Amara Aguilar, associate professor of professional practice in digital journalism, is one of six Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) members who were selected for the 2016-2017 class of the Scripps Howard Foundation Visiting Professors in Social Media Program. She will be working with C-SPAN in Washington, D.C. for two weeks in the summer to learn how media outlets are using social media across multiple platforms.

"This program is so beneficial for professors who want to spend time in a newsroom and for the media organizations involved to connect with college journalism programs and students," said Aguilar.

The 2016-17 Scripps Howard Foundation Visiting Professors in Social Media program will study digital media and the transformation of news and information delivery. Aguilar said the program is an "amazing opportunity for me to step back into the newsroom and be immersed in social media strategy, production and audience engagement."

Aguilar noted that recently C-SPAN made headlines for its use of Periscope.

"I can't wait to take what I learn from this program back to faculty and USC students, including our JEDI student team that produces social stories for Annenberg Media," Aguilar said. "As part of the program, C-SPAN will also send a representative to visit Annenberg and work with students after my initial visit."