Illini Watchers brings movie fans together for analytical discussion

October 30, 2025 | Giuliana Means, Communications Intern Every Friday night, the sound of lively movie-take debates pours from Room 1090 and drifts down the halls of Lincoln Hall during The Illini Watchers’ weekly meeting. The registered student organization began around 2018, originally named C-U Cinefile, to review various forms of media. The Illini Watchers […]

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 […]

Media literacy research and engagement initiatives address societal challenges

October 29, 2025 Faculty and graduate students across the College of Media are pursuing a range of activities aimed at understanding challenges to media literacy and developing interventions to improve it. Recent activities include: A team including Michelle Nelson, professor of advertising, Amanda Ciafone, associate professor of media and cinema studies, Stephanie Craft, professor of […]

Roger Ebert Lecture: “A Yellow Spot on the Silver Screen”—Anna May Wong’s Performative Pleasure

September 29, 2025 The 2025 Roger Ebert Lecture and Screening will be held October 23-24 in the Knight Auditorium of Spurlock Museum. Join us in person or via Zoom on Friday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. for the 2025 Roger Ebert Lecture, “A Yellow Spot on the Silver Screen”—Anna May Wong’s Performative Pleasure, given by Yiman Wang, professor of film and digital media at UC […]

Media students gain unique, real-world experience through summer internships

September 3, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood From working on film production crews and meeting famous actors to interviewing congressmen on Capitol Hill, several College of Media students ended their summers on a high note after wrapping up internships that offered memorable learning opportunities. Francisco Albarran (MACS), Film Production Intern, Chili Finger When media and cinema […]

Media faculty and TAs make list of teachers ranked as excellent

September 3, 2025 Updated 9/22/2025 to include Summer 2025 results. Congratulations to all the College of Media faculty and teaching assistants who were ranked as excellent by their students! This list is based on Instructor and Course Evaluation System questionnaire forms completed by students during the Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 semesters. Only those instructors […]

2025-2026 student award and scholarship recipients

August 26, 2025 Congratulations to these College of Media students who received campus and college awards and honors, and scholarships and fellowships that were made possible thanks to our donors. AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, & FELLOWSHIPS A-Mark Journalism Master’s Scholarship American Advertising Federation Most Promising Students Anthony J. Petullo Endowment in Design and Advertising Fund Barton A. Cummings […]

College of Media offers new online degree completion program: BA in Media

August 20, 2025 | Holly Rushakoff To expand access to a University of Illinois education, the College of Media now offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Media program for adult learners who have taken some college coursework but have not completed their undergraduate degree. Targeting working adults who want to upskill or re-skill their […]

College of Media welcomes Fall 2025 with faculty promotions and leadership appointments

August 19, 2025 This fall, the College of Media announces two new department heads, seven faculty promotions, and one new faculty member. In the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, Sang-Hwa Oh has been promoted to associate professor with indefinite tenure. Carrie Wilson-Brown has been promoted to senior lecturer. Penne Heede joins the department as […]

College of Media
119 Gregory Hall
810 S. Wright St.
Urbana, IL 61801
217-333-2350