Cue the sparklers and the USC Trojan marching band, as USC Annenberg has much to celebrate this 4th of July week.
On July 1, the Annenberg community heartily welcomed Sarah Banet-Weiser and Willow Bay on their first official days as the new directors of the Communication and Journalism Schools at USC Annenberg. Both are well-positioned to take their helms during this transformative moment for USC Annenberg. In mere weeks, the School of Journalism will greet its first cohort of nine-month Journalism M.S. students.
This new degree will correspond with further curricular changes, as well as the grand opening of Wallis Annenberg Hall, the 88,000-square-foot building loaded with sophisticated technology located in the heart of the USC campus.
Described by Annenberg Dean Ernest Wilson III as “a renowned scholar, an award-winning author, a beloved teacher and an effective leader,” Banet-Weiser joined the School of Communication faculty in 1999. Her book Authentic™: The Politics of Ambivalence in a Brand Culture won the 2013 Outstanding Book Award from the International Communication Association. She is currently editor of the American Quarterly, the flagship journal of the American Studies Association.
I couldn’t be happier that she has agreed to take on this role," said Dean Wilson, "and continue to build on the foundation of excellence in scholarship and education that the School is known for.”
A seasoned journalist, Bay is a producer, digital news editor and national broadcast and global cable television news anchor, who has worked for Bloomberg TV, CNN and the Huffington Post among other outlets.
“The breadth of Willow Bay’s experiences, skills and talents is extraordinary,” said Dean Wilson when announcing Bay’s appointment. “Her leadership will help our innovative school aggressively continue our path of creating – and defining – the digital future.”
