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Meet the COMM Summer Intern of the Week, Nicholas Dagrosa!

Professor Sergei Salmoilenko has been featured on Merritt Group's new podcast called "Lay of the Brand".

The New York Times reports on the importance of being a "climate communicator," with support from Department of Communication faculty member Connie Roser-Renouf.

In an article in Columbia Journalism Review, Richard Craig, faculty member in the Department of Communication, argues that a diversity of perspective in newsrooms will result in a broader coverage of all groups.

Meet the COMM Summer Intern of the week: Grace Synder!

Department of Communication faculty member and director of Mason's 4C, Dr. Ed Maibach, has been featured in an article for AP News.

Meet Claire Underwood the COMM Summer Inter of the Week!

Melissa Broeckelman-Post, introductory communication course director, associate professor in the Department of Communication and a senior scholar in Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, is leading a team to help students continue to learn vital communication skills after completing the required COMM 101 course.

Meet Mary Beatty, the COMM Summer Intern of the Week!

A Communication faculty member has been named a Fellow of the International Communication Association.

To learn more about the department, students, alumni, and faculty, follow the Department of Communication on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Senior Alexandra Tubell created the video as part of COMM 411, Public Relations Practicum, in which students worked as the in-house PR agency for the communication department. They brainstormed various message strategies and ultimately developed the theme line "Collaborate. Create. Communicate." which has been adopted and incorporated into the department's brand.

"The D.C. Health Communication Conference (DCHC), organized by the department and the Center for Health and Risk Communication, recently brought graduate students, as well as early to senior level scholars, together to hear about the latest research and advancements within the field through panels and roundtable discussions."

Meet the COMM Intern of the Week, Rosemary Idisi!

Meet the Communication Intern of the Week! Brooke Farbstein!

Mason is expanding its online course and program offerings that have already helped students such as communication major Jennifer Kasse-Wanzer manage their busy lifestyles.

Earlier this semester, four Communication majors--Kier Askew, Tifara Davis, Phanida Langer, and Melanie Miller--presented their media criticism papers at VACAS 2019, the annual conference of the Virginia Association of Communication Arts and Sciences, held this year at Radford University last March.

Meet the COMM Intern of the Week, Licie Leite!

COMM junior, Claire Underwood, features her COMM 491 research project at the 33rd annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). https://www2.gmu.edu/news/576121

Learn more about specific and popular careers Communication majors can pursue after they graduate!

Star Muir, associate professor, teaches and coordinates the writing-intensive course for communication majors, rhetorical theory and criticism. He was honored at the association’s annual meeting in Providence, Rhode Island this April.

Meet the COMM intern of the week: Lauren LeBoeuf

The 5th biennial D.C. Health Communication conference will be held Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27, 2019. The theme for 2019 is "International and Global Health Communication Research".

Dr. Edward Maibach will present an overview of the findings from public opinion polls regarding climate change conducted over the past decade.

This summer, the media production program is extending an extraordinary opportunity specifically to our undergraduate students in Journalism and Public Relations. We’ve heard your calls for providing a way for your students to gain valuable skills necessary for entry into the media market and the MPC is prepared to deliver!

Meet Mona Linsey, the Communication Intern of the Week

Mason Communication Students and Fourth Estate editors, Lauren Sullivan and Dana Nickel, broke the Brett Kavanaugh hiring news story on the Fourth Estate's website. The story was picked up and featured on Politico and CNN's websites.

Meet Leah Antler, the Communication student intern of the week

Meet the Communication Intern of the Week, Olivia Vermane!

Meet the Communication Intern of the Week: Lydia Antonio-Villa!

Meet the Communication student of the week, Angelique Arintok

The Department of Communication has re-vamped it's Alumni Newsletter, now called the "Communication Connection". It is for all COMM Alumni, current and new students, faculty, and any one interested in the Department of Communication at Mason!

Follow the new Department of Communication Instagram page! The handle is @MasonCOMM

Meet the Communication student of the week, Albert Blomberg

"Are your students passionate about the arts? Help them break into the creative industries during this week of events. Students can explore careers in creative fields like design, arts, theater, arts management, public relations and marketing, and more!"

George Mason University’s Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) Research Lab hosts its second international conference “Character Assassination and Populism: Challenges and Responses” on March 15-17, 2019.

"Climate change is the biggest public health problem we face,” said Maibach. “If we don't stabilize our climate, human health and well-being will be harmed, potentially catastrophically so, and that harm will play out over many generations."

"Professor Kate Sweeney joins the roster of talented faculty in the department of communication this fall, offering students more than 20 years of media production and teaching experience. Sweeney will lead the journalism concentration and teach journalism and media courses."

Meet the COMM Intern of the Week for 2/8/19: Josi Braithwaite

The 2019 Global Public Relations Study Abroad Program in London (#UKPR19), hosted by George Mason University, a public research institution in Fairfax, VA, is a fast-track immersion into the world of professional communications. From boutique agencies to a Fortune 500 company, students visit global leaders in public relations, public affairs and nonprofit and corporate communication.

The annual Communication Career Fair will be held on Tuesday, March 19 at 9:30am in Dewberry Hall. It is free for both employers and students. Students must dress professionally and bring their resumes.

"On Tuesday, January 8, 2019, the UKPR19 visited Ketchum. Ketchum is a leading global communications consultancy, having been ranked the fourth largest PR agency in 2018 by The Holmes Report. Students on UKPR19 met with Jo-Ann Robertson, the CEO for Ketchum UK."

This new report notes that in 2018, none of the American winners were foreign-born individuals who immigrated permanently to the United States. But the United States did play an important role in their formation; nine of the twelve 2018 Nobel Laureates were either students, teachers, or research fellows at U.S. institutions of higher education at some point in their lives.

Communication major Lauren Back studies the rhetoric surrounding sharks, comparing what is said in the science community versus mainstream media.

Communication major Cody Borden is the front man and the creative force behind his twice-monthly show on the Mason Cable Network.

Nominate an outstanding Mason alumnus who earned an undergraduate or a graduate degree in Communication for recognition by the George Mason University Department of Communication!

See featured article written by Claire Underwood about the Pathways To Your Future Communication Forum here: https://www2.gmu.edu/news/572656?utm_source=social&utm_medium=gmu-facebook&utm_content=lindsay-czarniak+&utm_campaign=newsdesk

The National Endowment for the Humanities has provided Mason with $5.801 million in the past decade to fund 37 projects.

Immigration and the 2018 Midterm Elections Wednesday, November 28, 2018 5-7pm Johnson Center, Meeting Room F, 3rd Floor The results of the 2018 midterm elections are in, and there will likely be important consequences for immigration policy. Come hear expert panelists and policymakers discuss their predictions for immigration in 2019 and beyond.

See featured article about the 2018 COMM Fall Forum "Pathways to Your Future" by the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations: http://fasterfarther.gmu.edu/uncategorized/alumni-help-communication-students/

Take the 2018 COMM Forum event survey!

Congressman Lewis was a headline speaker at the annual college-supported four-day festival, which brought to campus and other nearby locales over 150 writers.

George Mason’s Department of Communication and the Insight Committee host the annual communication forum, Pathways to your Future, on Tuesday Oct. 23, 2018. The venue is Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center on Mason’s Fairfax campus. Sports broadcaster, Lindsay Czarniak, gives the keynote address. All students are welcome to attend.

Immigrants in our communities thrive when they are given the opportunity to participate in the decisions that affect their lives. In this free webinar, learn what local leaders can do to include immigrants' interests, safeguard their families, and ensure they can contribute to their fullest potential.

Tues 10/10 Johnson Center Cinema 7:30pm: Tamer El Said will present and discuss his film about Khalid (Khalid Abdalla), a 35-year-old filmmaker in Cairo, 2009, struggling to make a film that captures the soul of his city while facing loss in his own life. Free and open to the public.

Over 65 million people around the world have been forced from their homes since World War II. Human Flow, an epic film journey led by the internationally renowned artist Ai Weiwei, gives a powerful visual expression to this massive human migration. The documentary elucidates both the staggering scale of the refugee crisis and its profoundly personal human impact.

