A new online database aimed at helping solve the local news crisis gives newsrooms, funders and policymakers access to critical research about how local news makes communities stronger and what we lose when local news sources close.

The was developed by the Local News Experimental Testing Lab () at 性视界 University鈥檚 in partnership with , a nonpartisan nonprofit coalition. The initiative brings together research from disciplines including communications, economics and political science.

Since the start of this century, nearly 40% of all local U.S. newspapers have closed, leaving 50 million Americans with limited or no access to reliable local news. The number of local journalists in the United States has fallen by more than 75% since 2002, according to Rebuild Local News鈥� .

This decline has led to a wave of new scholarship about the impact of local news, however, and the Research Hub aims to make that work accessible.

鈥淭hough the industry is facing many crises and issues, it鈥檚 an exciting time to study local news,鈥� says , director of Local NExT Lab and senior researcher at the . 鈥淭here is so much good work being done across disciplines. We wanted to help ensure that the industry can benefit and use this research to make arguments to policymakers, funders and audiences about their civic and economic value.

Darr is also an associate professor of communications in the , which co-leads the institute with the .

鈥淭o move the needle on policy, we need more than just anecdotes; we need data and evidence that demonstrates the specific needs and measurable impact of local reporting,鈥� says Steven Waldman, president of Rebuild Local News.

The Local News Research Hub provides that essential evidence by showing policymakers how a lack of local news leads to higher taxes, increased corruption and lower civic engagement, Waldman says . 鈥淏y identifying these gaps, we can help craft targeted solutions that ensure every community has the information it needs to thrive.鈥�

The project also includes a search function, key findings and summaries, and links to source materials. The resource builds on an earlier developed by the Democracy Fund, an independent foundation that supports initiatives that foster reliable, equitable and community-focused journalism.

鈥淲e know a lot about why local news is declining and what鈥檚 at stake for communities,鈥� says , IDJC research director and professor of at the Maxwell School. 鈥淭his resource bridges the gap between that research and the people positioned to do something about it.鈥�

Based in Washington, D.C., the IDJC engages in research, teaching, experiential learning, partnerships and events to address challenges to democracy related to the information environment.

鈥淪trengthening local news reduces polarization and empowers communities,鈥� says , Kramer Director of the IDJC and professor of practice of at the Newhouse School. 鈥淲e are proud of Local NExT鈥檚 innovative work and our partnership with Rebuild Local News.鈥�

The nonprofit Rebuild Local News is a coalition of more than 55 organizations representing more than 3,000 newsrooms and 15,000 journalists. The coalition advocates for public policies to strengthen community news and information.

For more information on the hub or to contribute to the database, contact Darr at jpdarr@syr.edu or Matt Baker, research director at Rebuild Local News, at mattbaker@rebuildlocalnews.org.

The public relations programs at the University鈥檚 have been recognized as the best in the country by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The Newhouse听听补苍诲听听public relations programs each received prestigious Silver Anvil Awards during the听听on May 14 in New York City. The honor goes to the nation鈥檚 outstanding higher education programs in public relations.

, a professor of practice and chair of the PR department, and听, assistant teaching professor and director of the PR master鈥檚 program, accepted the awards for the Newhouse School.

PRSA is the leading professional organization serving the communications community through a network of more than 400 professional and student chapters in the United States and around the world. The Anvil Awards represent the highest standard of performance in the public relations profession.

The University’s听听announced the winners of the 2026听, which recognize excellence in media industry reporting.

The top prizes were announced Tuesday night at an event in New York City that also featured a conversation with NBC News journalist and 鈥淒ateline鈥� anchor Lester Holt,听.

Cheryl Wills 鈥�89, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and anchor for Spectrum News NY1, served as master of ceremonies.

