Campus On The Common

Social movements and activism today receive as much coverage in the news cycle as ever. But with the short attention span of the modern media ecosystem, how do activists and organizers today create and promote the meaningful stories behind their work? Dr. Gino Canella is a researcher, educator, and filmmaker who studies how collaborative media production has the potential to foster meaningful relationships among people fighting for justice. He joins us today to discuss the role of storytelling and collaboration in the success of social movements and share his experiences working alongside community organizers.

Today's media landscape is a digital environment always in motion, presenting new opportunities and challenges for storytellers of all kinds. So what does that mean for broadcast journalism in 2023? And how do young journalists succeed in the industry and tell meaningful stories? In this episode, Larry Potash—Chicago's longest-serving morning anchor and creator of the docuseries Backstory— provides his insight into the state of broadcast journalism today and what it takes to tell a good story. He will also give advice to the next generation of reporters, news anchors, and documentations on the important skills needed to thrive in modern media production.

The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team has won 4 Fifa World Cups since its inception, while the men's team has yet to make it to the finals. So, why do women have less to show for it on payday? Dr. Mary Anne Taylor has joined us to discuss the recent settlement between US Women's Pro soccer and their players regarding the gender pay gaps in women's soccer. She also gives us some actionable advice on how we can support women's sports in all its forms.

On an interpersonal level, do you communicate in a positive or negative manner? Do you unknowingly project power or weakness, impatience, or encouragement, are your words edgy or empathetic? In today's episode, I'll be speaking with Professor. Philip Glenn about his research into the field of Positive Communication. He'll tell us about the movement towards Non-Violent Communication and teach us what role humor, laughter, and levity can play in developing interpersonal connections. So let's get serious about laughter, as we learn more about the world of positive communications.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight is an iconic tune, but what can it teach us about the importance of copyright for artists and other creatives? I'm talking to Dr Bhamati Viswanathan, a copyright lawyer, and professor here at Emerson College, about everything you need to know to protect your intellectual property. Whether it's copyright, patent, or trademark, securing your IP is the only way to make sure that you can make a living while doing what you love. Together, we'll learn why speaking some legal-esse is an important part of every artist's vocabulary. Our Guest Dr. Bhamati Viswanathan teaches, advises, and writes about the intersection of creative economies, arts, culture, and copyright law. She is an Affiliate Faculty member at Emerson College's Business of Creative Enterprise program and has recently written a book entitled “Cultivating Copyright: How Creative Industries Can Harness Intellectual Property to Survive the Digital Age” Included in her many academic degrees, she holds a Doctorate of Juridical Science from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

How can you bring an unknown brand out of obscurity? How do you bring awareness to a cause that needs our attention? In this episode, it's all about small budgets and big impacts as we dive into Guerilla Public relations. I'm sitting down with Professor David Richard, who is the CEO of his own PR firm and a professor here at Emerson College, to learn why this public relations strategy makes sense as well as how to use it. We'll discuss what Guerilla PR is, where it fits in the broader scheme of Public Relations, and how you can devise a successful Guerilla PR campaign of your own.

President Jimmy Carter's wife Rosalynn famously said “Don't worry about the polls. But if you do, don't admit it.” Unfortunately, in today's heated political landscape and 24-hour news cycle, the former First Lady's advice simply doesn't hold water. So in this episode, we welcome Isabel Holloway '19, the assistant director at Emerson Polling, to help us pull back the curtain on the study of public opinon — to understand what it is, how it works, and why it's important. We'll discuss the evolving landscape of polling methodologies, what it takes to be a leader in this field, and how the past is influencing the future of polling.

How can academic researchers convey insight and meaning about the world of Adoption as they know it? Autoethnography, focus groups, and photo-voice (a combination of images and narratives) are qualitative research tools that can provide meaningful context and insight into personal experiences. In this episode, we’ll talk with Emerson College’s Dr. Robin Danzak, about how she combines these tools in order to explore the spectrum of adoption from the perspective of those whose lives it has touched.

The Latinx community is a complex, diverse group of people that have had a massive, unquestionable influence on North American culture and society. Whether it is music, art, sports or politics, you can’t tell the story of US history without Latinx history. Yet, for far too long in this country, this group has been oppressed, forgotten, and treated as a monolith. So, in a moment where many social movements have enveloped the nation, how can one tell the intricate story of the Latinx experience in America, and how can those stories be used to bridge communities and create significant, lasting change.

Injustice, discrimination and hate are issues that we face here in the US as well as throughout the world. While 2020 was a year that clearly reflected how much work still needs to be done. Affecting meaningful change is easier said than done. Emerging from all this hostility we are now seeing a new generation of activists that have heard the call to action in the fight against Hate. So who are these young leaders of social change? What are they doing to promote this global movement to bring about tolerance, equality, and justice? Team Harmony Foundation, is an organization “committed to educating, inspiring and engaging youth in the battle against hate in all its forms”. In today’s episode, we’ll talk about Team Harmony with three members of the Emerson community that have been instrumental in expanding Team Harmony’s connection to young change agents throughout the world Today’s guests include Emerson College Department of Communication studies Chairman Dr. Gregory Payne, Khary Higgins an Emerson College Senior, and Professor Cathryn Edelstein the director of the Non-profit Management Communication Minor.

