Communications | Penn Today

Here is the science of why you doomscroll

Emily Falk of the Annenberg School for Communication writes that, “by making choices based on your goals and values, you’ll influence not just yourself but also those around you.”

Annenberg School for Communication exterior and the silhouette of a student.

Annenberg School launches Master of Communication and Media Industries program

For the first time in 25 years, Penn’s Annenberg School for Communication will offer a master’s program. The new Master of Communication and Media Industries (MCMI) is a reimagining of the Annenberg School’s inaugural academic program in 1954; its curriculum will be defined by its exploration of rapid technological change, global interconnectivity, and evolving professional demands.

1 min. read

Victor Pickard awarded the C. Edwin Baker Award from the International Communication Association

Pickard, co-director of the Media, Inequality & Change Center at the Annenberg School for Communication has been awarded for significant contributions to the development, reach, and influence of scholarship on media, markets, and democracy.

How to handle misinformation without starting a fight

Javier Granados Samayoa of the Annenberg Public Policy Center explains how “bypassing misinformation” helps avoid arguments while clearing up political falsehoods.

To make better choices, understand how your brain processes values

In a Q&A, Emily Falk of the Annenberg School for Communication discusses how the brain sifts through options and how reflecting on priorities can help align behaviors with long-term aims.

How cable news has diverged from broadcast news

A team of researchers from the Computational Social Science Lab at the University of Pennsylvania find that cable news has increasingly diverged from broadcast news in the topics covered and language used.

3 min. read

The FBI’s secret impact on American broadcasting

A new Annenberg School for Communication study of declassified FBI files documents how the Bureau wielded the fear of communist infiltration to infiltrate the broadcasting industry itself.

Sparking curiosity for better learning and better lives

Annenberg School for Communication doctoral graduate Xinyi Wang studies how people actively seek out and engage with new information.

2 min. read

Five years after George Floyd’s death, why misinformation still persists

Deen Freelon of the Annenberg School for Communication says marginalized groups have been the targets of misinformation for centuries.

How the Annenberg School connected all the dots for Naima Small

The Class of 2025 communications major was drawn to studying social media and culture, how gender is portrayed online, and the role of technology in perpetuating bias. “I loved how Annenberg enabled me to not only see the diversity of ways I could use my degree, but also learn from people who had much different academic interests than me.”