May 18, 2026 Share on social
Highlights of student-produced work from Spring 2026
Category: College of Media
Journalism and advertising students amplify female head porters’ stories through global course experience in Ghana
April 29, 2026 | Giuliana Means, Communications Intern “I know from my experience that traveling and working abroad, especially in Africa, can be an inflection point in one’s life and globally contextualize values,” said Charles “Stretch” Ledford, associate professor of journalism, who has visited more than 55 countries throughout his career. “It was incredibly gratifying […]
Illinois Public Media recognized with four statewide broadcasting awards, including Best Small Market Radio Station
April 21, 2026 | IPM News Radio and television stations from across Illinois entered the contest. Winners were tiered by whether the station is in a small or large market. The judges considered material produced between July 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025. Illinois Public Media is a not-for-profit public media service of the College […]
Media students to present at 2026 Undergraduate Research Symposium
April 20, 2026 Update June 2, 2026: The team of journalism students who presented “They Want to Go Home: Ghana’s Kayayei” received an Outstanding Poster Presentation Award. *** At the Undergraduate Research Symposium, the signature event held on Thursday, April 30, at the Illini Union, students across campus will present their research. Below is a list of […]
Skornia Symposium to explore current public media challenges
April 14, 2026 Rapid shifts in technology, AI, media consumption habits, and funding have challenged media organizations to adapt their approaches to understanding and serving audiences. Academic and industry experts will discuss how public media can best engage with audience research to identify and meet community needs, strengthen audience relationships, and innovate content in ways […]
Super Bowl commercial expert Pat Burke to be alumni speaker at Media Convocation
March 23, 2026 | Kelly Youngblood Now the executive creative director at the Los Angeles–based ad agency Special U.S., Burke most recently oversaw the 2026 Uber Eats Super Bowl campaign, bringing his total number of Super Bowl commercials created to 18. Although Burke didn’t originally set out to become a leader in Super Bowl advertising, […]
‘Hot Ones’ host and Illinois alumnus Sean Evans named 2026 Commencement speaker
March 12, 2026 | Thomas Bruch, University of Illinois News Bureau Evans is the co-creator and host of the popular YouTube show Hot Ones, where musicians, professional athletes, and television and movie stars join Evans in eating chicken wings doused in progressively spicier hot sauces within the format of a talk-show interview. He notched a […]
College of Media launches new bachelor’s degree in sports media
March 9, 2026 | Holly Rushakoff In response to a growing interest from students—and with a proven track record of successful alumni across the sports media industry—the College of Media is expanding its roster to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Media. The program will prepare students for a variety of careers in sports […]
‘New York Times’-bestselling authors on presidential campaigns to visit University of Illinois for Q&A
February 17, 2026 This event is free and open to the public and is presented by the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media at the University of Illinois College of Media. Attendees may join the event in the Illini Union, Room B, 1401 W. Green, Urbana, or register to join via Zoom. The conversation […]
Ebert Symposium 2026 focuses on fandom and the media
January 30, 2026 Monday, March 30 Film Screening: The Wiz 7 p.m., Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum Before Wicked, there was The Wiz. Join the Ebert Center for a screening of Sidney Lumet’s The Wiz (1978). See cultural icons such as Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Nipsey Russell follow the yellow brick road in this musical retelling of The Wizard of Oz. […]