UW–Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Headshots of 2026 winners of the Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics, Joaquin Palomino and Cynthia Dizikes, who have won for their San Francisco Chronicle investigation of mental health treatment facilities in California.

It's our great privilege to announce the winners of the 2026 Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics.

Congratulations to the @sfchronicle.com team of Joaquin Palomino and Cynthia Dizikes who investigated for-profit mental health hospitals in California: ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/shadid-award...

Tonight we welcome journalist-in-residence @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social (@propublica.org) for a conversation w/ Natalie Yahr (@wisconsinwatch.org) on "Reporting on Immigration in Times of Crisis: Wisconsin and Beyond." Play Circle/Memorial Union at 6:30 pm, or online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Gd...

The study also highlights a growing disconnect between existing election oversight frameworks and the reality of data-driven, microtargeted, algorithm-based information environment.

Their study is a first-of-its-kind look at individual exposure to these messages and offers systematic evidence for how undisclosed groups used targeted digital ads to influence the 2016 presidential election. It also reveals that Russian election interference went beyond simply sowing division.

Research shows social media advertising suppresses voting in targeted communities A new study is the first to quantify the effect of this kind of microtargeting on voter turnout.

Professor @youngmiekim.bsky.social and Assistant Professor @rossdahlke.bsky.social's latest research reveals that microtargeted digital voter suppression messaging can keep millions of people from voting – regardless of education or income level.

news.wisc.edu/research-sho...

2026 Shadid Award Finalists The judges for the Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics are honored to select five outstanding entries as finalists for the 2026 award from an impressive field of nominations.

We’re delighted to announce five finalists for the 2026 Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics. These finalists distinguished themselves in a competitive and impressive field of nominations, telling stories with outstanding ethics, integrity and impact.

ethics.sjmc.wisc.edu/shadid-award...

Inside UW Madison’s AI Terrarium: Recreating Human Belief in a Digital World What happens when AI is built to think like people? Dive into the AI Terrarium, a bold experiment in modeling human belief and persuasion.

What happens when AI is built to think like people? How do some ideas and messages persuade while others fall flat?
UW–Madison researchers are exploring these questions and more through the AI Terrarium. Read more about the project and its impact. 👇
sjmc.wisc.edu/news/inside-...

Happy Valentine's Day from the SJMC! 💘 Send these to your favorite study partner.

@lawfaremedia.org @brennancenter.org @campaignlegal.org @issueonereform.bsky.social @markwarner.bsky.social @schiff.senate.gov @warren.senate.gov @amyklobuchar.com @casbsstanford.bsky.social @icpsr.bsky.social
@carnegieendowment.org @democracyfund.bsky.social

@nytimes.com @sheeraf.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com @willoremus.com @drewharwell.com @hansilowang.bsky.social @npr.org @usatoday.com @politico.com @markscott.bsky.social @stevenoverly.bsky.social @thehill.com @bloomberg.com @theatlantic.com @wired.com @lhn.bsky.social @hiddenbrain.bsky.social

A new study from profs @youngmiekim.bsky.social and @rossdahlke.bsky.social reveals that exposure to voter suppression ads was associated with a 1.9% drop in voter turnout. Read our media brief for key findings, implications and how we can close policy loopholes: sjmc.wisc.edu/wp-content/b...

Natali Helberger Award The Natali Helberger Award recognizes doctoral students who have conducted research through interdisciplinary collaboration that advances a Public Interest Technology (PIT) perspective in…

🏆 Our lab co-director @natalihelberger.bsky.social has become the namesake of an award (which is now taking applications)!

See more about the Natali Helberger Award created by @tomasdodds.bsky.social, at the Public Tech Media Lab of @uwsjmc.bsky.social:
ptml.sjmc.wisc.edu/natali-helbe...

Join us and the Chicanx/e & Latinx/e Studies program in welcoming @melissa-sanchez.bsky.social, @propublica.org immigration reporter, to this free and public event at UW-Madison: "Reporting on Immigration in Times of Crisis: Wisconsin & Beyond." Register here: forms.gle/Zv3smRYA7CEf...