Mason's Debate Team wins big at the season opening tournament at Binghamton University, where they won both the novice and junior varsity divisions.

"With 40 students per semester, the course is a success not only due to its high attendance, but also for the increasing student satisfaction around the learning methods applied by course coordinator David J. Miller. The initiative made him one of the winners at the 2018 Blackboard Catalyst Awards for Teaching and Learning."

Foreign-born scientists are a critical part of the nation’s scientific community. At the Galileo's Science Cafe series, IIR Director James Witte and Program Coordinator Michele Waslin will detail some of these contributions to date, as well as potential contributions that New American scientists may make in the future.

The Undergraduate COMM Student Welcome Back event will be on September 11 at 10:30am in Dewberry Hall.

The new Communication Center is opening in Fall 2018 for COMM 100 and 101 students.

George Mason Senior Eliza Smith has little time to herself between classes, internships, work, and regular performances with Synetic Theater in Arlington, Virginia.

Ed Maibach, director of Mason's Center for Climate Change Communication and faculty member in the Department of Communication, contributes to an Axios article on the difficulty in challenging misinformation on climate change.

Well-being is more than just a concept – it’s a way of living. At Mason, we aim to thrive together. A vital part of that is inspiring each other. Have you screwed up? We all do sometimes. Tell us your rebound resilience story. Do you enjoy a certain well-being practice? Let us know.

At its degree celebrations, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences sends off its doctors, masters, and bachelors with an enthusiastic salute.

In an article distributed by the Associated Press, Emily Vraga, faculty member in the Department of Communication, discusses how celebrities' credibility enhances their influence in social media.

Three faculty members from the college have been recognized with Teaching Excellence Awards this spring.

What role does writing play in our lives? Professionals from three different fields (history, journalism, law) discuss the importance of writing in the 21st century. In Spanish and English. Thursday, March 29, from 12:00-1:15 PM

We would like you to meet Jessica Smith of the Women's Business Center of Northern Virginia where she connects women, minorities and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals with the resources they need to build sustainable businesses. She has also presented her work at the Women and Gender Studies Annual Gender Research Conference in the past.

Curriculum impact grants, designed to encourage innovative programs with interdisciplinary, cross-unit curriculum, offer students new ways to consider some of the most critical issues facing our society. College faculty are involved with eleven of the newly funded programs.

Edward Maibach, director of the Center for Climate Change Communication, notes with approval that some College Republican chapters are demanding action on climate change.

KUT 90.5, Austin's NPR station, features Gary L. Kreps, University Distinguished Professor of Communication and director of the Center for Health and Risk Communication, who counsels calm in the face of fearsome flu reports, as well as vaccinations and hand-washing.

On the Huffington Post site, John Cook, researcher with Mason's Center for Climate Change Communication, comments on the dangers of misinformation on climate change.

Emily Vraga, faculty member in the Department of Communication, contributes to a Politico article on Facebook’s efforts to fact-check news shared on its site: she explains that including “related articles” alongside disputed "news" offers additional information instead of emphasizing the dispute itself.

A team of students from Communication 204: Introduction to Public Relations recounts the experience of making a unique and meaningful contribution to Mason's 2017 Communication Forum.

George Mason University’s ninth annual communication forum, called #RealNews2017, invited communication experts to address the topics on journalists’ minds and Twitter feeds — the challenge of gathering, dispensing and presenting news in a socially mediated world.

The Center for Climate Change Communication's Ed Maibach and John Cook co-author an op-ed on the Guardian website that denounces efforts to negate scientific consensus on climate change.

Social sciences, and specifically economics, communication, and psychology, support Mason's strong showing in the international Shanghai Rankings.

9/11 6pm: Almost Sunrise follows two Iraq veterans, tormented by depression for years after they returned home, as they embark on an extraordinary journey, a 2,700 mile walk across the country from Wisconsin to California, in order to reflect on their haunting experiences of war and to save themselves.

In an article on the Christian Science Monitor website, John Cook, research assistant professor at Mason's Center for Climate Change Communication, discusses the origins of the debate between climate change science and religion.

The 2017 Conference on Character Assassination in Theory and Practice welcomed U.S. and international researchers who represented nearly 30 colleges and universities, as well as practitioners in crisis management, journalism, and public relations.

Rising Mason senior Ashley Whimpey reflects on winning the Betty Endicott Scholarship and her hopes for pursuing her interests in communication, broadcasting, well-being, and mindfulness.

The Department of Communication launched a new and timely research lab in fall 2016. The Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) Research Lab is led by an interdisciplinary research team of scholars particularly interested in the deliberate destruction of an individual’s reputation or credibility through character attacks. More importantly, the team is examining how to combat these attacks in an ever-changing media landscape.

For Pride Week, a screening and discussion of Moonlight. April 13, 4:30pm Johnson Center Cinema. The film presents a mental odyssey about the youth, adolescence, and adulthood of Chiron, who is growing up gay and black in Miami.

The mood in EagleBank Arena was lively on May 18 and 19, as the College of Humanities and Social Sciences held its degree celebration ceremonies. Congratulations again to all of our graduates! We are pleased to welcome you to an impressive community of alumni, made only stronger by the class of 2017.

Mason recently hosted the sixth annual School Environmental Action Showcase (SEAS). The drizzling rain couldn’t dampen the excitement of the hundreds of school children who crowded under tents by Mason Pond or the spirits of the environmental communication students who helped support this unique event.

In an article on the Associated Press website, Robert Lichter, faculty member in the Department of Communication and director of Mason's Center for Media and Public Affairs, links the level of presidential-related late-night humor to the "polarization of politics" in the United States.

The Arab Exchange Network at Mason brings new and experienced Arabic speakers together for conversation and learning.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is pleased to announce the May 2017 degree celebrations will be led by two outstanding alumni: chief historian for the White House Historical Association, Edward Lengel, and Lt. Col. Suzanne Devlin, a former acting chief of police for the Fairfax County Police Department and the current supervisor of safety and security for Loudoun County Public Schools.

For the 29th time in the last 40 years, Mason Forensics has finished in the top five nationally! The team has just returned from the American Forensics Association National Tournament and the team placed third in the nation.

The Washington Post, in an article on how university journalism courses are responding to the phenomenon of fictional "news," features communication faculty member Beth Jannery's COMM 203 Introduction to Journalism course.

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) is a young campus organization helping students make that leap from the classroom to the newsroom. Through informal and intimate meetings with active journalists in varied media careers, students get to hear insider information about what it’s like working in the industry.

The Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) Research Lab is led by an interdisciplinary research team of scholars particularly interested in the deliberate destruction of an individual’s reputation or credibility through character attacks. The Lab’s first major event was held at Mason’s Arlington campus March 3 - 5, 2017 and hosted scholars from across campus, from all over the country, and from around the world.

Recent alumna, Danna Chavez Calvi (Communications '16) was selected for the 2017 Spirit of King Award by the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education for her continued work with the Mason DREAMers, including building connections with the local community and reaching out to prospective students.

Communication majors Fareeha Rehman and Lottye Lockhart were selected by the Office of Student Media to represent Mason at a luncheon for college reporters with Governor Terry McAuliffe and several members of his staff.

Robert Lichter, director of Mason’s Center for Media and Public Affairs, contributes to a piece in The Daily Beast about how CBS Late Show host Stephen Colbert has successfully mined the Trump administration for material, resulting in favorable ratings for his show.

Mason's Basic Communication Course program has received the Program of Excellence award from the Basic Course Division of the National Communication Association, denoting it a model for other programs across the country. See why this course is VERY "Mason."

Ava DuVernay's Oscar-nominated documentary, 13th, traces the history of the 13th amendment to the US Constitution, from the horrors of mass criminalization to the sprawling American prison industry.

Mason's Center for Media and Public Affairs has analyzed the number of late-night talk show references to then-candidate Donald Trump, to conclude that he was the most caricatured presidential candidate in the history of late-night television.

Though she’s known for playing the harp, Kelsi Gray is planning to work for a Northern Virginia public relations firm after graduation, thanks to one of her Mason classes.

