I on the Media: Sang-Hwa Oh discusses Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ and K-pop branding

October 6, 2025 K-pop, short for “Korean pop,” is a music genre from South Korea celebrated for its dynamic mix of styles, elaborate choreography, and visually captivating performances. Its influence now extends beyond music, reaching film and other media. This summer’s animated movie KPop Demon Hunters not only became the most-watched film in Netflix history but also […]

I on the Media: Ewa Maslowska discusses AI “friendships”

October 6, 2025 As AI chatbots become more sophisticated, people are increasingly turning to them not only for information, but also for companionship. Concerns are growing over increasing cognitive, emotional, and social reliance on AI tools. The College of Media spoke with Ewa Maslowska, associate professor of advertising and expert in consumer-brand interactions in the […]

Media students gain unique, real-world experience through summer internships

September 3, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood From working on film production crews and meeting famous actors to interviewing congressmen on Capitol Hill, several College of Media students ended their summers on a high note after wrapping up internships that offered memorable learning opportunities. Francisco Albarran (MACS), Film Production Intern, Chili Finger When media and cinema […]

New lecturer in advertising Penne Heede brings agency expertise to classroom

September 3, 2025 | Kelly Youngblood Penne Heede, a 30-year veteran in the ad industry, is looking forward to bringing her agency expertise to the classroom this fall as a new lecturer in the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising. Heede (MS ’23, strategic brand communication) will be teaching undergraduate and graduate classes including Advertising […]

Media faculty and TAs make list of teachers ranked as excellent

September 3, 2025 Updated 9/22/2025 to include Summer 2025 results. Congratulations to all the College of Media faculty and teaching assistants who were ranked as excellent by their students! This list is based on Instructor and Course Evaluation System questionnaire forms completed by students during the Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 semesters. Only those instructors […]

I on the Media: Mike Yao discusses dependence on AI

September 2, 2025 Recently, there has been heightened media attention around the potential misuse of generative AI tools like ChatGPT—ranging from stories about individuals using it in harmful ways to concerns about people becoming overly dependent on it for companionship or therapy. While these accounts may represent extreme cases, they raise important questions about the […]

2025-2026 student award and scholarship recipients

August 26, 2025 Congratulations to these College of Media students who received campus and college awards and honors, and scholarships and fellowships that were made possible thanks to our donors. AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, & FELLOWSHIPS Anthony J. Petullo Endowment in Design and Advertising Fund Barton A. Cummings Graduate Assistantship / Richard and Audrey Christian Graduate Assistantship Betty […]

College of Media offers new online degree completion program: BA in Media

August 20, 2025 | Holly Rushakoff To expand access to a University of Illinois education, the College of Media now offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Media program for adult learners who have taken some college coursework but have not completed their undergraduate degree. Targeting working adults who want to upskill or re-skill their […]

Mandatory media literacy education in Illinois schools impaired by digital divides

August 20, 2025 | Sharita Forrest, University of Illinois News Bureau Teachers and high school students live in vastly different media worlds, and that’s one of several digital divides that undermine the efficacy of state-mandated media literacy instruction in Illinois high schools, a recent study suggests. The researchers—Institute of Communications Research doctoral student Sakshi Bhalla and Michelle Nelson, […]

College of Media welcomes Fall 2025 with faculty promotions and leadership appointments

August 19, 2025 This fall, the College of Media announces two new department heads, seven faculty promotions, and one new faculty member. In the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, Sang-Hwa Oh has been promoted to associate professor with indefinite tenure. Carrie Wilson-Brown has been promoted to senior lecturer. Penne Heede joins the department as […]

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