Journalism alum Doug Isbell combines passion for science, writing as NASA JPL risk communication coordinator

March 6, 2024 | Kelly Youngblood After 36 years in aerospace communications, Doug Isbell still thanks those lucky stars he’s always admired for the opportunity to create a successful career that combines his passion for science and his love of writing.  Isbell’s fascination with space began when he was eight years old, around the time […]

25th anniversary of Ebertfest announces ‘Star 80’ as opening night film, ‘The Best Man’ as centerpiece

Directors Malcolm D. Lee and Lisa Cortes, actors Eric Roberts and Mariel Hemingway to attend celebration    Additional filmmaker guests include director Diane Moore with conductor Roderick Cox     Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, also known as Ebertfest, announced today the 25th anniversary, running April 17-20, 2024, at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign, will kick off […]

Amanda Ciafone lends Coca-Cola expertise to new TV series ‘A History of the World in Six Glasses’

February 9, 2024 | Holly Rushakoff From a corner table in the Coca-Cola-branded brick building of Flesor’s Candy Kitchen (est. 1901) in Tuscola, Illinois—with a nostalgic Coca-Cola straw canister positioned nearby—Amanda Ciafone, associate professor of media and cinema studies, shared stories about Coca-Cola’s origins with producers of the new TV series A History of the […]

UIUC Student Film Festival 2024

February 1, 2024 UPDATE: Watch a recording of the 2024 UIUC Student Film Festival, featuring 13 film selections created by students at the University of Illinois.  Join us for a celebration of student filmmaking at the 15th annual UIUC Student Film Festival, featuring the work of students from across the University of Illinois campus. Programming will include roughly 2 […]

Illinois Public Media to launch new radio station focused on news and culture authentically reflecting the Black experience

December 13, 2023 Illinois Public Media is proud to announce the launch of Illinois Soul, a new radio station highlighting Black experiences, celebrating Black culture, elevating Black voices, and showcasing Black music. “Public media is uniquely positioned in today’s media landscape to meet the needs of its community in ways that commercial media might not, […]

Roger Ebert’s Film Festival passes on sale now

November 30, 2023 Festival passes for Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, to be held Wednesday, April 17, through Saturday, April 20, 2024, will go on sale Friday, Dec. 1, at 10 a.m. CT. Also known as Ebertfest, the four-day festival—named for the late Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic, University of Illinois journalism alumnus, and Urbana native Roger Ebert—will […]

Late ‘Laugh-In’ brothers Arte and Coslough Johnson share comedy history with Illinois

November 16, 2023 | Holly Rushakoff The late comedy legend brothers Arte Johnson (BS ’49, radio journalism) and Coslough Johnson (BS ’52, radio journalism) made sure to invest in the future of media by preserving part of its past.  (Gisela and Arte Johnson by Michael P. Maron Photography.) Both have donated artifacts to the University […]

College of Media apparel on sale for limited time

November 9, 2023 Show off your University of Illinois and college pride with branded apparel items featuring the College of Media, Advertising, Journalism, Media & Cinema Studies, and the Institute of Communications Research. From November 9 through December 4, a College of Media apparel shop will be open with items to purchase including branded sweatshirts, ball caps, T-shirts, […]

Brother, lifelong friends create first fully endowed MACS fund to honor memory of Jonathan Laxamana

October 10, 2023 | Kelly Youngblood When Joe Laxamana lost his younger brother Jonathan in December 2022, he and some of their lifelong friends wanted to find a way to honor his memory.  “We wanted to find something that connected what Jonathan was about and who he was—and one of his greatest passions in life […]

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