Media Highlights

Editor & Publisher
How USC is transforming local journalists into data storytelling powerhouses
February 26, 2025

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism and Co-Director of the M{2e} program; Innovations Manager for the Annenberg Innovation Lab Gabriel Kahn was interviewed in an article about his work with data science colleagues at USC to create new journalism tools for data compilation and newsletter aggregation through Xtown Media, LLC. 
 

TheWrap
In Focus: Women filmmakers may still be few and far between, but their outsized impact is being felt this awards season
February 24, 2025

The most recent edition of the "Inclusion in the Director's Chair" report from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative was cited in a story about how women filmmakers have left a powerful mark on this awards season.

Los Angeles Sentinel
USC’s Charlotta Bass Day Honors Black Journalism with Philonise Floyd and Lee Merritt
February 19, 2025

The USC Annenberg Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab's The Second Draft Project was mentioned in an article about the lab's 2025 Charlotta Bass Day celebration, featuring social justice advocate Philonise Floyd and Atty. S. Lee Merritt.

IndieWire
Representation for Women on Screen Reached Parity in 2024, but People of Color Led Far Fewer Films
February 11, 2025

Findings from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and its founder and Associate Professor of Communication Stacy L. Smith's new report were featured in an article on inclusion in film in 2024. 
 

Variety
2024 Was a Record Year for Women in Film but Representation for People of Color Took a Sharp Decline, Study Shows
February 11, 2025

Research from Associate Professor of Communication Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, of which Smith is the founder, was featured in an article highlighting findings from a new report that revealed gender parity in the 100 top-grossing films in 2024, but also a substantial decrease in representation for people of color. 
 

The Hollywood Reporter
In an Historic First at the Movies, Female Actors Achieve Parity With Men in 2024 Roles
February 11, 2025

Findings from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative's latest report, led by Associate Professor of Communication and Founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Stacy L. Smith, were highlighted in an article sharing the news that gender parity was reached in the 100 top-grossing movies in 2024, but a decrease was also seen in representation of people of color in these films.

Reuters
Hollywood boosts female leads but lags in people of color, report finds
February 11, 2025

Research findings from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative's report, led by the Initiative's founder and Associate Professor of Communication Stacy L. Smith, were featured in an article highlighting how gender equality has been reached in the 100 top-grossing films of 2024, but representation of people of color in those films decreased. 
 

The Guardian
Women achieve gender parity with men in US big screen lead roles for first time
February 11, 2025

Findings from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative's report examining the 100 top-grossing films in 2024, led by the Initiative's founder and Associate Professor of Communication Stacy L. Smith, were featured in an article focusing on the gender parity achieved in 2024, but also the lack of representation for people of color across the same films.

Forbes
Defying Gravity: Why 2024 Marked A Historic Year For Women In Film
February 11, 2025

Findings from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative's latest report led by the Initiative's founder and Associate Professor of Communication Stacy L. Smith were featured in an article highlighting gender equality achieved in 2024's 100 top-grossing films, but also the drop in representation for people of color in those same films.

TheWrap
Female Leads Finally Hit Parity With Men in Top-Grossing Films of 2024
February 11, 2025

Research from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and its founder and Associate Professor of Communication Stacy L. Smith were featured in an article covering a key result from the report that demonstrated gender equality among the 100 top-grossing fillms of 2024.

Los Angeles Times
Not just CBS. How Trump 2.0 is already changing Hollywood and media
February 11, 2025

Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism and Co-Director of the M{2e} program; Innovations Manager for the Annenberg Innovation Lab Gabriel Kahn was interviewed about the pivotal moment that media, entertainment and tech companies are facing in the second Trump presidency.
 

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