To Carabelli, Mason is family and her ability to create a sense of family for communication students, faculty and staff is one of the many reasons she was selected for the college’s 2016 Mary Roper Award.

The need for local immigration data to mobilize populations, access funding and urge policy change has never been greater. Register now for this free webinar.

In a Q&A with the filmmakers following the screening, brothers Lance and Brandon Kramer shared with students the process of making their first feature film, “City of Trees.” They also discussed their most recent project, “The Messy Truth,” which focuses on starting healthy conversations in the aftermath of a hyper-political election season.

Has Trump actually been treated unfairly? “The most distinctive thing about Trump’s coverage is how much there is of it,” said George Mason University professor Robert Lichter.

This semester, classes in the Department of History and Art History have examined issues raised in the presidential election from a variety of contexts. Prior Election Day, the public was invited to join in!

In front of a hall filled with college students, the senior vice president of a multinational corporation said that the outcome of Brexit was obvious to anyone in Europe at the time.

Former Governor Martin O’Malley and “The Circus” producer Mark McKinnon shared with George Mason University students that they are hopeful for the future of American politics at the annual Communication Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 25. The theme of the forum was political and policy communication.

Top professionals from the Washington D.C. area shared career advice with George Mason students seeking to break into the communications field. A one-on-one mentoring event offered students the opportunity to ask professionals individual questions at the annual Communication Industry Forum.

The 2016 communication forum created numerous opportunities for students before, during and after the event. The focus of the forum was Political and Policy Communications: Impact, Ethics and the Art of Persuasion, a topic of particular interest for Mason students.

IIR co-hosts discussion with Middle East Institute about the contributions made by immigrant artists to the United States

Community resilience as it relates to climate change in four predominately African American neighborhoods is examined for the first time in the annual Maryland climate and energy survey reports.

Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley will keynote a major event at George Mason University this month on Tuesday, October 25.

Guest speaker, Dr. Justin Gest, will share his findings on white working class politics in an age of immigration and inequality.

Through our polling research, we've learned that most Americans rarely read or hear about climate change in the news, or hear people they know talking about it. This lack of public and interpersonal communication about the issue is so prevalent that it is often referred to as a "climate silence."

The George Mason Forensics team is now seeking judges for the 2016 Virginia is for Lovers Forensics tournament. Forensics is public speaking and oral interpretation of literature, with events designed to focus on each of the ways the spoken word can be used to persuade or move an audience.

We are pleased to announce that Mason 4C team members Ed Maibach and Sander van der Linden had a brief Perspective article published this week in Environmental Research Letters. The article, is titled The Importance of Assessing and Communicating Scientific Consensus.

In a Washington Post article, Robinson Professor of Public Affairs Steven Pearlstein describes the challenge of convincing incoming students' parents of the value of liberal arts education. The college's senior associate dean Robert Matz contributes, leading the effort to promote humanities and social sciences degrees.

Mason's Office of Graduate Admissions cordially invites you to attend our largest annual event for prospective graduate students. Learn about graduate degree programs, graduate certificates, and professional degrees. Come see the excitement of our campus, meet our faculty, and speak with admissions representatives.

Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act, brought on by overfishing.

In every election year since 1992, the Republican candidate was mocked more by comedians than the Democrat. Republicans maintained that status even though Bill Clinton was the most joked-about politician during the past 24 years, said Robert Lichter, director of the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University.

Mona Sarfaty is the Director of the Program for Climate and Health at the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University.

In an article on the Wired site, Robert Lichter, faculty member in the Department of Communication and director of Mason's Center for Media and Public Affairs, discusses the implications of media executive Steve Bannon serving as the CEO of Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Bob Inglis, a former member of Congress from South Carolina, is an atypical Republican who spends his days arguing not just for climate action, but for a carbon tax, a dirty phrase in most conservative circles.

Educational inequality. Social innovation. Public relations. Human rights. These courses, offered in fall 2016, will expand your view on real issues that affect the world around us. No matter what your major, your awareness of any of these big issues will bring new perspective to your education. Learn more!

Issmar Ventura knows exactly what he wants to do once he lands a job as a journalist. “I want to cover those things not a lot of people cover,” he says.

We are pleased to announce two new resources by Mason 4C researchers Karen Akerlof, Kathy Rowan and their colleagues. In a newly published paper in Environmental Science & Policy they explore public perceptions of sea level rise risks and the use of deliberation to facilitate community-based decision-making in Maryland.

Courses include Bollywood and Beyond, Film and Video Forms, Global Horror Film, History of World Cinema, International Mysteries, Intro Documentary, Intro Film, Japanese Cinema, Music Video Experimentation, and War and International Film.

Internship available for aspiring film reviewer at PopMatters. This is a chance to gain experience in writing reviews of film, television, and internet programming for a respected daily cultural studies magazine.

Carla L. Fisher, an assistant professor at George Mason University, studies communication between family members and how that’s essential to health, with specific attention to mothers and daughters who are dealing with breast cancer. "There’s something about mothers and daughters...It’s just such a profound relationship," she says.

The role of the Communication Intern is to recruit new students to join Student Media, assist with summer office projects and initiatives, maintain and increase social media presence, and provide support for the upcoming Fall semester.

How does communication travel through organizations? What are the hallmarks of effective leadership?

In April, George Mason hosted the first meeting of the Open Scholarship Initiative (OSI), a ten-year project aimed at bringing scientists, publishers, librarians, and other stakeholders together for face-to-face and digital discussions about open access to research.

Find new ways to see your world with FAMS Summer courses. Titles include Conflict, Terrorism, Human Rights; Film and Video Forms; Film and Video Screenwriting; Intro to Film; Samurai On Screen; Women in Media.

On April 5 and 6, photographer and filmmaker Khalik Allah visited George Mason University to present his film, Field Niggas. Two weeks later, his work was featured in Beyonce's Lemonade.

At the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament held April 1-3, 2016, at the University of Florida, Mason's Forensics Team showed why it is the "Winningest Team at Mason."

Mason's Center for Climate Change Communication has released a study indicating a change in opinion among weathercasters about the causes of climate change.

Mason Cable Network's sports live stream schedule for the week of March 28, 2016.

Watch a video of "exit interviews" of Mason students from Super Tuesday (3/1). Over 1,100 students showed up at the Merten Hall on-campus polling place for the 2016 presidential primary -- a dramatic increase over 2012 primary voter turnout.

In the documentary, Stage Four: A Love Story, Mary Jo and George and their adult children face the difficult decisions following her diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer. The film reveals that a cancer diagnosis isn't a death sentence, but a chance to live life to the fullest.

The Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) hosted Tom Gjelten, correspondent for National Public Radio and author of A Nation of Nations: A Great American Immigration Story, at the April colloquium. Mr. Gjelten shared his insights on how the landscape of America has changed over the past fifty years with the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, as told through the experiences of families in one suburban county in Virginia.

The Chronicle of Higher Education spoke with a number of Mason students, including Kate Barton, a global affairs major, and Diamond Lanehart, a communication major, about their opinions on the Democrat candidates in the presidential race.

Mason students majoring in communication and marketing will have the opportunity to meet potential employers at The Fourth Annual Communication Career Fair on March 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at George Mason University in Fairfax. The fair will be held in Dewberry Hall at the bottom of the Johnson Center.

In the history of science, there have been few instances in which almost all experts in a particular field were in complete agreement. Climate change is one of those instances.

This program, hosted at Franklin University, will provide an opportunity for students to experience Europe while also learning about how sport organizations make policy, the governance structure of sport organizations, and also discover the many types of sports organizations around the world.

Kandahar Journals explores a photojournalist's firsthand account of his psychological state while covering a war.

On Thursday, January 7th, President Obama and CNN host Anderson Cooper sat down with a hand-picked audience for a town hall discussion about "Guns in America." The hour-long event was broadcast live from the Johnson Center's Dewberry Hall on Mason's Fairfax campus.

The Mason LIFE (Learning into Future Environments) Program is a supportive academic university experience offering a four-year curriculum of study to post-secondary students, 18-23 years of age, with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The George Mason Program on Climate and Health collaborated with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) to assess their members' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with the health effects of climate change and their preferred actions.

