Media in the Mix

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. Today, we’re joined by founder of the Anacostia Youth Media Festival, Brigid Maher!

Brigid Maher (she/her/hers) is a tenured associate professor in the School of Communication at American University, a Senior Fellow of the Community Voice Lab at American University, and an award-winning filmmaker focusing on women, from women’s issues in the Middle East to women’s health and beyond. Maher’s latest film is Experimental Curator: The Sally Dixon Story, about a little-known pioneer in the male-dominated art world who transformed experimental cinema by helping film artists make it and the public see and understand it.  The film has won numerous awards and is currently screening on the festival circuit. 

Maher is also the founder and Creative Director of the first-ever Anacostia Youth Media Festival, a groundbreaking initiative producing an arts education event led by youth in historically disadvantaged wards of Washington, DC, while also involving our AUSOC students, faculty and staff!

See how you can get involved by visiting the AYMF website HERE!

To donate to American University's School of Communication and to continue supporting this podcast, visit: https://giving.american.edu/

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. Today we welcome guest, Sam Fulwood III, dean of American University's School of Communication, in honor of World Press Freedom Day!

Sam Fulwood III is dean of American University’s School of Communication and also a prominent journalist, public policy analyst and author, whose work addresses key issues of media influences on American life. He has written and lectured extensively across the United States and internationally on U.S. race relations, data-driven journalism, and the intersections of media, technology and democracy. Earlier in his career, Fulwood was a metro columnist at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio, the last stop in a nearly three-decade journalism career that featured posts at several metropolitan newspapers. During the 1990s, he was a national correspondent in the Washington, D.C., bureau of the Los Angeles Times, where he contributed to the paper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. He has also worked as a business editor and state political editor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; as an assistant city editor, business reporter, editorial writer, and Johannesburg, South Africa, bureau correspondent for the Baltimore Sun; and as a police, business, and sports reporter at The Charlotte Observer. Fulwood earned a Bachelor's in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

To donate to American University's School of Communication and to continue supporting this podcast, visit:

https://giving.american.edu/

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. Today, we welcome guest, Lindsey McCormack!

Lindsey McCormack is an SOC junior studying Film and Media Arts with a minor in create writing. She is also an American Girl Doll enthusiast who runs the Instagram account @americanugirldolls which reimagines the classic toys as American University students. Additionally, Lindsey is a longtime fan of AU Student Media, having been a member of both Amlit and WVAU. After graduation, Lindsey hopes to work in a creative industry creating new and fun projects like she has with @americanugirldolls.

To support Lindsey's social media page, visit @americanugirldolls

To donate to American University's School of Communication and to continue supporting this podcast, visit:

https://giving.american.edu/

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. Today, we welcome guest, Maggie Burnette Stogner! Join us as we talk documentary filmmaking, experiential learning opportunities, and Maggie's newest documentary project!

Maggie Burnette Stogner is the Executive Director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking (www.environmentalfilm.org) and a professor of Film and Media Arts. She brings over 30 years of filmmaking experience to the Center and to the classroom. During her nine years at National Geographic, she produced, directed and wrote numerous documentaries, and was senior producer of the award-winning weekly programs Explorer and Ultimate Explorer. Her recent films include the award-winning "Upstream, Downriver" (2022) www.upstreamdownriver.org,  "Unbreathable - The Fight For Healthy Air" (2020) www.unbreathable.org, and "In the Executioner's Shadow" (2018), which are distributed by New Day Films, www.newday.com. She also directed, produced, and wrote the broadcast documentary "Gold Mountain" (2016) about pioneering Chinese in the West. She is founder of Blue Bear Films (Blue Bear Films) and has an impressive record of creating documentaries as well as immersive media for world-touring cultural exhibitions for National Geographic, the Smithsonian, LucasFilms, and others. Her award-winning work includes two King Tut exhibitions; The Greeks; Real Pirates; Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures; Indiana Jones and Adventure of Archaeology; and Roads of Arabia.

Visit https://www.american.edu/soc/environmental-film/ to learn more about the Center for Environmental Filmmaking and how you can get involved! 

To donate to the Center for Environmental Filmmaking, click HERE!

Follow @environmentalfilm to learn more!

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. Today, we welcome guests Pallavi Kumar and Isis Amusa!  On this episode of Media in the Mix, we discuss everything SOC3!  SOC3 Provides opportunities to students for hands-on learning while also giving them course credit and compensation. In other words, it's true real-life work experience in the communications world! 