In France, we’re seeing a continuous pattern of Discrimination, fear, hatred and violence associated with Islamophobia. What’s at the heart of the matter and is it possible to be both French and Muslim in France? We spoke with Dr. Carol Ferrara, an Assistant Professor at Emerson College and a Sociocultural Anthropologist with expertise and field experience in France.

How do children with autism spectrum disorder develop language skills? Recent research shows signs that 3-rd party conversations may be a possible avenue for children with ASD to learn the language. If correct, this hypothesis may reveal insights into new ways of teaching children important early language skills. In this episode, we’ll talk with Dr Rhinnon Luyster about her research into how children with autism may benefit from a language-rich environment.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Some of the most iconic moments in modern history have been captured through the lens of photojournalists. These dedicated witnesses to history conform to an ethical code of conduct and apply their truth in documenting what they see As modern technology democratizes who gets to craft and share the story, what separates the professional photojournalist as a multimedia storyteller from a passerby with a Smartphone camera? Everyone has a story, but not everyone can tell some else's story. In this episode, we’ll talk with Dr. Gina Gayle, a professor of visual and multimedia storytelling at Emerson college.

NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem, Olympic medalists John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised a fist on the podium and basketball legend LeBron James refused to shut up and dribble. How do professional sports and social activism intertwine, and what impact do sports continue to have on the ongoing struggle to build a more equitable world?

In stressful times, it’s easy to lose your cool. Empathy and reason become hard to come by and we can react to others as well as ourselves in a less-than-positive manner. So what can we do about how we feel and how we manage relationships with others? Let’s talk about Emotional intelligence. In this episode- we’ll talk with Sara Asem an Emerson College graduate, founder of Luminary Minds who practices as an emotional intelligence professional.

In just the last few months, we've seen plague, brutality, protest, murder hornets, locust, wayward asteroids, and unemployment numbers unseen for generations. So who do we look to in a time a crisis? What do we, the public, need to hear? Why are some leaders effective in getting the public to respond, while others fail miserably? How do you get the word out? What are the key concepts and best practices of crisis communications?

In this episode let’s start to unpack the difficult topic of racism. Today’s guests from Emerson College are Cheryl Owsley Jackson, a Journalist in Residence and Certified Diversity Trainer. Heather May is a Senior Lecturer and Chair of the faculty assembly. For the purpose of understanding perceptive Cheryl Owsley Jackson is a bi-racial woman that identifies as black while Heather May identifies as a cisgender white women.

Media is a powerful tool that shapes our everyday lives. But how do others worldwide engage with media and harness its power for social change? In this episode, we’ll talk with Dr. Azeta Hatef about empowering underrepresented groups through media. Dr. Azeta Hatef is a media researcher and award-winning instructor. Her scholarly interests focus on issues of social media as activism for underrepresented groups, gender and identity, and media systems in a global context.

Alexa, do my homework. Voice-enabled technology has arrived and is becoming a bigger part of our daily lives. Where is this technology going, what are the implications for industry, education and at home? How do you get in on this trend's ground floor? Why should we care? In this episode of Campus on the Common we'll talk with Emerson Lauch's Director Sanjay Pothen about Voice Technology.

In this episode of Campus on the Common we'll talk with Laura Glufling Tham about how Emerson College's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders provides services and strategies to those challenges with dementia

In today’s politically divided climate, people don’t normally associate politics with ethical values. So how does this intersection connect to political discourse and modern media? In this episode, we are talking with Peter Loge about the relationship between politics and ethics in a modern democracy.

What do movie producers, music executives, fashion designers, and product innovators have in common? How do you cultivate creativity and turn artistic insight into a business opportunity? In this episode, we’ll talk with Emerson College Director of Business of Creative Enterprises, Wes Jackson about the intersection between business and creativity.

Netflix goes beyond providing entertainment services. As you talk with Netflix users, it becomes clear that Netflix helps to foster community. In her research, Communication Studies Professor Sharifa Simon-Roberts discovered a phenomenally high rate of Netflix consumption among Gen-Z African Americans. But when did this begin, and why? More importantly, what does this tell us about streaming media and our sense of community? Sharifa shares her discoveries and theories in this episode.

Learning a new language can be hard. As a college student, how do you go about the process of adapting to a new language and culture? What resources are available and how to do you deal with all the nuances, metaphors, and slang of spoken English in a classroom environment? Hear from Emerson College English Language Coordinator/Lecturer Jeremy Heflin on English Language Learning.

How do marketers use technology to send the right message to the right person at the right time in a personalized yet massive scale? Why is it that when we click on some web content, we generally start receiving more related content through different mediums and channels? In this episode of Campus on the Common, we’ll talk with Emerson College Adjunct Professor Randy Harrison about Marketing Automation, what it is, what it does and why it’s important for next-generation marketers.