Too often, the debate about climate change is portrayed as one between Democrats and Republicans. In fact, it's not. It's a debate between most Americans and conservative Republicans.

What makes some content so sticky, spreadable or contagious that the message goes viral? How can the average citizen tap into the power of social media and use it strategically, for social good?

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference opened in Paris on November 30. In preparation for the negotiations, each country was asked to submit their own national action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and over 90% have done so, including the United States.

Computer algorithms are increasingly being used to generate news stories. According to the New York Times, the advancement of technology is producing an industry of “automated narrative generation.”

Student Media is committed to providing quality professional development opportunities for its students. This past Tuesday, Nov. 17, the Society of Professional Journalists welcomed Sarah Fraser, D.C. blogger and the host of 107.3's "Sarah, Ty & Mel" for a conversation about her work and the challenges/rewards of a career in media.

We are pleased to announce the release of a special report from our new study: The Francis Effect: How Pope Francis changed the conversation about global warming. Today more Americans and more American Catholics are worried about global warming than six months ago and more believe it will have significant impacts on human beings.

Hunger and Homelessness Action Week is November 15–20, 2015 at George Mason University. What are you going to do to take action?

On Wednesday, Oct. 27, Bernie Sanders spoke to both the Mason community and students on over 300 college campuses across the country live from the RAC. Student Media was there to cover the action with original reporting by Mason Cable Network, Fourth Estate, and WGMU Radio.

For the third year in a row, a majority of Marylanders say they support most state climate and energy policies, including expanding government-backed incentives for energy-efficiency programs and mandating energy suppliers to meet the current target for renewable energy, according to a new survey.

Focused on the fastest-growing segment of communications today, the Insight Committee of the George Mason University Department of Communication is hosting its 5th annual Communication Forum for students on October 20, 2015: "Content Marketing: The Art of Storytelling Across Media Platforms.”

Local Music Director Mackenzie Bailey sat down with local singer-songwriter Andrew Tufano. Originally from Sterling, VA, Andrew Tufano moved to Nashville after he graduated high school.

Does Washington need another fast-casual restaurant? A trio of young entrepreneurs thinks so.

George Mason University’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is back and better than ever! PRSSA is a student run organization devoted to helping students strengthen their networking skills and create lasting, professional connections.

The first images that come to mind when we hear the acronyms FBI are usually based off television drama series, action films and news reports. These images may be closely accurate, but there are additional employees in the Federal Bureau of Investigation who aren’t necessarily special agents.

"These shows give candidates the chance to show off their humanity, and it's a way of introducing themselves to people who don't watch the news," said Robert Lichter, a professor at George Mason University who studies the intersection of politics and late-night humor.

The Department of Communication welcomes CNN Senior Producer Karin Caifa to George Mason University's Broadcast Journalism class.

The George Mason University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has a newly-elected president. Fernanda Rodriguez was elected to lead SPJ Mason members for fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters.

In an editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Bob Inglis, executive director of the Energy and Enterprise Institute at George Mason University and former U.S. Congressman, commends General Mills Corporation for its actions to reduce its environmental impact and reverse the effects of climate change.

"The fact that it is using such a nonobvious argument could be in its favor," said Edward Maibach, a communications professor at George Mason University.

On August 3, President Obama released the final rules of the EPA Clean Power Plan. The plan requires states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, one of the nation's largest sources of carbon pollution.

Mason alumnus Mike Foss interned at USA Today as a student. He covered college sports when the paper’s soccer beat writer took a break to write a book.

While my family slept, I snuck out of our Washington, D.C. hotel room early in the morning on (Good) Friday, April 3rd, 2015 in order to feed my desire to see more college radio stations.

The Weather Channel has released a new series called "The Climate 25: Conversations With 25 Of The Smartest Voices on Climate, Security, Energy and Peace." Our Mason 4C colleague Bob Inglis was one of the 25 individuals included along with fellow conservatives Henry Paulson, Christine Todd Whitman and Eli Lehrer, among others.

In an editorial in the Washington Times, Robert Lichter, faculty member, Department of Communication and director of Mason’s Center for Media and Public Affairs, expresses concern that proposed US Food and Drug Administration rules regulating antibacterial hand soaps are not supported by a balanced analysis of evidence.

In a piece in the Los Angeles Times regarding the “new generation” of late-night television hosts, Robert Lichter, faculty member, Department of Communication and director of Mason’s Center for Media and Public Affairs, discusses the importance of late-night television to political campaigns.

George Mason University professor Edward Maibach, faculty member in the Department of Communication and director, Center for Climate Change Communication, participated in the White House Public Health and Climate Change Summit as part of the panel on “Actionable Information for Prevention: From Science to Social Media.”

On June 18th, Pope Francis released a much-anticipated encyclical-- one of the most significant forms of communication within the Catholic Church-- on climate change.

Students in Professor Beth Jannery's summer term section of COMM 303: Writing Across the Media have the chance to cover history in the making, thanks to Mason's Issues Forum 2016, which aims to bring 2016 presidential candidates to Mason's Arlington Campus.

The college displayed a wide variety of scholarship at its 2015 Undergraduate Research Symposium, featuring 86 poster presentations and 12 oral presentations of student research.

George Mason University is advancing coastal and marine science in Virginia by joining the Virginia Sea Grant charter on Monday. University presidents from George Mason, William & Mary, Old Dominion, Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University signed the Virginia Sea Grant charter.

When asking Mason students about their thoughts on feminism anonymously over the popular app, Yik Yak, responses varied from "it needs to be eradicated," to "equality," to "female extremists," and to "Tumblr." One person posted, "I feel like the ideals behind feminism are noble and necessary, it's just being handled so poorly."

Capitol Communicator is running a series of profiles of communicators in the mid-Atlantic. In this “up close and personal” profile, we feature Mitch Marovitz, Ph.D., APR.

Today we are releasing results from our latest national survey, conducted in March 2015. Nearly two-thirds of the American public (63%) currently think global warming is happening, a percentage that has remained relatively stable over the past five years.

Tall and lanky with a full head of hair, Robbie blends in with the thousands of students who walk across Mason’s campus everyday. On the roofs of Mason’s buildings, however, Robbie stands alone.

A decade ago, family politics set former U.S. Congressman Bob Inglis on a path that iced his former position on climate change.

The circus is back in town. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus returned to the Patriot Center Wednesday Apr. 8 for its annual visit to Mason, an event that draws large crowds from the surrounding Fairfax area as well as the attention of animal rights activists.

After reaching out to more than 1,000 MBA recruiters, Bloomberg Businessweek found that good communication skills are most sought after by employers. Recruiters who took the survey could were given a list of 14 employee skills and could chose up to five that they most wanted to see in potential employees.

George Mason University hosted an estimated 1,000 guests at its Fairfax Campus for the fourth annual Environmental Action Showcase April 9 at the Center for the Arts. The Showcase encourages science and tech-savvy K-12 students to create solutions to current environmental issues.

The rising popularity of electronic cigarettes and vaporizers have exposed an omission in Mason’s smoking policy that allows people to smoke inside, but students and faculty have started to question whether there should be a rule against smoking e-cigarettes and vaping inside and in class.

We are pleased to announce the release of the first report from our new national survey: Climate Change in the American Christian Mind. Many Americans draw, at least in part, upon their religious beliefs to guide their understanding and interpretation of climate change causes, impacts, and solutions.

Let's hear a big round of applause for Student Media's own Hau Chu who was named the Region 2 winner of the SPJ Mark of Excellence Award in the sports writing category for his article, "A Second Chance At Life." Hau now goes on to compete nationally alongside fellow journalists from across the country.

We are pleased to announce the release of a new article: Public Opinion on Energy Development: the Interplay of Issue Framing, Top-of-Mind Associations, and Political Ideology.

Twenty-three Mason undergraduates are currently living and studying in Florence, Italy through the Center for Global Education’s Florence Semester. The program allows students to earn class credit while taking in the enriching atmosphere of Florentine arts and culture.

