The Media, Inequality & Change Center

On Friday, Nov 20, join us for a student-organized symposium titled Continuum of Crisis: Media, Race and Capital. Participants will consider how different media technologies are molded by capitalist institutions and systems of racialized power. Agenda: buff.ly/oitI1ju Register: buff.ly/EfjJK0R

Last month, journalist and political analyst Andrew Ryvkin spoke at @asc.upenn.edu for Pop-Propaganda: How the Kremlin Markets Its War Like Disney and Coca-Cola, a colloquium with @penn-rees.bsky.social. Watch the full talk on YouTube here: buff.ly/2qVsT5D

We had the chance to talk to @sjjphd.bsky.social about her brilliant new book -- A Second Sight: How the Wonder and Vision of Black Mediamakers Push America Toward Freedom, out now. Check out the latest Revival Letter issue and read our conversation! www.therevivallab.org/the-gift-of-...

The midterms. Redbaiting in the early communication field. AI and science. Americans' civics knowledge. Read these stories and more on our website: www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/...

Research analyzes the viral “Kamala is Brat” trend to show how everyday meme creators helped construct a presidential candidate’s public identity:

Thursday, 10/15 at 5pm, @sjjphd.bsky.social will be at Brown University for The Black Press@200 Colloquium where she will discuss her new publication, A Second Sight. Register for the event here:

Do forms of digital feminism generate meaningful social change beyond the backlash they provoke? Tomorrow @sjjphd.bsky.social will take part in USF's Davies Forum to discuss feminist scholarship on visibility, community building, and digital activism. RSVP here:

Reminder to RSVP for tomorrow’s talk with Andrew Ryvkin at the Annenberg School for Communication, Room 500, at 12pm. Lunch will be provided!

Tuesday, Sept 29, at 12pm! Join MIC and @penn-rees.bsky.social for Pop-Propaganda: How the Kremlin Markets Its War Like Disney and Coca-Cola. In this talk, journalist Andrew Ryvkin will explore the parallels between classic marketing and modern Russian propaganda. Learn more and register here:

Exciting news! MIC Co-Director @sjjphd.bsky.social is a candidate in ICA’s presidential election. You can read her candidate statement here:

Tuesday, Sept 29, at 12pm! Join MIC and @penn-rees.bsky.social for Pop-Propaganda: How the Kremlin Markets Its War Like Disney and Coca-Cola. In this talk, journalist Andrew Ryvkin will explore the parallels between classic marketing and modern Russian propaganda. Learn more and register here:

In her new book, Associate Professor @sjjphd.bsky.social traces how historical and contemporary writers, journalists, and filmmakers have strengthened the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness:

Tomorrow! Sara M. Lomax speaks with @sjjphd.bsky.social about her new book, A Second Sight, at the Parkway Central Library as part of the Free Library of Philadelphia's Author Events Series.

This new report by @sanjayjahlee.bsky.social emphasizes the need for a "vigorous defense of collective worker organizing" to enshrine labor rights in the American legal system and provides strategic resources for pro-labor legal advocates.

If you're attending #ICA26 make sure to stop by the launch party for @sjjphd.bsky.social's new book, A Second Sight: How the Wonder and Vision of Black Mediamakers Push America Toward Freedom. buff.ly/wJm9f6Q

A nice write-up of some of our recent research at the @miccenter.bsky.social, with lead authors @davidberman.bsky.social and Aaron Hyzen. penntoday.upenn.edu/news/how-pa-...

@victorpickard.bsky.social writes about the importance of public media and proposes the creation of locally owned and controlled multi-media hubs called “Public Media Centers” for our Reconstructing Free Expression series. knightcolumbia.org/blog/reimagi...

Drawing on interviews with nonprofit news leaders in PA, @victorpickard.bsky.social @davidberman.bsky.social and Aaron Hyzen examine the role of the nonprofit news sector in addressing the journalism crisis in this article: buff.ly/y6KUYUs

If you missed @commscholar.bsky.social's book talk at @asc.upenn.edu, you can watch it online here: buff.ly/nuANNZ2 And check out the book, Content Confusion: News Media, Native Advertising, and Policy in an Era of Disinformation here: buff.ly/iDLP68g

Very excited about this new journal article with @davidberman.bsky.social and Aaron Hyzen that examines Pennsylvania's nonprofit news ecosystem and makes the distinction between journalism reforms that focus on restoration vs. transformation. Link to the PDF: victorpickard.com/wp-content/u...

@commscholar.bsky.social gave an excellent talk @asc.upenn.edu @miccenter.bsky.social about her new book Content Confusion (video coming soon). I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

Reminder to join us tomorrow at @asc.upenn.edu for a book talk with Michelle Amazeen (@commscholar.bsky.social)!