Finalists were听. Chosen by a panel of journalists and journalism educators, the winners of the juried categories are:

Best Single Article/Story

Jesse Barron
The New York Times Magazine
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Best Profile

Antonia Hitchens
The New Yorker
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Best Commentary

Pamela Alma Weymouth
The Nation Magazine
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Best Media Newsletter

Oliver Darcy
Status

• 鈥�
• 鈥�
• 鈥�

Special Topic: Best Coverage of the Future of Late-Night Television

Kayla Cobb and Adam Chitwood
TheWrap
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John M. Higgins Award for Best In-Depth/Enterprise Reporting

Josh Dzieza
The Verge
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Additionally, the following听 were formally presented:

Fred Dressler Leadership Award

NBC News award-winning journalist and 鈥淒ateline鈥� anchor

Lorraine Branham Award

性视界 the Mirror Awards

Established by the Newhouse School in 2006, the听听honor the writers, reporters and editors who hold a mirror to their own industry for the public鈥檚 benefit. The competition is open to anyone who conducts reporting, commentary or criticism of the media industries in a format intended for a mass audience. Eligible work includes print, broadcast and online editorial content focusing on the development or distribution of news and entertainment. Winners are chosen by a group of journalists and journalism educators.

Ads generated by artificial intelligence are nearly indistinguishable from human-made ones, but new research shows they consistently underperform compared to human-made work when it comes to predicting short-term sales impact.

罢丑别听 from global research firm Ipsos in collaboration with two faculty members from the听 tested 20 ads across 10 brands with 3,000 U.S. respondents. They found that human-made ads outperformed their AI counterparts, though the gap between the two was surprisingly slim.

The study paired existing human-made ads, produced before 2021 to ensure AI tools were not used, with fully AI-generated counterparts built from the same strategic brief, the document that ad professionals use to outline objectives, messaging and tactics for a campaign. Ads were then viewed by real consumers.

The results challenge assumptions the advertising industry can no longer afford to ignore, faculty 听补苍诲听 say, while the project overall reflects Newhouse鈥檚 commitment to train students with the skills and forward-thinking strategies needed to be effective and ethical communicators.

The Research Team

Peruta, director of the听听M.S. program, and Riby, professor of practice in the听, led the University side of the study. Ryan Barthelmes, senior vice president of creative excellence at Ipsos, guided the project for the research firm.

Peruta oversaw the technical process of deconstructing existing ads and building the pipeline to produce their AI counterparts. AI was assigned to do everything a creative team would do, from interpreting strategy to developing a concept to producing the final spot.

鈥淭he human ads and the AI ads started from the same brief,鈥� Peruta says. 鈥淭he only thing that changed was who made them, and that鈥檚 exactly what we wanted to measure.鈥�

Riby brought advertising strategy and creative expertise, including insights drawn from her The Big Idea in Advertising class, where Newhouse students have spent three years creating AI-generated ads and evaluating the results.

The 10 brands selected for the project spanned various sectors, including consumer packaged goods, fashion, automotive and technology: Cheerios, Chewy, Febreze, Fiat, H&M, Old Navy, Herbal Essences, Ray-Ban Meta, TurboTax and Visa.

Raina Rice 鈥�26, an advertising major, supported the project behind the scenes, helping organize and manage the ad assets across all 10 brand pairings.

What They Found

The study produced three findings that promise to generate conversation across the advertising industry.

• Consumers largely cannot tell the difference.听Only 13% of viewers who saw an AI-generated ad were at least somewhat confident it was made by AI鈥攖he same share as viewers who suspected human-made ads were AI-generated. With 40% of all viewers uncertain either way, the line between human and machine-made advertising is blurring quickly.

• Despite that perceptual similarity, a measurable effectiveness gap emerged.听Using Ipsos鈥� sales-validated measures of advertising performance, human-made ads over-indexed against the benchmark by 11 points on average, while AI-made ads under-indexed by five. In practical terms, human ads are predicted to drive stronger short-term sales impact. AI can produce credible work, but on average it does not move the needle the same way.

• AI performed best when the brief was straightforward and product-driven, but struggled when the creative challenge called for storytelling, emotion or a genuine point of view.听The strongest result in the study came from the Cheerios pairing, where a deeply human brief produced the highest combined effectiveness scores across both versions.

鈥淓very semester in my class, I watch students create AI ads about themselves, and not one of them has ever loved their output enough to put it on their refrigerator,鈥� Riby says. 鈥淭hat reaction is the premise of this entire study. If the creators themselves are underwhelmed, why would we expect consumers to feel differently? The data now backs that up.鈥�

An Industry Perspective

Barthelmes says the study addresses a question the advertising industry has been circling but is reluctant to answer directly.

