December 10, 2025 Carrie Wilson-Brown, senior lecturer of media and cinema studies and advertising, received the 2025 Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Award for Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity. The Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity award honors faculty, instructors, or lecturers who have consistently contributed to the promotion of understanding critical issues related to diversity […]
Author: Kelly
In the Spotlight: Ann Abdelzaher
December 8, 2025 Learn more about the people who help make our college such a great place to work—what they do, what inspires them, and a few things you might not know—in this Q&A series featuring staff members from across the College of Media and Illinois Public Media. Ann Abdelzaher eLearning SpecialistMedia Tech How long have […]
Department of Media & Cinema Studies partners with Flyover Film Studios to launch new internship
December 2, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood Beginning in Fall 2025, the Department of Media & Cinema Studies created a new internship for students at Flyover Film Studios in Rantoul. Francisco Albarran, a senior in media and cinema studies, was the first student selected for the program. Albarran was able to work on the production of […]
Independent journalist Chris Cillizza to visit the University of Illinois for a conversation on political reporting
November 10, 2025 Chris Cillizza, an independent news creator on Substack and YouTube, will be on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus for a conversation about reporting on politics and independent journalism on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 5-6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public and is presented by the Richard and Leslie […]
Take Five with Media Alumni: Carlye Wisel
November 6, 2025 Carlye Wisel (BS ’09, journalism) was a lifestyle reporter interviewing famous musicians and celebrities like Mick Jagger and Kim Kardashian before a bachelorette trip to Disney World changed her career trajectory. Now, as a freelance journalist covering Disney and Universal theme parks, Wisel has contributed to magazines like Travel + Leisure, Glamour, […]
I on the Media: Jonathan Knipp explores the psychology of horror films
October 29, 2025 From Psycho to Hereditary, horror films have long mirrored our collective fears. But today’s fascination with true-crime dramas and serial-killer stories—like Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story—may suggest something deeper at play. As audiences crave both terror and understanding, the line between entertainment and ethics grows thin. Jonathan Knipp, senior lecturer of […]
How well does NPR incorporate history into its journalism?
October 23, 2025 | NPR Public Editor When journalists don’t have access to historical tools, and don’t have that impetus to go and check out things, they are presenting news that is really not informing the public. And nobody wants to do that. Melita Garza, Associate Professor and Tom and June Netzel Sleeman Scholar in […]
Social media stampedes: How mass user exit reshapes the digital landscape
October 16, 2025 | MediaWell Leaving social media does not always mean disengagement from news, but it does disrupt habitual news consumption. Some people report feeling less informed about current events after quitting Facebook, as social media is a key news source for many. However, they also experience benefits like reduced anxiety and improved well-being. Margaret Ng, Associate […]
Professor Leona Yi-Fan Su chosen as Sandage Scholar in Advertising Research
October 6, 2025 Leona Yi-Fan Su, associate professor of advertising, has been selected to become the next Charles H. Sandage Scholar in Advertising Research for 2025-2027. Su was chosen based on her proposal, “Digital marketing in the agricultural sector, with emphasis on how farms can leverage emerging technologies such as social media and artificial intelligence […]
I on the Media: Sang-Hwa Oh discusses Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ and K-pop branding
October 6, 2025 K-pop, short for “Korean pop,” is a music genre from South Korea celebrated for its dynamic mix of styles, elaborate choreography, and visually captivating performances. Its influence now extends beyond music, reaching film and other media. This summer’s animated movie KPop Demon Hunters not only became the most-watched film in Netflix history but also […]