The midterm elections are widely expected to usher in this century’s “year of the woman” — an explosion of women entering government.

Urgent Initiative Fueled by a Collaboration with the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and Grants from the Annenberg Foundation and McClatchy Foundation

For the past two years, USC Annenberg associate professor of professional practice Mary Murphy and professor of journalism Sandy Tolan have focused their urban affairs reporting classes on coverage of the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, including downtown L.A.’s Skid Row. The class embodies USC’s overall commitment to eliminating the problem of homelessness.

Michael Nyman ’86 was at the top of his game. He successfully merged two prominent marketing and communication firms into the nation’s leading culture and entertainment agency. He was working with a group of first-rate clients and, in his words, “life was good.”

Norma’s family steers clear of vegetables. Even when she receives veggies from her food pantry, she knows only a few ways to prepare them and her family grows bored with the bland tastes and textures. She is in a cooking rut.

Callie Schweitzer’s Twitter bio reads, “internet person” and “media and technology nerd” — descriptors that couldn’t be more authentic. After all, the USC Annenberg alumna’s feed has been named one of Time’s 140 Best Twitter Feeds in the World, and she has twice made the Forbes 30 under 30 list.

Truman Burbank is on his knees digging around in his garden. His rear end is to the camera as his wife, Meryl, dressed in her nurse’s uniform, arrives home on her bike. “Hi, honey,” she says. “Look what I got free at the checkout.” Pulling out the Chef’s Pal from her perfectly arranged grocery bag, she looks straight into the camera. “It’s a dicer, grater, peeler, all in one!” she pitches with a bright smile. “Never needs sharpening — is dishwasher safe!”

On Oct. 16 — exactly three weeks before Election Day 2018 — USC Annenberg convened a panel of political experts to discuss the home stretch of this election cycle.