鈥淓very [chief marketing officer] is being asked whether AI can replace their creative agencies, and creative directors are wondering about their futures,鈥� Barthelmes says. 鈥淭his research gives us a framework for that conversation. AI is a powerful tool, but the data shows that the human capacity for storytelling and emotional connection still creates a measurable competitive edge. The future is humans and AI working together.鈥�

Looking Ahead

The Newhouse-Ipsos partnership reflects the school鈥檚 broader investment in industry-facing research that shapes how the next generation of communicators understands and works alongside AI.

The study鈥檚 key recommendation is clear: do not settle for 鈥済ood enough.鈥� AI has an important role in modern campaign strategy and execution, but it is not a replacement for the human-led creativity needed to deliver a competitive advantage.

On Jan. 2, Justin Dalaba鈥檚 phone rang.

It was his former professor, , who teaches photojournalism, documentary photography, filmmaking and visual storytelling at the , with a question.

Did Dalaba G鈥�25 want to come with him on assignment for National Geographic to photograph turtles under the Canadian ice? Before he could second-guess himself, Dalaba said yes.

鈥淚t was definitely a rare opportunity,鈥� Dalaba says. 鈥淭hose kinds of stories don’t just happen in that way. And he pretty much said, 鈥榃ell, we鈥檝e got to leave in about an hour. So are you ready to go?鈥欌��

Luckily, Dalaba had his go-bag ready and the batteries for his cameras were charged. Later that day, the Newhouse graduate was driving to Canada with his former graduate advisor.

Peering Under the Ice

The January assignment Snyder brought Dalaba onboard for is part of work he鈥檚 been doing for the last three years for the Preserving Legacies project. The organization funded by the National Geographic Society highlights how World Heritage Sites, along with cultural heritage and natural heritage sites, can be adapted to climate change. Working on a long-term grant, Snyder tells the stories of communities working to adapt and preserve the sites.

One of the stories he was assigned to work on was about how biologist Gr茅gory Bult茅 is studying a . The creatures are one of the world鈥檚 northernmost reptile species in the system, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that runs from Ottawa to Lake Ontario. During the winter months, the turtles live underwater and bring their body temperatures down to near-freezing. They don鈥檛 eat, breathe or mate, waiting under the ice until they can emerge in the spring.

Bult茅, who has been studying the turtles for 20 years, has observed when ice thins during the winter, principally because of climate change, it allows river otters to slip under and eat the turtles. In 2022, he documented 10% of the turtle population in Ontario鈥檚 Opinicon Lake died, likely because of otters.

鈥淏ecause they can’t move, it’s a free snack,鈥� Snyder says.

In 2025, Snyder went up to do a story on Bult茅 and his work, but a blizzard prevented him from getting the images he needed.

For the return trip in January, Dalaba helped Snyder design a rig system to capture the images of the turtles under the ice. Not only was it freezing and underwater with low visibility, but they had to be sensitive to the turtles and avoid disturbing them.

鈥淭hey’re not supposed to move very much,鈥� Snyder says. 鈥淵ou have this tiny window to operate.鈥�

The videos and photos they captured were published as part of a in National Geographic, one of the publication鈥檚 most-viewed stories of the month. The images may also be the first-ever published of turtles under the ice.

What Went Into the Shoot

Snyder says the recent Newhouse grad proved 鈥渋nstrumental鈥� in helping him get video and photographs on the shoot.

鈥淗e’s both incredibly technically capable and he’s a very, very good image maker and storyteller,鈥� Snyder says. 鈥淗e can do that across platforms with photo, design, video, and that’s super, super important.鈥�

The shoot required them to get up at 4 a.m. and trek through the snow, pulling their gear on a sled across the frozen lake. At one point, the equipment got too cold and the mount they were going to use to submerge the camera broke, so they had to remount their gear on the fly.

The pair also had to work closely and build trust with Bult茅, listening when the scientist expressed concern about the impact on the turtles if they pushed the shoot longer.

