How many decades has it been since the public relations industry realized it lacked racial diversity? One would think that a lot of progress has been made since the ‘90s, when Black and Latino practitioners were virtually absent from in-house and agency PR teams.
Unfortunately, that is not the case. According to the Arthur Page Society, “compared to U.S. demographics, people of color...
The Center for Climate Journalism and Communication empowers professionals across media, public relations, and strategic and corporate communications to be climate storytellers who advance a deeper understanding of the consequences of climate change — from the global to the local and from the collective to the individual. The center provides... Read more
The Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab saves, studies and shares news stories and oral histories about Black social justice trailblazers on the West Coast. Additionally, they connect USC Annenberg students to trusted media outlets that value Black storytelling — especially in XR.
The lab honors Charlotta Spears Bass,... Read more
It is during the darkest times that the brightest lights shine. When Chris Nikic unexpectedly took his place in the spotlight, the world embraced him. As the first person with Down Syndrome to complete the rigorous Ironman Triathlon, Nikic not only earned a place in history, but he also showed us the power of resilience and tenacity in achieving seemingly insurmountable goals. His strategy was...
Living in a house full of people who have started to play tennis, I was excited to attend this year’s U.S. Open. IBM and the U.S. Open have been partners for the last 30 years, so we have a long history of working on great technology together. However, I did not anticipate that attending the women's semi-finals and finals at the Open would be so inspiring.
Emma Raducanu, an 18-year-old...
It’s a shame that the Olympic Games and French Open don’t award gold medals for outstanding acts of courage and personal fortitude. If such were the case, Naomi Osaka, one of the world’s top professional tennis players, and U.S. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, perhaps the best ever at her sport, would both be “Special Keepers of the Gold.” Both athletes received initial criticism and ultimately...
When U.S. gymnast Simone Biles chose her personal well-being over a chance to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics, she sent a message to the world about the importance of self-care and emotional health. She also shined a global spotlight on the mental health crisis among young adults that we are facing in the United States today.
In 2020, the American Psychological Association reported...
Her name recognition isn’t what Simone Biles’ is. Naomi Osaka has greater international fame. But the woman who built the platform, so to speak, for Biles and Osaka to stand up for themselves is Allyson Felix, U.S. Olympic track star from Los Angeles and USC alumna.
Felix, 36, is hardly an unknown. She is one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” for 2021, gracing its cover...