Mason faculty and alumni were featured in the March 2015 issue of Spectra, a publication of the National Communication Association. Mason alumna LaKesha Anderson developed the concept for this issue of Spectra which presents recent research on health and risk communication.

A Virginia General Assembly bill for a percentage cap on out-of-state students wasn’t passed, again. The in-state ratio bill “died” in the Committee on Education in February 10.

In an article on the U.K. newspaper's website, Ed Maibach, faculty member in the Department of Communication and director of the Center for Climate Change Communication, commends President Obama's pledge to reduce the federal government's greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent.

We are pleased to announce the release of a new report, Global Warming's Six Americas, October 2014: Perceptions of the Health Consequences of Global Warming and Update on Key Beliefs, by Connie Roser-Renouf, Edward Maibach and Jennifer Kreslake of George Mason University, and Geoff Feinberg, Seth Rosenthal and Anthony Leiserowitz at Yale.

Door busting lines at the new Panera Bread and Starbucks may be familiar sights, but George Mason University is introducing Tapingo, an app that aims “to create a world with no lines.” Tapingo uses a mobile platform to allow users to place an order from anywhere.

Dr. Michael “Doc Nix” Nickens and the Green Machine have landed at number one on the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s High Five: Best Pep Bands list and were recently commended by the Virginia General Assembly.

We are pleased to announce a newly published article: "The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change as a Gateway Belief: Experimental Evidence" by Sander van der Linden, Anthony Leiserowitz, Geoffrey Feinberg and Edward Maibach in the journal PLoS ONE.

Has climate change affected your area? You might not think it, but the answer is yes. "Every American, whether they know it or not, has been affected by climate change," Edward Maibach, the director of George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication, told weather.com.

Karen Bontrager, a Mason alum and the founder of the annual No Fear in Love Race, stopped by "Dictation" to promote her annual No Fear in Love Race, taking place this year on February 28th at 6:30 a.m. at University Mall across campus.

For George Takei, speaking at George Mason University was like any other event. But with a wide grin and a flashy red tie, Takei is ready to put a humorous spin on anything.

A majority of Marylanders expect people's health in their communities to be affected by climate change in the next several years (55%), according to a new survey from the Center for Climate Change Communication in partnership with the Climate Communication Consortium of Maryland.

The Washington, D.C. Metro system recently experienced two separate incidents where smoke filled a train, one of which killed a passenger. The first incident occurred on the afternoon of Monday, Jan. 12.

The Department of Communication, The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mason Chapter, The Office of Student Media and The Office of Career Services held a compelling evening event on 2/11 that included a Media Panel with speakers from CNN, USA Today, PBS and NewsPebbles (a crowdsourcing start-up).

A storage closet in Sub 1 was converted into a Pop Up Pantry to help homeless and financially unstable students. The closet houses supplies such as non-perishable food, hygiene items, coats and blankets.

WGMU is broadcasting Mason Women's and Men's basketball games. Point your browser to wgmuradio.com to tune in.

Every February, college professors like myself are tasked with reminding students and the general public of the significance of Black History Month. Undoubtedly, many people understand the potential value behind a designated month dedicated to this part of American history.

Four years after his first and only internship at a major daily newspaper, George Mason University alumnus Mike Foss has been named by Forbes magazine as one of 2015’s “30 Under 30” media stars to watch.

Dianna Russini, 31, is a sports anchor/reporter at NBC4/WRC. The George Mason University graduate has broken dozen of major NFL stories for the station.

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Renee, a mason student and part time barista at Peete’s coffee. With the help of Renee, Fourth Estate is bringing you the five most aggravating parts of being a barista.

A member of the department faculty, retired professor emeritus Steve Klein, will present his paper titled "Hugh S. Fullerton, the Black Sox Scandal, and the Ethical Impulse in Sports Writing" at the annual NINE Spring Training Baseball Conference in Tempe, Arizona on March 13.

Mason Cable Network, Mason's student run television network, is looking to fill various production positions, including production assistants, camera operators, and video editors. These positions are unpaid, but they are a great resume builder for those looking for practical experience.

The Office of Facilities has yet to publicly release the construction start date for the proposed $73 million building intended to house the College of Health and Human Services. According to a June 2014 press release from the university, Mason secured $65 million in state funding and was still looking to raise $8 million in donations.

On the popular polling and forecasting website FiveThirtyEight.com, a study by Mason's Center for Climate Change Communication and Yale University is sited as illustrative of the partisan nature of opinions on climate change.

These are the highest-achieving CHSS first-year COMM students based on GPA who were enrolled full-time in fall 2014 and not members of the Honors College.

We are pleased to announce a new report, Public Perceptions of the Health Consequences of Global Warming, based on data from our national survey conducted in October 2014. We find that Americans are generally unaware of the potential health consequences of global warming.

At the annual Mary Roper awards ceremony, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences gathers to recognize staff members who give outstanding service to their colleagues and further the mission of the college.

FAIRFAX, VA – Mason Cable Network (MCN), Mason’s student-operated television network, will live broadcast the upcoming George Mason Men’s Basketball game vs. non-conference opponent Catawba College. This will be Mason Cable Network’s first live broadcast of a Men’s Basketball game.

The conference is a unique experience for undergraduates working on research projects this year. Top undergraduate students will acquire an excellent learning experience.

As the holidays approach and the Secret Santa sticks are drawn, college students everywhere are on a budget and struggling to find decent presents for their friends and family. With the end of the semester also looming near and finals on the mind, time is of the essence.

Communication classes that do not have at least 15 students registered by Dec. 15 may be cancelled. This change has been made in order to contribute to recent university budget cuts that were the result of a state tax shortfall totaling $2.4 billion for fiscal years 2015 and 2016. The previous class minimum was 12 students.

Citing a lack of positive role models for young girls, George Mason University students and alumni stepped up to inspire hundreds of middle and high school students in the first Virginia Girls Summit on Nov. 15.

Student Body President Phil Abbruscato and Vice-President Dilan Wickrema spoke with Fourth Estate and Mason Cable Network during the first State of the Student Body address where they detailed what Student Government has accomplished this semester and what they plan to do in the future.

On November 19, the Center for Climate Change Communication released its first report from its new nationally representative survey conducted in late October.

The Center for Health and Risk Communication (CHRC) will host its third biennial D.C. Health Communication Conference at the Hyatt at Fair Lakes Hotel and Conference Center on April 16-18, 2015.

WGMU is broadcasting Mason Woman's and Men's basketball games. Point your browser to their website to tune in.

WGMU Program Director/On-Air personality and producer Jesse Robinson is starting a new weekly entertainment and sports writing feature for the station's website.

Mason communication major Courtney Simmons enjoys the companionship and support of a four-legged partner who helps her navigate her busy days at Mason's Fairfax Campus.

Though climate change is not a top-tier issue for voters in the midterm elections, environmental groups are currently spending record amounts of money on environment and energy campaign ads, and candidates in hotly contested races are using the issue to distinguish themselves from their opponents.

As the 2014 midterm elections wind down, here’s a brief recap of the major outcomes from important races in Virginia and around the nation and what those results mean for political control. Before Tuesday, the Senate makeup stood at 53 Democratic seats and 45 Republican seats, with 2 Independents.

Scott Holiday is currently one of the best guitar players in rock and roll. He’s been dishing out great blues-inflected riffs as a member of Rival Sons since 2009.

WGMU is partnering up with Mason Athletics for another basketball season. WGMU will be broadcasting all Men’s Basketball games, as well as all Women’s Basketball home games and select away games.

A new survey from George Mason University in partnership with the Climate Communication Consortium of Maryland demonstrates that the vast majority of Marylanders believe that climate change is happening, and that climate change should be a priority for the General Assembly and Governor.

Construction on Taylor Hall, a new freshman honors residence hall has been halted for design and construction issues. Construction on the project began in April 2013 and was set to be finished by the beginning of fall semester.

The Department of Communication sponsored their fourth annual career forum on Tuesday that focused on building connections between students, faculty, and communications professionals. This year’s forum, titled #AllThingsSocial, allowed panelists to share insights about social media and digital communication in a global context.