鈥淭hat’s a powerful learning opportunity for someone working in the documentary space to understand鈥攊t’s not all about you, it’s not even all about the image,鈥� Snyder says. 鈥淎t the end of the day, it is about the ethics that underlie this practice. It is about relationships, and it is about doing the maximum amount of good with the work you’re doing.鈥�

He says Dalaba had the ability to be adaptive, not just with the changing weather around them and the physical demands of the assignment, but to be collaborative and responsive to the other people and species involved.

鈥淏oth the practice and the product of documentary work is relationship building,鈥� Snyder says. 鈥淵ou need to be highly relational. It’s a soft skill in a lot of ways, and he has this aplomb.鈥�

Dalaba and Snyder both came to photojournalism and documentary work with science backgrounds. Dalaba previously worked as a wildlife biologist in conservation, while Snyder is a geologist and climate scientist by training.

For Dalaba, working on the assignment felt like the culmination of his path as a wildlife biologist turned storyteller.

鈥淪eeing that come together went beyond the personal gratification and more of that deep hearted feeling of this is what a collaboration feels like,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t was a collaboration between two storytellers, scientists, multiple climate custodians who are working to adapt their heritage in Canada.鈥�

The experience also resulted in additional work for Dalaba with Preserving Legacies. The former wildlife biologist says he鈥檚 excited to continue that work, telling stories of hope and resilience related to climate change.

has called Super Bowls, NBA Finals, the Olympics and the Kentucky Derby from broadcast booths around the world. On Sunday, he returned to where it all started to send 性视界 University鈥檚 Class of 2026 off with a challenge: keep chasing your dreams, and 鈥渄on’t leave your childlike wonder behind.鈥�

鈥淎ll of you have a 性视界 story,鈥� Tirico told the approximately 6,679 graduating students inside the JMA Wireless Dome. 鈥淗ere, you formed a foundation of resiliency. You learned to deal with the curves that the road ahead provides. I hope in years to come, when you tell your 性视界 story, it involves your dreams and it’s eventually going to include how you kept chasing them.鈥�

Tirico, who serves as vice chair of the , is the of 鈥淪unday Night Football鈥� and 鈥淣BA on NBC,鈥� and serves as the primetime host for NBCUniversal鈥檚 coverage of the Olympics. He has interviewed such elite athletes as Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, four-time NBA champion LeBron James, and Olympic gold medalists Michael Phelps, Simone Biles and Lindsey Vonn.

Tirico compared the graduates to those world-class athletes, encouraging them to draw on the same traits that carried them through 性视界 to achieve professional success.

鈥淭hey thrived because of their minds, their strength and their ability to out-plan, to outthink and to withstand the scrutiny,鈥� said Tirico, a member of the . 鈥淭hey share a commonality [with you]. They loved what they did and love what they do. Go out and find what you love. Go find what makes you happy and let that fuel you to your future.鈥�

With his mother, Maria, and his wife, Deborah Gibaratz Tirico 鈥�89, in attendance, Tirico took a moment to celebrate the moms who were cheering on their graduating students. Tirico asked the Class of 2026 to get out of their seats and give the moms a round of applause and a big wave while wishing them a happy Mother鈥檚 Day.

Tirico recalled growing up in a single-parent household, crediting the support he received from 鈥渁 village of amazing family members鈥� with helping him become a first-generation college student. Tirico earned dual bachelor鈥檚 degrees in political science from the听听and the听,听and in broadcast journalism from the听.

He emphasized maintaining the strong relationships the Class of 2026 formed with their friends and professors while on campus.

鈥淢any of you are surrounded right now by your closest friends and you鈥檙e sitting with your crew. Forty years after starting the journey, for me, my life is still filled with my day ones from 性视界. The people I met in that very first class at Newhouse. The people who I called games with on ,鈥� Tirico said. 鈥淢any of those people are going to be your people for the rest of your life.鈥�

Tirico closed by welcoming the newest members of the 性视界 University alumni network, consisting of more than 250,000 alumni worldwide.

