News

Cinematic Arts Professor Helms Creative Development of 360 VR Project

By Karina Valdes After great success with their last virtual reality (VR) project, the Ohio Department of Medicaid commissioned a new original 360 VR series, Medicaid Care Experience Simulation (MCarES). The series addresses health equity and cultural humility for the LGBTQ+ community, elder abuse in older adults with disabilities, and maternal infant health and intimate partner violence. Rafal Sokolowski, a recently hired assistant professor in the Department of Cinematic Arts, took the helm in creating and developing the series, working as the show runner to conceive the stories and produce scripts for [...]

2022-11-02T10:38:05-04:00November 2, 2022|Motion Pictures|

MMA Meeting: “The Sports Industry is the Intersection Between Law and Business”

By Andrea Tarrab In Oct. 2022, Ivan Parron joined the members of the Media Management Association on Zoom to discuss current issues in sports media law. Born in Miami and raised in a family of Cuban immigrants, he shared with members anecdotes about growing up in his household, his upbringing, and what led him to cultivate a great work ethic. Parron acknowledged that he was already interested in television technology at an early age. As part of his 25-year professional career, Parron worked in TV sales for Paxson Broadcasting, founded [...]

2022-11-01T13:17:49-04:00November 1, 2022|Media Management|

Film Professor Shares Top 5 Film Picks for a Spooky Weekend

By Christina Lane Christina Lane, professor in the Department of Cinematic Arts and associate dean of graduate studies for the School of Communication, shares her top suggestions for films to watch this Halloween. I love spooky films all year round, and especially during Halloween season. Here are my top 5 in no particular order: Halloween (1978) The 1978 “Halloween” is fantastic, beginning with its opening orange title credits and the iconic jack-o-lantern. I know that “Halloween Ends,” released this month, is receiving a lot of buzz, but it's hard to beat [...]

2022-10-31T12:01:19-04:00October 31, 2022|Motion Pictures|

In Memoriam of Shara Pavlow

It is with a heavy heart that we share with you that one of our longstanding faculty has passed on Oct. 16. Shara Pavlow was a dedicated and active member of our School of Communication community. Having completed her undergraduate studies with the University of Miami, she left for her Master’s in Journalism with the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The magnetism of our school brought her back to us in 2000, when she became one of the inaugural doctoral students with our School of Communication. She earned the [...]

2022-12-12T11:59:33-05:00October 21, 2022|School of Communication|

MMA Meeting: “Careers are not linear”

By Lee Shlomo Allison Blumenfeld, an alumna of the University of Miami and the first president of the Media Management Association (MMA), recently spoke to members of the MMA about her professional growth and transition since graduation, including her current position at Meta. In fact, learning and growth was a significant theme behind this meeting. Blumenfeld graduated from the University in 2014 with a B.S. in Media Management and History. During her time at the University, she first interned in a marketing role at TuneUp Media, a digital music company. [...]

2022-10-18T10:39:25-04:00October 18, 2022|Media Management|

Two Students and Alumnus Recognized by PRSA Miami Chapter

By Jenny Hudak Arianna Gonzalez and Lexi Zisselman, students from the School of Communication, and Nathaniel Derrenbacher, an alumnus of the University of Miami, were recognized during PRSA Miami’s 35th Annual Ev Clay/PRSA Miami Endowment luncheon. Two University of Miami students and an alumnus were recognized on Friday for their scholastic achievements and contributions to the field of communications by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at the 35th Annual PRSA Miami chapter Endowment Fund luncheon. Arianna Gonzalez and Lexi Zisselman, seniors studying public relations in the School of [...]

2022-12-05T15:42:51-05:00October 18, 2022|Uncategorized|

Lindsay Grace to Share Insights at Games for Change Summit

By Karina Valdes World leaders in gaming are converging in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, in Oct. for the Games for Change Summit to share their insights on games for social impact. The summit will connect experts in gaming for two days of discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities to globally expand the games for social change arena. Through various programs and non-profits, Lindsay Grace, Knight Chair and director of the MFA in Interactive Media, has been assisting the U.S. Department of State with its initiatives in [...]

2022-10-07T15:49:17-04:00October 7, 2022|Interactive Media|

Panel Calls to Restore Civility in Defense of Democracy

By Pamela Edward Distinguished University of Miami alumni shared perspectives on civil discourse, the credibility of the media, trust in institutions, and other matters during a spirited discussion hosted by the School of Communication. The current polarization of contemporary social and political discourse formed the backdrop of a spirited panel discussion presented by the University of Miami School of Communication and alumnus Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., at Lakeside Village Auditorium on Thursday. Titled Journalism and Civility as Cornerstones of Democracy, the conversation was moderated by Karin Wilkins, dean of the [...]

2022-08-29T12:39:22-04:00August 29, 2022|School of Communication|

Get to Know Our New Faculty

The University of Miami School of Communication is pleased to welcome our magnificent seven new faculty members to our ranks. Learn more about our new faculty below. Jonathan Gorchow, Lecturer, Department of Journalism and Media Management Jonathan Gorchow Jon Gorchow joins the School of Communication after an extensive career overseeing a variety of media organizations including broadcast, cable, and new OTT ventures. One of Gorchow’s many successes includes a media company he founded and managed that was responsible for creating 4K and HD linear channels, SVOD and VOD [...]

2022-08-25T11:36:28-04:00August 23, 2022|School of Communication|

‘E.T.’s Touch Leaves an Indelible Mark on its Audience

By Rene Rodriguez Rene Rodriguez, manager of the Bill Cosford Cinema and former film critic for the Miami Herald, shares his memories of the acclaimed film as it marks its 40th anniversary. Some movies change your life—literally. The first time I sat down to watch “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” when it opened in theaters in June of 1982 (the best movie summer ever), I was 15 years old. I was excited by the Steven Spielberg factor, who was already one of my favorite directors, and curious about the early reviews, which [...]

2022-08-16T16:41:51-04:00August 16, 2022|Motion Pictures|