In light of the celebration of National Coming Out Week at Mason Oct. 6-12, students are pointing to a lacking balance in visibility and knowledge of different identities in the LGBTQ community as well as obstacles faced by those trying to come out safely due to the misunderstanding of non-cisgendered people.

In 2009, 4C presented the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) -- a non-profit organization that conducts climate education assembly programs in high schools across the country -- with its Climate Change Communicator of the Year Award.

As an academic discipline, Communication Studies is posting strong growth in relation to undergraduate majors, undergraduate degrees awarded, student popularity, and number of institutions offering the degree according to a newly released American Academy of Arts & Sciences Humanities Indicator assessment.

Mason students will have the opportunity to engage with some of the nation's leading communication professionals during a special career forum on October 28.

Technology and social media have altered public relations as it has been practiced for the past 100 years, but teaching public relations at Mason is keeping pace. Students enrolled in fall semester's Contemporary Public Relations and Social Media are exploring the new world of PR, one tweet at a time.

Rodrigo Velasquez, a Mason junior majoring in communications, said he’s fighting for every step in his immigrant journey. He came to the United States at the age of three from Bolivia.

The Department of Communication at George Mason University has finalized years of changes requiring fewer theory classes for a communications degree. The changes are an effort to teach more practical courses geared toward specific concentrations to prepare students for the real world.

A new survey from George Mason University in partnership with the Climate Communication Consortium of Maryland demonstrates strong support for increasing the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources, like solar and wind, and mandated increases in the amount of renewable energy provided by electricity suppliers.

Mason Forensics competed at West Chester in Pennsylvania October 10th-11th and had another outstanding showing. 11 speech events were represented at the tournament each day of the competition.

Professor Emeritus Don Boileau walks into a small coffee shop on the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University, the place where he’s taught hundreds of communication classes over his 27-year tenure. Though it’s been almost six months since he retired, he’s still well known and much loved at the university.

While George Mason University MBA students enjoy stimulating and rigorous days in the classroom, they also get to see theory in practice during the program’s annual residencies. Each year, the students take a two-day trip to New York City to meet and network with business leaders and alumni in a variety of industries.

The mother-daughter relationship can be both deeply intimate and tremendously complex. Using popular culture, films and TV shows, documentaries, short stories, research, and books, we can explore this unique tie from a variety of lens (sociological, cultural, historical, psychological, developmental, narrative, medical).

Mason Forensics competed in the Virginia is for Lovers Tournament at GMU on Saturday October 5thand had another impressive weekend. 11 speech events were represented at the tournament. Mason brought home 7 Champions and multiple final round contestants.

Researchers have found that the U.S. media gives more sustained and personalized attention to some deaths than to others. What informs the decision about whether a victim of violence or disaster gets an obituary, or is simply subsumed into a bigger number?

Student organizations have recently found difficulty in booking events in the Mason’s Global Center Grand Ballroom due to pricing changes as the ballroom transitions from a hotel to a university space.

George Mason University has created its first “brand profile,” a creative strategy for communication with recruits, students and alumni. The university will use this profile as a resource for communication and marketing and will phase out the university’s tagline “Where Innovation is Tradition.”

Each summer, the coaches and debaters of the GMU Debate Team convene on campus to instruct a three week debate camp called the GMU Patriot Debate Institute. The summer workshop is open to middle school and high school students who want to improve their public speaking and debate skills.

George Mason University celebrated its annual Alumni Weekend on September 19-21 this year, and welcomed many Patriots from far and near back to Fairfax Campus. Among the host of activities planned for the weekend, the college was able to add to the festivities by entertaining its alumni at two distinct events.

In light of the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, Mason faculty and organizations are starting conversations on campus about race and inequality.

George Mason University’s Communication Department faculty voted to change its electronic journalism minor into an updated journalism minor starting this semester. The decision comprises one component of the department’s ongoing efforts to better accommodate its students and their career ambitions.

A three-year, $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation will allow weathercasters around the Unites States to educate their viewers on climate change, expanding a project launched by Mason's Center for Climate Change Communication.

A new documentary produced by George Mason University professor Giovanna Chesler examines an infamous night out and trial in New York that sent four black women, accused of being part of a lesbian gang, to prison.

Many professors hope to extend teaching, learning, and working experiences with their students beyond the walls of their classroom. For Dr. Katherine Rowan, a communication professor, this hope became a reality last month at one of the nation’s premiere military information institutions.

Seven former and current Virginia Sea Grant Fellows spent the day at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation on March 10 to work together to improve their science communication skills.

The three top winners of China’s national English Speaking Contest are on George Mason’s Fairfax Campus July 6‒19, immersing themselves in Mason’s renowned summer Institute of Forensics as it marks its 10th anniversary.

In 1981, Don Boileau moved from Michigan to Virginia to be an adjunct for what was a small university at the time. Why did he choose Mason? Boileau says, “It seemed to be innovative and adapt to what life might be like in the future.”

Four faculty members from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences were recognized this year by the university's Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence. We congratulate Eric Anderson, Alan More, Amy Best, and Jeremy Hodgson for their contributions to the excellent instruction of our students.

The Communication Department’s publication, The Communicator, is about to experience its 10th anniversary. Initially published by the department in Fall 2004, The Communicator has successfully served as a student written and produced publication.

Matthew Harrison, an alumnus from George Mason University, has always enjoyed making something of his own. He started out brewing beer as a pass time, but soon it became his passion.

A Fragile Trust tells the shocking story of Jayson Blair, the most infamous serial plagiarist of our time, and how he unleashed the massive scandal that rocked the New York Times and the entire world of journalism.

A recent graduate of the M.A. program, Stan Polit, came to visit us in April. Read our interview with him to check in and see how he is doing.

Dr. Robert Lichter, director of the Center for Media and Public Affairs, participated in the “Power and Politics Symposium” for Young Global Leaders from the World Economic Forum, hosted by George Mason University on March 27-29.

The Mason Forensics Team just returned from the 24th Annual International Forensics Association Tournament in Paris, France. Mason placed second overall solidifying a top-two placement internationally for the seventh year in a row.

Veteran investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson spoke to journalism and communication students this week about her decades of experience as a reporter for CBS News and for other networks such as CNN. Attkisson herself has been in the news recently because she resigned from CBS News.

George Mason University hosted the JV/Novice National Championship on March 7-10. Two hundred debaters, coaches, and judges from across the country gathered at GMU to determine who the best junior varsity and novice debaters were for the 2013-2014 season.

The astonishingly gripping Let the Fire Burn is that rarest of cinematic objects: a found-footage film that unfurls with the tension of a great thriller. On May 13, 1985, a longtime feud between the city of Philadelphia and controversial radical urban group MOVE came to a deadly climax.

The Mason Debate Team had another successful weekend. The team qualified for the National Debate Tournament, the topmost national tournament for varsity debaters across the country.

George Mason University’s Forensics Team declared itself the squad to beat in a dominating performance that saw the team take home eight of 22 individual championships and the overall team championship at the Hell Froze Over Swing tournament on Jan. 11 and 12 in Austin, Texas.

On 11 Feb 2014, Thomas Jackman, of The Washington Post, shared with communication students reporting techniques and tales from 25 years as a "cops and courts" reporter. Jackman now writes the Post's "NOVA Local" blog for the region's 2 million Northern Virginia residents.

RESOLVED, by the Rector and Visitors of George Mason University that Steven Klein is hereby granted the status of Instructor Emeritus of Communication in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, effective February 5, 2014.

Karen Bontranger, BA Communication '11, used the experience of an abusive relationship to spread a message of empowerment through running. She started the annual No Fear in Love Race in February, 2011; the run takes place in Fairfax on February 23, 2014.

The communications department at Mason could be looking at major changes in the upcoming years due to a new pilot course in COMM 100 implemented by Dr. Melissa Broeckelman-Post, basic course director for the Department of Communication.

National Public Radio and Politico report on Professor Robert Lichter's analysis of Jay Leno's political humor, and Lichter, the director of Mason's Center for Media and Public Affairs, explains the importance of political jokes.

