The Annenverse

Host Skye Lee talks with Ethan Ward, an entrepreneur, award winning journalist, and USC Annenberg alum. Ethan shares how he went from living in his car while attending community college to earning degrees in journalism and public diplomacy at USC. He discusses how the Annenberg Media Center shaped his career, why he founded his media company Heat Drawn, and what inspired his podcast Reputation. Th...

In this episode of The Annenverse , host Skye Lee sits down with Annenberg alum Briana Robinson to explore her inspiring journey — from studying abroad in Costa Rica, to earning a Fulbright scholarship in China, to becoming the inaugural Director of Development at the San Diego Diplomacy Council. Together, they discuss how Robinson’s global experiences have shaped her worldview and guided her care...

In this episode of “The Annenverse,” our host Skye Lee speaks with USC Annenberg Assistant Professor of Communication Marlon Twyman, USC Viterbi Professor Elisabeth Weiss, and USC Men’s Rowing Coach John Kaitz.  Together, they explore the significance of organizational communication across various goal-oriented social contexts, including sports and academia. They delve into its role in fostering a...

In this episode of “The Annenverse," our host Skye Lee tours the USC Annenberg's Student Services offices to chat with their staff about the various services they offer. Tune in to see how the team can address your academic and professional needs, from study abroad and class scheduling to resume review and career development.  This episode of “The Annenverse” is hosted, produced, and res...

If you've ever read "Morning, Trojan." in your email inbox, chances are you've heard of College Brief. What began as an Annenberg Media newsletter to provide college students with a brief email rundown of the daily news has now expanded to multiple campuses across California.  In this episode of The Annenverse, Skye is joined by College Brief founder, sophomore Tomo Chien, and...

On the first Thursday of every fall and spring semester, USC Annenberg's Media Center opens it's doors wide for those who want to learn more about the student-led newsroom, where anyone interested in telling stories in a variety of areas and platforms can find a home. For this episode, our host, Skye Lee, connects with the various student leaders of the media center desks to share the di...

The COVID-19 pandemic has been described as the biggest shakeup in the workplace since the Industrial Revolution. By utilizing technologies like video conferencing and messaging services, workers could do their job from anywhere in the world, disrupting our understanding of how management, careers and lifestyles would look. But in a post-pandemic world, perhaps it's time to take a look at the...

USC Annenberg’s New York City Maymester program connects students with industry professionals at leading media, communication and technology companies, including CBS News, the NBA, Spotify, and more. Senior public relations major Ruby Fuller and junior communication major Eric Choi share a glimpse into their experiences. This episode of “The Annenverse” is hosted and researched by journalism stude...

Students enhance their networking skills with media and business industry professionals at Los Angeles-based companies such as Warner Records and Hulu through USC Annenberg’s Media, Economics & Entrepreneurship Maymester program. Roy Gantz, a junior majoring in public relations, and Simi Situ, a progressive degree program (PDP) student pursuing a BA in communication and master’s in communicati...

With USC’s Capital Campus opening earlier this year in the heart of Washington, D.C., students in USC Annenberg’s D.C. Maymester program leverage the opportunity to engage with influential politicians and government experts who play a pivotal role in shaping our nation. In this episode, we dive deep with Sarah Schornstein, a master’s student in the public diplomacy program, and Abigail Rawlinson,...

Through USC Annenberg’s Sports Media Industries Maymester program, students explore the vast array of professional opportunities in sports and sports media industries, including Red Bull Media and Apple Beats. Carly Rieger, a junior communication major, and Fernando Cienfuegos, a public relations and advertising master’s student, share what they discovered while in Los Angeles, one of the great sp...

Amidst Russia's invasion and the ensuing war in Ukraine, Russian oligarchs have remained unscathed. Western attempts to curb their influence through financial measures has had limited success. However, a game-changing approach has emerged from USC Annenberg PhD graduate and Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College Herbert Chang, and his team. Hosted by journalism major Skye Lee, The Annenvers...

Journalists have traditionally been expected to completely detach their own opinions from their work. But now that standard is beginning to evolve in a way that accepts the inherent bias of reporters. But how much is too much?  Diving deep into these important topics at the very heart of modern journalism, we bring in two viewpoints from our USC Annenberg community. Myah Genung, chief program offi...

The landscape of the cannabis industry in America has dramatically changed in the 21st century. But with the slow trickle of legislation and cultural changes that have made cannabis more accessible, there are concerns around health effects, misinformation, and visibility.  Enter USC Annenberg’s public relations students. As part of their PR 450 capstone class, a group of students worked with the U...

In 2019, Lil Nas X utilized his musical skills and understanding of meme culture in publishing “Old Town Road” on TikTok. The song quickly took over the social media app and beyond, becoming a pop culture earworm heard on TV, radio, and more. It not only launched Lil Nas X’s career, but also changed the trajectory of Alexandria Arrieta’s PhD studies at USC Annenberg.  Looking past the song’s catch...

As climate change begins to have wider and more devastating consequences, climate journalism has never been more urgent. But reporters in this field face a variety of obstacles including the politicization of global warming and public distrust. Two members of USC Annenberg's community share their insights on this complicated and important topic of modern journalism. Allison Agsten is the dire...