University of Alabama professor Rebecca K. Ivic is calling for a fundamental shift in how artificial intelligence is designed and evaluated for health: an AI system should not be considered effective only because it provides accurate information. Ivic is a commissioner and the University of Alabama’s co-secretariat lead for the Nature Medicine Commission on Quality Health Information…
Each year, scholars, educators and media professionals gather for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Annual Conference, one of the field’s leading forums for research, education and professional exchange. The organization brings together those working across journalism and mass communication to advance scholarship, strengthen teaching and support an informed public. Under the theme “Jazz & Jambalaya:…
Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the state of Alabama reached a settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc. over allegations involving the safety of children on social media platforms. A total of $17 billion will be distributed nationwide, with $117 million going to Alabama. The settlement requires Meta to implement several changes to how children use…
The Windgate Foundation awarded the School of Library and Information Studies an impactful $4 million grant to expand its nationally recognized book arts program. The funding will support graduate scholarships, assistantships and studio resources, helping ensure the program’s continued growth for years to come. Established in 1993, the Windgate Foundation is a Little Rock, Arkansas…
Dr. Josh Bramlett, Assistant Professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, was recently recognized for his political communication research at annual meetings of the Southern States Communication Association and Central States Communication Association. Southern States Communication Association At SSCA, held from April 8-12 in Birmingham, AL, Dr. Bramlett presented the top paper in…
On a Friday evening in late March, a room full of curious minds gathered to hear C&IS assistant professor Dr. A.J. Bauer talk about his latest book, Making the Liberal Media: How Conservatives Built a Movement Against the Press. The conversation that unfolded was as timely as it was historically rich. As a historian, ethnographer and former journalist, Bauer brought a unique perspective to the discussion, tracing how…
Each year, communities across Alabama are faced with the possibility of water-related emergencies like floods, droughts, hurricanes and extreme storms. Before the public is alerted, there is work that goes into how information about natural disasters is distributed for optimal safety to those that could be affected. That is where someone like Travis Loof, Ph.D., comes into play. Loof is a social and communication scientist for the Cooperative Institute…
Transformative research rarely happens by itself. What begins with ideas, then can grow through collaboration, mentorship and connection. This spirit of interdisciplinary work is at the heart of The University of Alabama’s (UA) Transformative Human-centered Research for Impacting Vulnerabilities Everywhere (THRIVE) Initiative. Jihoon Kim, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, has been selected as one of only 10 faculty members across campus to serve as a 2025–2026 THRIVE Fellow. Housed within UA’s Institute…
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, C&IS hosted the Alabama Science Communication Initiative (ASCI) Summit, bringing together leading science communication experts from across the country for a day of discovery and collaboration. This summit reflects C&IS’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation, advancing research and strengthening leadership in the communication field. Held at the Byrant Conference Center, communication leaders from various institutions across the country examined key questions shaping the science field. Each topic…
Music merchandising and artists' success; media’s role in athletes’ mental health; challenges faced by public libraries and library leaders; global gender issues in mass communication; the historical development of the film industry; and the foundations of effective media relations–these are just a few of the many topics you can explore through books published in the…
