Centennial Circle: Investing in the next century of media education

Join a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the future of the College of Media at Illinois January 14, 2026 A centennial is more than a milestone—it’s an invitation to define the future together.  As the College of Media approaches its 100th anniversary, we celebrate our proud legacy and commit to advancing the next era of media […]

Advertising students create real-life client campaigns through Sandage Project capstone course

January 8, 2026 Students in ADV 498: The Sandage Project developed campaigns for three community organizations in Fall 2025, including Lincoln250, H3 (Harm, Healing, and Hope), and EARS Effingham Animal Rescue Sanctuary. “The students put together impressive campaigns for each, and the clients were very happy,” said senior lecturer of advertising Marisa Peacock. The eight-week […]

Illinois announces first dual-credit initiative, bringing media and other courses to high school students

January 8, 2025 Understanding the role of popular television shows and movies in society—and in students’ own lives—is a central focus of a high-enrollment 100-level course in the College of Media at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Starting in the 2026-27 academic year, the media and cinema studies course “Introduction to Popular TV and Movies” […]

I on the Media: Melita Garza discusses journalism’s role in Ken Burns’s ‘The American Revolution’

December 15, 2025 Ken Burns’s new PBS series The American Revolution is more than a sweeping historical documentary—it illustrates the ways in which journalism helped ignite and sustain the fight for independence. Melita Garza, associate professor and Tom and June Netzel Sleeman Scholar in Business Journalism, and winner of Journalism History’s 2024 essay contest, shares […]

ICR faculty and students receive honors at 2025 National Communication Association convention

December 10, 2025 The Institute of Communications Research marked a highly productive year at the 2025 National Communication Association convention from November 19-23 in Denver, Colorado, with faculty members, students, and alumni presenting research, chairing panels, and contributing to programming at the 111th annual event. In addition to this strong scholarly presence, several members of […]

Senior lecturer Carrie Wilson-Brown receives Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Award

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 from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights & Community. The Teaching and Mentoring in Diversity award honors faculty, instructors, or lecturers who […]

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, […]

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