Welcome back to campus, SJMC Badgers! Here's to new classes and a great semester ahead. ✏️⭐️

Thanks to a generous $1 million gift from SJMC alum Steve Pogorzelski (BA ’83) and his wife, Brenda, a new professorship will honor Director Kathleen Bartzen Culver’s lasting impact on students, mentorship and teaching excellence. 📚

Learn more here: sjmc.wisc.edu/news/pogorze... 🔗

Congratulations to Professor Young Mie Kim for being awarded the Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship in recognition of her engaged scholarship, theoretical and methodological contributions, and integration of research, teaching and public service.
sjmc.wisc.edu/news/profess...

How to Apply The application cycle for Fall 2026 matriculation will close on Dec. 15, 2025. 1. Complete and submit your application online Apply online here. After submitting your application, you can monitor…

Today’s the day! All graduate program applications are due TODAY before 11:59 p.m. CDT. Here’s your step-by-step guide to the application journalism.wisc.edu/admissions/g...

Bliefernicht, Lindsey Lindsey Bliefernicht is the Graduate Program Manager at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UW-Madison.

One day left to submit your application for our graduate program! Please apply by tomorrow, Dec. 15 at 11:59 p.m. CDT to be considered. We will accept letters of recommendation and test scores until the end of December. Questions? Reach out to Lindsey Bliefernicht journalism.wisc.edu/news/staff/b...

If you’re engaged in research questions and want to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary program, then we want YOU! There are only three days left to apply. journalism.wisc.edu/graduate/gra...

🚨The graduate program application deadline is one week away! 🚨 Our research and curriculum cover a variety of areas: health communication, political communication, global communication, computational communication research and more. What’s your area of focus? journalism.wisc.edu/graduate/res...

Our Professional MA grads go on to a wide variety of careers. No matter your dream job, we will help you get there. Applications are due December 15! journalism.wisc.edu/news/pro-tra...

Did you know that 85% of our PhD students are placed in university positions? No matter your academic or professional background, we have a place for you. Only two weeks left to submit your applications! journalism.wisc.edu/graduate/rec...

Happy Thanksgiving from the SJMC! 🍂 We asked some of our students to share their favorite Thanksgiving food. 🍗 🥖 🥔 What's yours? Let us know in the comments. 📣

Faculty & Staff Internationally recognized faculty

Our graduate program is designed to fit YOU, not the other way around. In consultation with one of our incredible faculty advisers, you can create an interdisciplinary program that fits your interests and goals. Meet our team: journalism.wisc.edu/people/facul...

Cognitive Effects Research Group (KEG) School of Journalism and Mass Communication

The Cognitive Effects Research Group studies media framing effects. Learn more about their research: mcrc.journalism.wisc.edu/groups/keg/

Communication, Brain and Behavior (CBB) Lab School of Journalism and Mass Communication

The Communication, Brain and Behavior Lab uses neuroscience tools to better understand how persuasion works in the mind. Learn more about their work: mcrc.journalism.wisc.edu/groups/cbb/

Social Media and Democracy (SMAD) School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Fascinated by the influence of social media on our political and social lives? Learn about our Social Media and Democracy group: mcrc.journalism.wisc.edu/groups/smad/

Computational Approaches and Message Effects Research (CAMER) School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Interested in computational communication research? Learn more about the Computational Approaches and Message Effects Research group. mcrc.journalism.wisc.edu/groups/camer/

Health Information Technology Studies (HITS) School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Our Health Information Technology Studies group explores the influence of health communication and technologies on behavior. Learn more about their work. mcrc.journalism.wisc.edu/groups/hits/

Public Tech Media Lab The Public Tech Media Lab operates at the intersection of journalism and public interest technologies. Our objective is to support newsrooms in the development and implementation of open-source tools…

Our newest research group, the Public Tech Media Lab is at the forefront of ethical AI development and implementation in the newsroom. ptml.sjmc.wisc.edu