Pallavi Damani Kumar is a full-time professor in American University’s School of Communication and the former Division Director for the Public Communication division. Prior to teaching full time, Kumar gained more than 20 years experience in the public relations industry having worked as a vice president in FleishmanHillard's social marketing practice in Washington, DC, a vice president/account supervisor in Ketchum's healthcare practice in New York as well as associate director of international public relations at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in Philadelphia. She began her career in environmental communication at Ruder-Finn in Washington, DC.

Kumar co-authored the ninth edition of Public Relations Case Studies published by Cengage. Her articles and commentary have appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today and PRWeek. In 2015, she received the Outstanding Service to the University Community from American University. PRWeek named her to the 2017 Global Power Book - a list of the world’s most influential PR professionals. She was most recently profiled in a chapter of the book Diverse Voices: Profiles in Leadership published by the PRSA Foundation and Museum of PR. She graduated magna cum laude from American University with a degree in public affairs and public communication. She received her master’s degree in public relations/corporate communications from Georgetown University.

Isis Amusa is a senior at American University double-majoring in journalism and justice & law. She is a queer Black social justice storyteller working in communications at the National Black Food and Justice Alliance and as a Creative Strategist at SOC3. As a journalist, she has worked to uplift the stories of social justice activists as they ameliorate the threats upon undocumented immigrants' educational attainment and DACA, failing educational supports for incarcerated women, Black professorial exodus and performative antiracism in private white higher education, and most recently, food insecurity among college-aged youth. In her current roles, she communicates on behalf of Black farmers and food justice organizers, organizes for Black food sovereignty and Black land stewardship, and cultivates SOC3’s digital face to promote its history, aims, and client projects.

Applications for SOC3 are now open through April 4th, 2023! Visit this link to apply: 

https://www.american.edu/soc/experiential-learning/storytelling-for-changemaking.cfm  

Visit https://soc3change.com/  to learn more about this program and how you can get involved! 

Follow SOC3 on social media @soc3change! 

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. Let's introduce you to our guests! 

Jenny McConnell Frederick is a Washington, DC-based director, producer and strong believer in impossible theatre. She is the founder and co-Artistic Director of Rorschach Theatre as well as a member of Rorschach’s groundbreaking Distance Frequencies project. She has worked in development and director positions for prominent organizations like Wolly Mammoth Theatre Company and CulturalDC. She graduated cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Theatre and joined Mensa for the free pencils.

Along with her work at Rorschach, she has directed for Theater J (G-d's Honest Truth) and Catholic University (Sissy and Fifi & Hunter Forever!) as well as serving as Mentor Director for collegiate programs like Theatre Lab’s Honors Acting Conservatory and the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival. Her entrepreneurial spirit and love of dance led her to co-create the immersive dance/theatre projects March!: The Women’s Movement from Isadora Duncan to Now and Chambers of the Heart. Additionally, she has been part of launching Space4: Performing Arts, It/That Happened at the University of Maryland, and two of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company’s ongoing fundraising events: annual benefit bash and Dinner on Stage. She was also a featured speaker at CityWrights Conference in Miami and has worked with countless artists to create, develop and produce their own works.

Kyle “Kylos” Brannon is a professor at American University’s School of Communication (SOC) and a reknown VJ, or live video artist. At SOC, he serves as the Associate Division Director for Film & Media Arts, an advisor for Delta Kappa Alpha, and as the producer and directory of the annual American Visions Awards, SOC’s film awards ceremony.

He is a company member with Rorschach Theatre and designs video projections for plays, including, 410[gone], Reykjavik, Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven, She Kills Monsters, and The Toxic Avenger Musical. Also with Rorschach Theatre, he is on the creative team for Psychogeographies, a 7-month long storytelling site specific experience that explores DC history, while following an ever-evolving story, which culminates in a live performance.

As a VJ and multimedia artist, Kylos creates live video mash ups for DJs. He has worked with DJs like Moby, MSTRKRFT, Nadastrom, Jesse Tittsworth and Will Eastman and performed at 930 Club, U Street Music Hall, Ram’s Head Live, The Black Cat, Jefferson Theater, NYC’s Highline Ballroom, and others. At the Rorschach Theatre, his work has been featured in 410[gone], Reykjavik, Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven, She Kills Monsters, The Toxic Avenger Musical, and Psychogeographies.

EXPERIENCE THE RORSCHACH THEATRE HERE> https://rorschachtheatre.com/  

FOLLOW RORSCHACH THEATRE > 

Instagram: @rorschachdc 

Twitter: @rorschachdc

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. 

