As part of the University of Southern California’s 127th Commencement Ceremonies, the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism will award bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to almost 900 students on Friday, May 14.

Richard Rosenblatt , co-founder, chairman and CEO of the social media firm Demand Media, will give the commencement address at the School of Communication ceremony, where the faculty will confer degrees in communication, global communication, communication management and public diplomacy. At the School of Journalism ceremony, graduates in journalism, specialized journalism and public relations will hear remarks given by Harris Diamond, CEO of the public relations firm Weber Shandwick. 

Among the members of USC Annenberg’s Class of 2010 are 28 USC Renaissance, Discovery and Global Scholars, who have been recognized by the University for the multidimensional character of their studies. Also receiving accolades is Neil Anand Wali, who will earn his bachelor’s degree in communication. Wali is one of two USC seniors awarded the University Trustees Award, given each year to the graduating senior man who has attained the highest grade point average of all male students during his four years at USC.

The communication ceremony will be held under the shade of a large tent on the grass of McCarthy Quad, adjacent to USC’s landmark Doheny Library. Journalism students will graduate nearby, on the Argue Plaza Lawn and next to the USC Alumni House, the oldest building on the USC campus. Both ceremonies start promptly at 10:30 a.m., and attendees are encouraged to arrive no later than 10:15 a.m.

Both of USC Annenberg's ceremonies will be broadcast live on the Web starting at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 14. Viewing will also be available in the USC Annenberg building, with the communication ceremony simulcast in the East Lobby and the journalism ceremony in the Annenberg Auditorium.

USC’s main commencement ceremony will be held earlier in the day, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in Alumni Park. More than 40,000 graduates and their families are expected to participate in a day of festivities across campus. Those wishing to attend the main ceremony are recommended to arrive as early as 7 a.m., to ensure plenty of time to navigate the crowds. 

New-media entrepreneur Rosenblatt has built a strong record of success in bringing innovative businesses to market. Six months after graduating from the USC Gould School of Law, he co-founded the Internet startup iMALL, a pioneer in user-generated content, and negotiated its sale to Excite@Home for $565 million eight years later. More recently, he helped transform Myspace.com from an unknown website to one of the most recognized brands on the World Wide Web. 

Diamond’s success as CEO of one of the world’s leading public relations firms has been chronicled in The New York Times, Washington Times and BusinessWeek, and he has been cited as among the “100 most influential PR people of the 20th century” by PRWeek. His high-level strategic communications counsel has led the firm to be named an “Agency of the Decade” by Advertising Age and the “Global Agency of the Year” in 2009 by The Holmes Report. Diamond concurrently serves as CEO of the Constituency Management Group of the Interpublic Group of Companies, of which Weber Shandwick is a subsidiary.

USC’s commencement address will be given by Steven B. Sample, who is retiring after 19 years of service as president of the University. 

USC Annenberg commencement information
Main USC Ceremony information
Photos from the 2009 Ceremonies