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 […]

Mandatory media literacy education in Illinois schools impaired by digital divides

August 20, 2025 | Sharita Forrest, University of Illinois News Bureau Teachers and high school students live in vastly different media worlds, and that’s one of several digital divides that undermine the efficacy of state-mandated media literacy instruction in Illinois high schools, a recent study suggests. The researchers—Institute of Communications Research doctoral student Sakshi Bhalla and Michelle Nelson, […]

The future of AI: In the home, on the battlefield, in space, sports and beyond

July 1, 2025 | The News-Gazette I suspect AI will continue to be used to help political strategists in creating, testing and managing campaigns. This means we’ll probably receive even more personalized ads—I’m hopeful that we, as citizens, are able to know what is AI and what is not, and what is truthful and what […]

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 […]

College of Media collaborates with University, community partners to offer local children access to new opportunities in education, technology

April 10, 2024 | Kelly Youngblood The College of Media is collaborating with University of Illinois and community partners to present educational workshops to local children this spring as part of a new public engagement effort. The collaboration between the College of Media and the Center for Social and Behavioral Science focuses on creating hands-on […]

Advertising and ICR faculty and graduate students recognized at 2024 AAA conference

March 22, 2024 Faculty and graduate students in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising and Institute of Communications Research were honored with awards and presented research at the annual conference of the American Academy of Advertising, held March 14-17, 2024, in Portland, Oregon.  Professor Michelle Nelson, head of the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, won […]

How will generative artificial intelligence affect political advertising in 2024?

March 7, 2024 | University of Illinois News Bureau It’s estimated that $12 billion will be spent on political ads this election cycle—30% more than in 2020. The sheer volume of ads is remarkable, and there is vast potential to use this political information to contribute to democracy: to reach more potential voters and provide […]

College of Media welcomes new faculty leadership roles, newly promoted faculty, and new faculty members

August 23, 2023 This fall welcomes two new heads of academic units, a new center director, a new associate head of advertising graduate studies, three faculty promotions, and two new faculty in the College of Media. Professor Michelle Nelson will serve as the head of the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising for a three-year […]

Advertising faculty and graduate students recognized at 2023 AAA conference

April 24, 2023 The American Academy of Advertising held its annual conference March 23-26 in Denver, Colorado, where five faculty from the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising and graduate students in advertising and from the Institute of Communications Research presented papers, led panel discussions, and won awards.  Sela Sar, professor of advertising and director […]

New Emerging Leaders Program connects advertising students with industry leaders in Chicago

March 3, 2023 | Faith Lee, Communications Intern 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 were selected for the 2022-23 academic […]

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