News

Journalism News
The Illini Media Company will honor 10 inductees into the Illini Media Hall of Fame Class of 2023 during a ceremony on Saturday, April 29, in Chicago. Five of the inductees are journalism alumni from the College of Media. Illini Media, which oversees The Daily Illini student newspaper, WPGU 107.1… Read More

College News
It’s a toss-up for Mike VanBlaricum on which he loves more—anything related to James Bond and the fictional character’s creator, Ian Fleming, or his beloved Alma Mater, the University of Illinois. Luckily, he’s rarely had to choose.
In fact, VanBlaricum has found opportunities over the years to… Read More

College News
Molly Cornyn recalls the time she and the cast of her musical just happened to run into Roger Ebert one night at a local Steak ‘n Shake after one of their high school performances. Ebert, the late Pulitzer-Prize winning film critic and Media alum (BS ’64, journalism), was a huge fan of Steak ‘n… Read More

College News
A diverse selection of films that generate empathy have been curated for the 23rd Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, running April 19-22 at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign. Ebertfest—co-founded and hosted by Chaz Ebert—will honor the 10th anniversary of her husband Roger Ebert’s death… Read More

Journalism News
After a 24-year career at the Charlotte Observer, journalism alum Rogelio Aranda has become assistant news editor with the American Heart Association. He will continue to be based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In his new editorial role, Aranda will help to raise awareness around heart disease and… Read More

Journalism News
Update March 7, 2023:
Anderson Cobb facilitates workshop on her play about insurrection
Nicole Anderson Cobb (MS '16, journalism) recently facilitated a community workshop about her play Homegrown: An Insurrection Play, following a free screening at the First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana… Read More

Advertising News
The Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising and the Hub for Brand Innovation and Advertising Technology have created a new professional workshop series for students through the Emerging Leaders Program, which aims to immerse students in the advertising industry.
Thirty advertising students… Read More

Journalism News
Students in the College of Media will have access to a state-of-the-art broadcast studio and newsroom this fall after nearly $2 million in renovations are completed at the Richmond Studio.
Since 1999, the studio—connected to Campbell Hall, the home of Illinois Public Media—has served as the site… Read More

College News
This year's Chaz and Roger Ebert Symposium will feature a film screening, keynote speaker, and two roundtable discussions that address the theme of "Documentary, Violence, and the Media." The events, which are free and open to the public, are presented by the Roger Ebert Center for Film Studies… Read More

Journalism News
University of Illinois alumna Karen Lucas Petitte pursued a career in journalism at a time when barriers were common for women, and opportunities were few. But that didn’t stop the visionary trailblazer from building an illustrious career as an award-winning journalist—and helping to advance… Read More

College News
Since its inception, the Internet has been viewed by technology experts and scholars as a way to access information at a global scale without having to overcome hurdles posed by language and geography. However, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that how people… Read More

College News
JR Reed considers himself a lifelong learner who enjoys meeting new people and exploring new places—just a few of the many qualities that will serve him well in his new role as assistant director of advancement at the College of Media.
Reed, who officially began in January, is bringing a wealth… Read More

College News
Each academic year, the College of Media seeks nominations for a teaching award that honors faculty who display a strong commitment to the undergraduate teaching mission. This year, Josh Heuman and Yiran Gao have been recognized as recipients of the 2022 College of Media Teaching Awards.
Heuman,… Read More

Advertising News
Seven seniors in the University of Illinois chapter of the American Advertising Federation were named to the American Advertising Federation’s Most Promising Multicultural Students Class of 2023—an honor given to only 50 students each year throughout the United States. Honorees include… Read More

Journalism News
Award-winning alumna Demetria Kalodimos (MS ’83, journalism) has released a nine-part true crime podcast about a 1975 cold case murder.
Carol’s Last Christmas examines the murder of Carol Rofstad at Illinois State University in 1975. The podcast, which was produced by Kalodimos’ company, Genuine… Read More

Advertising News
In Fall 2022, Mike Wychocki (center) was invited back to campus by the College of Media to explain to students in the American Advertising Federation RSO how he developed the new branding and marketing campaigns for EagleRail.
Since Mike Wychocki (BS ’83, advertising) graduated from the… Read More

Advertising News
The first cohort of students in the Brand Ambassador Program are halfway through their yearlong experience, which pairs a student interested in social media and brand management with Fighting Illini student-athletes and local organizations.
Since its inception just four months ago, the program… Read More

Journalism News
For more information about this program, please email Mira Sotirovic.
ATTEND A VIRTUAL INFO SESSION
Learn more about this program with presenters Mira Sotirovic, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Journalism, and Claudia Lutz, PhD, Outreach Manager for the Carl R. Woese Institute… Read More

Media & Cinema Studies News
When Angela Aguayo, associate professor of media and cinema studies, was considering a project for her MACS 199: Documentary and Social Change honors course that would help her students connect the community through media, the idea for a student-generated podcast came to mind.
She knew podcasts… Read More

Media & Cinema Studies News
Students in media and cinema studies, advertising, and theatre collaborated on a short film for Advanced Filmmaking in Spring 2022, which received honors from three film fests this fall. Pictured are Raiya Wen (BFA ’22, FAA); Lincoln Rogers (BS ’22, advertising); and Robyn Pease (senior in media… Read More