media to circumvent laws against advertising to young people.
Mike Ananny, associate professor of communication and journalism, in an article about how tech and social media companies can better regulate hate-filled content.
Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Founder and Director Stacy Smith in an op-ed co-written with Eva Longoria on the initiative’s “Latinos in Film” study and how Hollywood can help combat Latino stereotypes.
Diane Winston, Knight Center Chair in Media and Religion, in an op-ed on how gay rights have gone mainstream.