I’ll be speaking about my new book, #ContentConfusion ( @mitpress.bsky.social), at the Media, Inequality & Change Center ( @miccenter.bsky.social) at UPenn on Thu, Mar 26 at 12:00 PM. If you’re in Philly, I’d love to see you there! Details & registration: buff.ly/gN1TdYW #booksky #commsky

ICE has detained yet another journalist, Estefany Rodríguez. If you're a journalist reporting on ICE and want more information about how to protect against potential retaliation against you or your sources, listen back to our event from last year with leading journalists on the immigration beat.

Missed our recent book talk with @rodneybenson.bsky.social? Catch the entire presentation on media ownership and its effects on news coverage here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdN3... And check out the book How Media Ownership Matters here: buff.ly/ohm5pAH

Please join us and @commscholar.bsky.social on 3/26 @ 12pm in ASC Room 500 to discuss her newest book Content Confusion. The book covers the practice of "native advertising" that blurs the line between journalism and ads, fueling disinformation and distrust. Register here: buff.ly/gN1TdYW

Register now for CAMRA's 2026 Screening Scholarship Media Festival: Portals, on 3/27 and 3/28. The theme encompasses a range of projects that explore the notion of portals across diverse media and disciplines, including panels such as AI, Algorithms, & Technological Afterlives.

Outstanding talk from @rodneybenson.bsky.social at the @miccenter.bsky.social today about his ever-so-timely and important new book, “How Media Ownership Matters.” (video forthcoming.) I urge everyone who cares about the future of media and democracy to read the book!

Next Wednesday @rodneybenson.bsky.social joins us to discuss his new book How Media Ownership Matters. RSVP here: buff.ly/T4H1GhM

The polycrisis afflicting our media necessitates a political economic analysis that focuses on ownership, control, and market structure. @victorpickard.bsky.social's newest essay for @lpeproject.bsky.social examines cascading layers of "media capture" and necessary policy interventions.

Excited for this upcoming virtual book salon, hosted by Penn! 7 authors gather to discuss their contributions to DECOLONIZING AFGHANISTAN Feb. 19th at 3pm ET. Register here: mec.sas.upenn.edu/events/2026/... @dukepress.bsky.social @annenbergcargc.bsky.social @ascmediarisk.org @miccenter.bsky.social

Join us on Wednesday, 2/25 @ 12 pm for a talk with @rodneybenson.bsky.social about his book How Media Ownership Matters, an analysis of different media ownership types and their effects on news coverage. More info: buff.ly/QhfKafR RSVP here: buff.ly/T4H1GhM

Join us on Wednesday, 2/25 @ 12 pm for a talk with @rodneybenson.bsky.social about his book How Media Ownership Matters, an analysis of different media ownership types and their effects on news coverage. More info: buff.ly/QhfKafR RSVP here: buff.ly/T4H1GhM

On the latest episode of Annenberg Conversations, Annenberg Professor @victorpickard.bsky.social, co-director of the @miccenter.bsky.social, explained how the loss of local journalism affects civic knowledge, political engagement, and our democracy as news deserts become more widespread.

Now accepting applications for the 2026 Milton Wolf Seminar's Emerging Scholars Program! This year's theme is "Tech Juggernauts: AI, Freedom of Expression, and Shifting Geopolitical Alliances," and scholars in related fields are encouraged to apply by February 13. Application instructions here:

We are now accepting applications for the 2026 COMPASS Summer Fellowship Program, which places PhD students with DC-based communication-related institutions to gain hands-on experience in communication policy. Application letters and CVs are due no later than Jan 16, 2026. More info here:

In his recent essay for @ccc-journal.bsky.social, @victorpickard.bsky.social analyzes the capitalist logics at the root of many media-related issues and provides a framework for shifting to a less capitalist, more democratic media system. Read here: buff.ly/AYvibor

A new report from MIC Co-Director @victorpickard.bsky.social as well as @shahrzadshams.bsky.social and @bilalb.bsky.social maps the political economy behind today’s media crisis and asks the urgent question: What would a media system designed to strengthen democracy actually look like?

How do you center hope in your research, activism and media work? Join our annual symposium in two weeks to imagine new possibilities for media research and practice at this time of profound upheaval. Keynote: music educator, André de Quadros Register: bit.ly/beyondendurance @asc.upenn.edu

There is hope, and we must use it! Join us at our annual symposium next month to envision new possibilities for media research and practice at this time of profound upheaval. Register here: bit.ly/beyondendurance @asc.upenn.edu

Was thrilled to help consult for this fantastic John Oliver segment on the tragic plight of U.S. public media and why, if we hope to be a democracy, we still need public media for so many things that commercial media will never provide. Deserves a wide viewership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknM...

🎉 Excited to share that Content Confusion publishes today! It dives into how news orgs & advertisers—including fossil fuels—blur journalism & ads, fueling disinfo & distrust. Available now! Use code MITP30 today for 30% off at MIT Press. Thanks for the support! 🙏 mitpress.mit.edu/978026255360...

Attacks on press freedom are devastating newsrooms and leaving communities without reliable local news. Join @freepress.bsky.social on 11/13 for a conversation with FCC Commissioner @agomezfcc.bsky.social about the barriers to free speech and local news NJ residents are facing. buff.ly/3njhEfG