Consumer behavior research examines all aspects of purchasing behavior – from pre-purchase activities through to post-purchase consumption, evaluation and purchase decision activities. In this episode of Campus on the Common, we'll speak with Dr. Naa Amponsah Dodoo, about Consumer Behaviour Research and its implications for marketers and advertisers and product managers.

Alejandra St Guillen has led a life in service both inside and outside of government. She has served as a public school teacher, an activist, and ran the Mayor of Boston’s Office of Immigrant Advancement. She is now trying to serve in a new way and is a candidate for one of Boston’s City Councilors at Large positions.

When used correctly, Public relations can make or break an organization. While everyone seems to know the term public relations, not everyone understands what it means. Its evolved into much more than sending the right messages to the right people at the right time, its also about relationships, narrative, strategy, tactics and logistics. So what is Public Relations? How is it different than marketing or advertising and what are the key attributes that will make a public relations expert truly effective? In this episode, we’ll talk with Dr. Maria Scott. Dr. Scott is a professor at Emerson College’s School of Communication she is also a public relations practitioner with decades of experiences working with iconic brands such as NASCAR, ESPN, the National Football League, the National hockey league, the PGA as well as a host of non-profits and small business.

Water, we all need it but do we have a right to it? Dr. Nejem Raheem, discusses the role of communications in contending with the complexity of water rights. Dr. Raheem brings over 15 years of experience as an environmental economist to Emerson College. His expertise is in economic analysis of natural resource and environmental issues, focusing on ecosystem services and traditional or indigenous economies.

How does the brain of a liberal vs a brain of a conservative react to the same message? In this episode, we'll talk with Dr. Ruth Grossman about your brain on politics.

Bob Lyons, a 20-year veteran of the media industry and affiliated faculty member at Emerson College discusses the growing prevalence of streaming media and the different impacts they're having on consumers and content creators alike.

Deion Hawkins, Assistant Professor and Director of Forensics at Emerson College discusses his work concerning trauma and communication surrounding police brutality in the Black community.

Former CNN correspondent and Journalist-in-Residence at Emerson College, Cheryl Owsley-Jackson discusses how the convergence of broadcast, print, and social media is impacting journalists, and how they balance their humanity with objectivity.

Dr. Scott Ratzan, Emerson alumnus and affiliated faculty member, medical doctor, and Senior Fellow at Harvard University's Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business & Government discusses how effective communication can better prepare people to face the challenges of caregiving for family members with Alzheimer's and Dementia.

Veteran reporter and professor of Journalism, Mark Leccese closes off our Reclaiming Conversation series by delving into the role of technology in the public sphere and how that is affecting communication and the field of journalism in an increasingly mediated world.

Clinical Instructors Jocelyne Leger and Barbara Worth from Emerson College's Robbins Speech, Language and Hearing Center discuss how they're using cutting-edge speech pathology services to help transgender people use the voice that best matches their identity.

Fake news is not a term many people used three years ago, but now it is seen as one of the greatest threats to democracy and free debate. The rise of fake news is raising tensions between nations and has some calling for greater regulation of social media. Journalism professors Paul Niwa and Gino Canella unpack this major issue and discuss its implications in journalism and beyond.

Department of Communication Studies Chair and Director of the Rediscover Rosarito Program, Gregory Payne and Communication Studies professor, Mark Brodie discuss immigration and border issues and the Rediscover Rosarito program's grassroots efforts to bridge cultural and political divides between the US and Mexico through public diplomacy.

Assistant Dean and Executive-in-Residence at the School of Communication at Emerson College, Lu Ann Reeb dives into the world of entrepreneurship and startups in Boston and beyond. A three-time entrepreneur herself, Reeb now heads up Emerson's E3 entrepreneurship program.

Technology has been instrumental in connecting people around the world, but is it having a negative impact on interpersonal communication and empathy? Business of Creative Enterprises professor, Brenna McCormick explores the topic of "Reclaiming Conversation" as it pertains to the working environment.

Director of Business Development and Strategic Intelligence for National Amusements and Executive-in-Residence for ESports at Emerson College, Kevin Mitchell discusses the meteoric rise of ESports around the world. From Fortnite and Overwatch to League of Legends and CS:GO, the burgeoning billion-dollar industry has earned the attention of spectators, players, advertisers, and even traditional sports franchises.

Marketing Communication Executive-in-Residence, Mike McGuirk demystifies "Big Data" and explores how companies are leveraging analytics to better identify and act on customer insights.

Boston is a sports town, and Emerson College students can take advantage of the success of Boston's sports teams through the School of Communication's sports comm major and minor programs. To learn more about Boston's most recent sports success, and how Emerson programs are preparing the next generation of sports broadcasters and leaders, Campus On The Common spoke with Department of Communication Studies Assistant Professor Michael Park.

For our inaugural episode, we begin a three part series on Reclaiming Conversation, a text chosen for first-year School of Communication students to better help them transition from high school to Emerson College. Joining host Chance Dorland is School of Communication Dean Raul Reis.