Not only is it our first VIDEO podcast, but also our first student guests featured! Let's introduce you! 

Jessica Newell is pursuing a Master’s in Strategic Communication at American University. With interests in event planning, graphic design, and writing, she aspires to join an in-house communications team in a social justice and/or education-based organization upon graduating. At AU, she works as a teaching assistant for the course “Communication and Society,” in which she has led multiple mini lectures and co-facilitates classroom activities. Prior to AU, she earned a BA in Communication Studies from Rowan University where she worked for her dean’scommunications and outreach team and as a campus tour guide. Outside of work and school, she loves attending concerts and plays, nurturing plants and animals, and discussing Taylor Swift’s discography at length.

Lauren Gersten is a first-year public relations student at American University. Lauren is currently employed as an administrative assistant in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at the School of Communication. She is a part of the SOC mentorship program and is grateful for the opportunity to work with her mentor.

To donate to American University's School of Communication and to continue supporting this podcast, visit:

https://giving.american.edu/

If you'd like to learn more about our SOC Alumni Mentorship Program as an SOC student, please visit:

https://www.american.edu/soc/resources/alumni-mentoring.cfm

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture! Our special guest today is SOC Alumna and Adjunct Professor in the School of Communication, Gillie Haynes!

To give you a little more background on our guest today, Gillie Haynes is an executive presentation and public speaking coach. She is an accomplished communications expert, professor, author and former journalist with experience in print, broadcast journalism, public relations and social media management. Her professional work includes Speakers Training in a Virtual Environment for Vanguard Communications, Washington, DC, Presentation and Public Speaking Training for the Leadership Initiatives Academy at Georgetown University, Public Relations Manager for a national program within the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, DC, and in Business Development for EDS. She has developed, produced, and served as host of two on-air programs in her position as Public Affairs Director for KBLX/KRE Radio in the Bay Area of California.

She is also an AU Alumna, as she earned her Master of Arts in Communication and is currently pursuing a Graduate Certification in Teaching, Design and Facilitation at American University, which she will complete in 2023. In 2019, Gillie was selected as Outstanding Instructor in an Adjunct Position at American University.

To get in touch with Gillie Haynes, please email her at: [email protected]

To view her website, please visit: gilliehaynes.com

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture! Our special guest today is SOC Alumna, Jen Tanner, VP of Brand Partnerships at RCA Records!

Jen Tanner graduated from American University in 2012 where she studied Public Relations with a double minor in Music and Spanish. She received her Master’s Degree in Music Business after graduating from AU at New York University in New York City. She fiercely began her career with internships at MGS Communications, Sirius/XM Radio, the 9:30 Club, DBC PR + New Media and RCA Records, where she went from a Strategic Marketing Intern to current Vice President of Brand Partnerships in the last 10 years. In 2022 alone, she was named on Billboard’s “40 Under 40” as well as Variety’s “Hollywood New Leader” lists. As a bilingual professional, Jen continues to focus on bringing together her love and skills for music, artists, and global brands to create meaningful stories for her audience, and we are proud to call her an AU Eagle!

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture! Our special guest today is SOC Photography Professor, Leena Jayaswal!

Her photography and film work often deals with the intersections of being Indian and American. This work has been nationally recognized in galleries around the country, including solo shows at the Gandhi Memorial Center, and International Visions Gallery. Jayaswal has photographs in group collections with the Society of Photographic Education's Multicultural Caucus at the Center for Photography, En Foco, Light Work, Photo Center Northwest and the Asian American Arts Centre.

Her award-winning films have also been screened in various film festivals around the country. “Crossing Lines” was picked up for national distribution by NETA and has been broadcast on over 100 PBS affiliates across the country. The film has won many international and national awards including the Gracie Allen Award and is being distributed by New Day Films. Her latest film, "Mixed", a collaboration with Prof. Caty Borum  explores what it means to be mixed-race in America, fifty years after the historic, landmark Supreme Court Decision, Loving v. Virginia which made interracial marriage legal.

Jayaswal is also working with artist Monica Jahan Bose on a feature documentary about climate change, called, "Rising Up to Climate Change: Storytelling with Saris." Her latest film, Dreaming Green, profiles Monica's work. This film was part of the Futures Exhibition that was part of the re-opening of the Smithsonian's Arts + Industry Building. She was one of eight documentary filmmakers to contribute to this exhibit.