Mustaches, buffalo wings, live tweets and persistence helped George Mason University students generate results in a hands-on course project in public relations during fall semester. Six teams executed strategic communication plans for worthy causes including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Community Immunity, Movember and Operation School Bell.

The Mason Debate Team has kicked off the spring semester with a bang. From January 17-20, the full squad traveled to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

We just returned from Austin, Texas where the Mason Forensics team bested 50 of the top teams in the nation, including 9 of the top 10 in the most competitive tournament of the Spring semester prior to Nationals. Twenty-five of our 31 students advanced to elimination rounds with 47 different speeches and performances.

Thank you for supporting the Communication Career Fair in March! Please see a brief photo report about the event.

The Department of Communication would like to congratulate the students who earned the Prestigious Freshmen Academic Achievement Award for 2012-2013.

To read the headlines, the news about the news business is bleak. Jobs are cut, newspaper circulation is eroding and digital publications find it difficult to stay in business. But is it all bad news?

Marcella joined the NBC29 news team as a general assignment reporter in October 2012. She is a proud graduate from George Mason University where she received her bachelors in communication in 2011.

Mr. Reimold is also closely watching George Mason University’s Fourth Estate, a new campus news organization. This fall, the university’s 52-year-old student paper, Broadside, merged with Connect2Mason, a digital journalism site. “I think this is the perfect example that change can be achieved,” he said. “I hope they will serve as a role model for the future of student media.”

Dr. Carla L. Fisher, a professor at George Mason University, is an advocate for the importance of research in the field of family and health communication. She is a recognized authority on family health communication-related issues and has received federal, private and local funding for her research.

The Fall 2013 Forensics Season has been great for Mason 43. Every one of the 32 members of the team has advanced to at least one Final Round during the Fall semester garnering more than 300 total finals, more than 75 individual event championships, and securing 41 national qualifications already.

On November 15-18 the Debate Team traveled to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Varsity debaters competed in an invitation only tournament at Wake Forest University against the top 80 varsity teams in the country, besting teams from Michigan State University, Harvard, University of Kentucky, Northwestern, Wyoming and the University Southern California.

Michael R. Kelley, a Distinguished Service Professor whose diverse, four-decade George Mason University career included prominent stints as an English professor, telecommunications pioneer and professor in the School of Public Policy, died of cardiac arrest Monday afternoon, Nov. 11, at Washington Hospital Center. He was 73.

The Debate Team is well into another successful season, winning three tournaments in a row! Varsity debaters, Kyle Lastovica & Young Kwon won the varsity division of the James Madison Tournament from October 11-13, besting teams from the University of Mary Washington, Georgetown University, Vanderbilt University, James Madison University, and the Naval Academy.

Mr. Reimold is also closely watching George Mason University’s Fourth Estate, a new campus news organization. This fall, the university’s 52-year-old student paper, Broadside, merged with Connect2Mason, a digital journalism site. “I think this is the perfect example that change can be achieved,” he said. “I hope they will serve as a role model for the future of student media.”

“Guest lectures” by Mister Spock, King Arthur, and Aristotle were part of Professor Star Muir’s strategic course design to help digital age students focus their attention in COMM 300 Foundations of Public Communication online. Professor Muir’s academic research focus is Digital Natives and the impact of continual partial attention to different media streams on the mind, mental processing, and mental habits.

To read the headlines, the news about the news business is bleak. Jobs are cut, newspaper circulation is eroding and digital publications find it difficult to stay in business. But is it all bad news?

In honor of Open Access Week, 5 members of the Mason Forensics Team presented speeches addressing the pros and cons of Open Access Journals and research. The presentations were followed by a lively discussion resulting in what Claudia Holland, the developer of the program, called, "one of the best programs we have ever had."

Representatives of 33 organizations from 20 states and Canada enthusiastically collaborated Saturday at George Mason University (GMU) for the first time at a day-long Inaugural Partnership Forum of the newly formed Partners Against Lyme and Tick Associated Diseases. PAL currently has members in 44 states and 8 countries and is continuing to grow.

Dr. Carla L. Fisher, a professor at George Mason University, is an advocate for the importance of research in the field of family and health communication. She is a recognized authority on family health communication-related issues and has received federal, private and local funding for her research.

Our team continued their incredible efforts at a competition hosted by James Madison University. Thirty-two of the thirty-three members of the team have now advanced to a Final Round in the first two weekends of the season.

The Debate Team has officially begun their tournament season, traveling 13 two-person teams last weekend. It was a great start for the team.

Are you looking for ways to add something interesting to your schedule this semester? The college has some fascinating classes that you might not have thought about.

Robert Lichter, communications professor and director of Mason's Center for Media and Public Affairs, describes how late-night political humor focuses on current political scandal.

Shawn Turner, Director of Public Affairs for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, has been named one of the National Journal's top Decision Makers of 2013. Turner earned an MA in crisis communication from George Mason University in 2006.

In the National Journal, Professor Ed Maibach explains that denial of global warming issues can paint a political candidate as out-of-touch.

The Virginia Sea Grant Communication Center is pleased to welcome two Virginia students for summer Science Communication Internships. Eric Olson will be working as the graduate intern for communication research, where he will study the information needs and communication preferences of policy makers and resource managers.

The trip included a nice variety of large cities with all their impressive sights as well as small towns. Also toured the beautiful Blue Mountains, beautiful countryside with sheep sheering and lunch on the barbie, and the Parade of Penguins on Phillip Island -- you could set your watch by the 3,000 penguins that come ashore each night.

Comm249 was launched in the spring of 2012. At first, the communication department only offered an internship course for students with at least 75 accumulated credits, but with CIE students with 45-to-75 credits and at least 6 communication credits can benefit from learning outside the classroom as well.

The GMU Forensics Team defeated nearly 50 of the nation's top teams (including 16 of the top 20) to win the coveted HFO National Invitational last weekend. Our 42nd season of Mason Forensics continues to make our students the talk of the nation.

Students from three of Prof. Steve Klein's Journalism classes visited the Newseum on November 15th to attend the Washington Ideas Forum and tour the museum. They were able to see many amazing exhibits showcasing events from history, including sections of the Berlin Wall.

The Cross Examination Debate Association has the George Mason University Debate team, as of 19 November 2012, listed with a total of 111 points, 18 tiebreaker points, and is ranked at #1 for the nation!

Dr. Carla L. Fisher, a professor at George Mason University, is an advocate for the importance of research in the field of family and health communication. With a plethora of experience working and doing research in the field, Dr. Fisher is a recognized authority on family, health communication related issues.

In 1989, George Mason University decided to stop publishing its free hard-cover yearbook for seniors. Two teachers rejected that idea and instead pitched an idea of their own.

Joe Little completed his undergrad at GMU in 1998 and went to Syracuse for his MA. The Department of Communication awarded him the GMU Communication Award in 2009. Joe is such a GMU supporter he named his two sons, George and Mason.

San Diego reporter Joe Little credits George Mason University for helping with the skills to launch a successful journalism career.

GoMason.com caught up with Tony Skinn, BA '06, communication, as he prepares to become the first Patriots men's basketball player to reach the Olympics, starring for Nigeria. Skinn was the starting point guard on George Mason University's historic men's basketball team that reached the Final Four in 2006.

Gauri Sarin, BA '11, communication, recently co-founded a popular food truck called "Something Stuffed." The business serves Northern Virginia and D.C., and offers Indian and Vietnamese cuisine.

Several extraordinary undergraduates in the Department of Communication at George Mason University are wrapping up their semesters. Now comes the department’s annual celebration of these students.

(Fairfax, VA - May 9, 2012) -- In just 28 days, George Mason University students completed strategic projects which raised more than $2,000 for a one-woman cancer charity, collected 317 pairs of shoes for the needy, launched a bicycling community website, promoted recent award-winning music artists and more, all in a Spring semester foundation course in public relations.

Have you ever experienced an event in your life, which made you feel terrible and made you think its end of the world? Maybe a case where you felt like you were almost done with one of the most important occasions in your life, and something came up that made you either start all over again or quit what you were doing?

In COMM 353: Broadcast Journalism, students learn how to operate, set up, and position a camera, how to frame shots and scenes, how to get crisp audio and adequate lighting, and how to write and produce their own stories for the broadcast medium.

