Excerpts from ‘Engaging in a Divided Society’

April 14, 2025 On February 25, 2025, the Suburban Illini Club hosted the College of Media for “Engaging in a Divided Society: Lessons from Journalism,” a panel discussion on how to engage with others in an age of polarization. Moderated by College of Media Dean Tracy Sulkin, panelists included journalism faculty and alumni:  The webinar […]

Netflix director Emma Miller to be alumni speaker at Media Convocation

April 11, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood Netflix director Emma Miller (BS ’08, media studies) says returning to campus to speak at the 2025 College of Media Convocation ceremony feels like a full-circle moment for her. As a Media student at Illinois, she remembers renting DVDs through Netflix’s mail subscription service for her film classes. “I […]

Media studies scholar Denise Bielby inspired to support Ebert Center through blended gift

April 11, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood It’s no surprise that renowned media studies scholar and two-time University of Illinois alum Denise Bielby (BS ’71, MA ’72, ACES), Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Emerita, at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was interested in fellow alum Roger Ebert’s work and helping preserve his legacy. Bielby, whose research […]

Senior lecturer of advertising Marisa Peacock wins two campus awards

April 9, 2025 Marisa Peacock, senior lecturer of advertising, won both a Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and a Student Success Impact Award. Campus Awards for Excellence in Instruction, sponsored by the Office of the Provost, are given for sustained excellence and innovation in undergraduate and graduate teaching, undergraduate and graduate advising and […]

Ebertfest announces remaining films and special guests attending the 2025 festival

Director Francis Ford Coppola to participate in a virtual Q&AActress Jane Levy and Critics Michael Phillips, Richard Roeper, Matt Zoller-Seitz, Nell Minow, Brian Tallerico, Eric Pierson, Dion Metzger, and Brenda Butler will be attending in person  April 1, 2025 CHAMPAIGN, IL (April 1, 2025) — Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, also known as Ebertfest, announced today the […]

How can science literacy help people better understand the news?

March 24, 2025 | Lois Yoksoulian, University of Illinois News Bureau In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, the spread of misinformation and disinformation regarding scientific topics such as natural disasters, vaccines and climate change can pose a risk to public health. Nancy Averett, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign lecturer of journalism and expert in science and environmental journalism spoke […]

Advertising and ICR faculty, students present research at 2025 American Academy of Advertising Conference

March 21, 2025 Advertising faculty and graduate students in the MS advertising and ICR doctoral programs, as well as several alumni, participated in the 2025 annual conference of the American Academy of Advertising, held March 6-9 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Faculty and graduate students participated in eight paper presentations and three panels, discussing research and ideas […]

Journalism alumna Marilynn Preston supports well-being initiatives for College of Media students

March 14, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood From her standing desk at her home office in Northern California, Marilynn Preston (BS ’67, journalism)—journalist, healthy lifestyle expert, and Emmy-winning TV producer—spoke with zeal about the role health and wellness has played in her life and why she’s inspired to share her passion with students in the College […]

Public Relations Student Society of America at Illinois back in action thanks to student-led mission

March 13, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood The Public Relations Student Society of America at Illinois is back after a four-year hiatus, thanks to a group of determined students who revitalized the local chapter. Jordan Butler, a senior in journalism and president of PRSSA at Illinois, said a call to action in a College of Media […]