In the fall of 2011, the Department of Communication at George Mason University offers students the opportunity to pursue education in various tracks of the discipline, which include journalism, video production, video writing and communication studies.

Don Boileau, a professor of communication who began his career at Mason in 1981, was recognized by the Mason Alumni Association at the association’s annual Celebration of Distinction as Faculty Member of the Year.

As part of International Week, the George Mason University Communication Department and the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution (CRDC) combined with Al Jazeera-English to present a timely panel discussion, "From Revolution to Evolution: How Emerging Media Empower Democracy", on April 11 at George Mason University's Johnson Center Cinema.

Each semester, students from COMM 399: Public Relations Council publish The Communicator, a full-length feature magazine that presents some of the course’s best writing.

At a Feb. 24 ceremony, five talented student-athletes from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences were among 12 recognized for their outstanding academic achievements.

Senior Suzanne Radcliffe and junior Allison Wruk, both majoring in communication, and junior Stephanie Knapp, majoring in art and visual technology, will present their photography of Milan, Italy, on Thursday, Nov. 4 between 12 and 2:30 p.m. in the second floor hallway of Science and Tech II.

Kimmy Moss, a senior communication major and intern for WUSA 9 News, recently played a key role in a story that put the honesty of Northern Virginians and George Mason University students to the test.

Over the summer, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences welcomed many new faculty and staff members, while some current college employees added other responsibilities to their slate. The Global Affairs and Biodefense programs have new directors and the Department of Public and International Affairs has a new chair.

About 85 people were on hand for the first-ever presentation of the college GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) awards, which took place on Saturday, Oct. 2, at George’s Restaurant in the Johnson Center. The event was part of Alumni Weekend 2010.

Three College of Humanities and Social Sciences faculty members took the stage on Monday, Sept. 20, on a Fall for the Book panel discussing today’s media climate. All three of the panelists authored recent works.

Communication faculty member Melinda Villagran is the lead author of a recent study about how clinicians can overcome communication challenges in the delivery of bad news to patients. This research is also featured in her recently published book, Patient and Provider Interaction, and in the latest issue of the scholarly journal Communication Education.

In a recent study, communication faculty members Robert Lichter and Stephen Farnsworth found that President Obama receives more favorable coverage from foreign news outlets than in the U.S. The Washington Times highlighted the study on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

A new study finds that President Obama’s news coverage is more positive in Arab and European television newscasts than on US network news. His most positive coverage came from Al-Jazeera, the controversial international news network based in Qatar, while his most negative coverage came from the US-based Fox News Channel.

The fall 2010 semester may have started this week, but students have until Sept. 14 to add classes. College of Humanities and Social Sciences students have a variety of relevant and interesting options to choose from if they are looking for a last-minute course to plug into their fall schedule.

Nayantara Sheoran, a cultural studies PhD student, recently won a highly competitive Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant from the National Science Foundation. The award will give her up to $15,000 for research in India.

Center for Media and Public Affairs' study cited in Los Angeles Times article reviewing media coverage of BP oil spill.

Each year, departments and programs present awards to their outstanding students. The college is proud to announce the recipients of these awards for 2009-2010. Congratulations to all the department's students for their outstanding achievements.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to announce the speakers for this year’s convocation ceremonies. Warren Brown, the founder and owner of successful bakery CakeLove and Love Café’, and poet and author Robert Pinsky are the speakers for this year’s convocation ceremonies.

In this Washington Post article about White House communication strategy, George Mason University professor Stephen Farnsworth says "A diffident Obama PR strategy in the first year gave the Republicans an opening they have exploited." Farnsworth added of White House officials, "They simply have to play offense to try to win back the public support that they enjoyed during the campaign."

Most Americans like the idea of conservation, but few practice it in their everyday lives. Mason's Ed Maibach along with researchers at Yale University conducted a national survey, which shows the discrepancy between attitudes and behaviors.

President Obama finished his first year in office with more favorable coverage than other recent presidents received, but his media image has been mainly negative since an early “honeymoon” period, according to a new study by researchers at George Mason and Chapman Universities.

Abbi Boose, a communication major with a concentration in public relations at George Mason, is interning at LeapFrog Solutions. She has accepted the challenges of her internship and knows that the opportunity will lead her to success. “Being at LeapFrog Solutions has helped me to learn how to communicate in a professional setting as well as develop my networking abilities that will aid me in the future,” said Boose.

Approximately 8 million college students from 600 colleges and universities throughout China compete in the annual China Central TV (CCTV) Cup English Speaking Contest. The top three winners of the 2009 contest were awarded a trip to Mason this summer.

Steven Smith, a recent communication graduate, was involved in several of the department’s programs and initiatives, eventually spearheading the effort that helped George Mason University’s Public Relations Student Society of America gain national recognition.

While many of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences' students will travel abroad this winter, 20 of them are headed to places likes Israel, Palestine, London, Switzerland, Greece, and Turkey thanks to awards from Mason's Center for Global Education.

Despite ads and awareness campaigns launched by the government and others, the number of Americans who believe climate change is a serious problem has been declining. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Ed Maibach, director of George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication, about the challenges of launching public awareness campaigns about climate change.

Melinda Villagran, a George Mason University associate professor of communication, was recently interviewed by the Wisconsin Law Journal about the changing nature of crisis communication. Dr. Villagran is a research associate at the Mason Law School Center for Infrastructure Protection and has been working with a team at CIP to study how federal laws shape public communication for emergency responders.

In this Forbes.com article, Mason communication professor Robert Lichter writes about the nasty controversy over FOX News' treatment of President Obama. Is it fair and balanced?

Don Stumpo, an instructor in the Communication Department who was also a producer and cameraman at NBC4 in Washington, D.C., died from a heart attack on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.

George Mason University will commemorate World AIDS Day by bringing more than 100 blocks of the AIDS Memorial Quilt to the Fairfax campus on Dec. 1, 2009. This event will be open to the public and is expected to be the largest display of the quilt on the east coast.

Angie Goff, BA Communication 2001, is in motion at all times. Goff, traffic anchor, entertainment correspondent, lifestyle blogger and morning fill-in anchor for WUSA-9, joined the Washington, D.C., CBS affiliate in 2007 and has solidified her spot among the area's top media personalities.

With a week to go before Election Day in Virginia. Candidates for Governor will make their final rounds in the Commonwealth. Meanwhile, pundits and party leaders are speculating about the national impact of the race. Mason's Steve Farnsworth joins WAMU's Morning Edition Host Matt McCleskey to talk about the races.

The Department of Communication is busy preparing for the new cohort of MA and PhD students expected to arrive Thursday, August 27th for orientation. Directly following the Graduate Student Orientation for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the department will host a Welcome Reception at 7:00 on August 27th in Student Union Building II (SUB II), where students and faculty will have a chance to meet and discuss important issues for the upcoming semester. Please email Maria Carabelli to verify your attendance at this important event.

Supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since 2007, George Mason University’s Center for Health and Risk Communication has helped public information officers at CDC take their health communication skills to the next level.

Communication Department and The School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism team up to offer students more opportunities in sport and journalism.

Dr. Kreps Wins Eastern Communication Association's Centennial Scholar of Health Communication Award.

Ryan Allen, a 22-year-old senior communication major from Virginia, has found what he called an amazing learning environment at Mason. An openly gay drag queen who performs at local nightclubs, Allen recently won Mason’s homecoming queen contest, kicking off a media swirl. But Allen said life on campus is the same as it ever was.

The College is pleased to announce the 2009 Undergraduate Research Symposium. The symposium will showcase some of the excellent research and creative activity of CHSS undergraduate majors. The symposium is scheduled for April 14, 2009 from 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. in the Dewberry Hall Lobby of the Johnson Center. Additional information and application materials can be found here. If you are a Facebook member, the information is available on the CHSS Facebook Events Page.

As the United States enters the final weeks of the 2008 presidential election campaign, the media and the candidates are in full gear exploiting each other, often at the expense of public information and debate on substantive issues, a Mason professor argues in his new book.