鈥淪ince I live in the space of sports, today is one of the best game days of the year because we get a few thousand new teammates,鈥� Tirico said. 鈥淵ou are now part of the 性视界 alumni team, and it’s the best team in the world.鈥�

Graduation day is fast approaching with its blur of hugs, happy tears and mortarboard tosses鈥攚hich means the photos have to do the heavy lifting of preserving it all. Whether you’re the graduate, the proud parent or the friend drafted as the unofficial photographer, a little preparation goes a long way toward capturing images you鈥檒l want to commemorate 2026 Commencement.

For advice, 性视界 University Today turned to renowned portrait photographer, , Distinguished Professor of Photography in the . Heisler has , shooting more than 70 cover portraits for Time alone and having his photographs and visual essays appear in Life, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times Magazine and ESPN among others.

With graduation season in full swing, Heisler, whose portrait subjects have ranged from presidents to rock stars to Olympic athletes, shares 10 tips for making the most of the moment鈥攊ncluding the best place on campus to take a picture.

1. Use Your Phone

There鈥檚 no need for fancy equipment to capture a great picture.

鈥淗onestly, these days we can truly take terrific portraits with our phone, plus it’s the camera we always have on hand and are most familiar with!鈥� he says.

2. Use 鈥楶ortrait鈥� Mode If You Can

Heisler recommends opting for the portrait setting on your phone鈥檚 camera if you can, which will allow you to blur the background to your taste after you take the picture.

鈥淵ou can always just use the regular “PHOTO” setting if you want a really wide view (use the “0.5” lens setting) or a closeup (set it to “2x” or “5x”),鈥� he says.

3. Change the 鈥楲ens鈥� Setting

If you鈥檙e able to adjust for portraits, Heisler says it’s worth changing the setting on your phone鈥檚 camera鈥檚 鈥渓ens鈥� to 2x from the typical default of 1x, which tends to give more of a wide-angle. The zoomed-in setting will be worth it, he says.

鈥淭he portraits will look more natural and flattering,鈥� he says.

4. For Group Shots, Have a Line of Sight

If you鈥檙e taking a group shot, make sure no one is obscured by someone standing in front of them.

鈥淭ell the group, 鈥業f you can see me, I can see you,鈥欌�� Heisler says.

5. Get a Laugh and Take a Lot of Pictures

To avoid that pained, posed group shot, Heisler recommends telling everyone you鈥檙e going to take the picture on the count of 鈥渢hree.鈥�

鈥淭hen shoot on 鈥楾WO!鈥� Or even 鈥極NE!鈥欌�� he says. 鈥淭hey’ll all laugh, then quickly shoot another while they’re laughing. In fact, shoot a bunch. Digital photos are free!鈥�

6. Avoid Shooting From Eye Level

Heisler says the most common mistake people make is to take their pictures from eye level.

Instead, he recommends 鈥渃rouching slightly,鈥� which you鈥檒l often see professional photographers doing.

鈥淭he reason is that the busiest, most distracting part of the background is right at the horizon line鈥攑eople, cars, signs, trees,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd the horizon always lines up with where you are and moves with you. If you move up, it moves up; if you go lower, it goes lower in the frame. If you shoot from eye level, the horizon is right at your subject’s eye level, so the most distracting part of the background is right behind their head.鈥�

Crouching just a little, drops the horizon to the shoulder height or lower of your subject, so their head is now above it, freed from the visual distractions.

7. Shoot in Aperture Priority Mode

For those using a DSLR or mirrorless camera鈥攚here you can swap out the lens as opposed to a point-and-shoot or phone camera where the lens is fixed and built in鈥攖o capture the day, Heisler says it’s best to shoot your pictures in aperture priority mode (A or Av).

鈥淭his means that you choose the aperture (or 茠/stop), so you decide how much is in focus, and the camera takes care of the rest,鈥� he says.

8. The 鈥業conic View鈥� on Campus: The Hall of Languages

Heisler recommends opting for the 鈥渋conic view鈥� of the 性视界 campus for your pictures: looking up at the Hall of Languages, which was the first building constructed on campus, dedicated in 1873.

The photographer says there are many 鈥渆xcellent vantage points鈥� for your photos starting from the bottom of the hill at Waverly Avenue, where you can also capture the 鈥溞允咏� University鈥� sign spelled out.

鈥淰irtually anywhere up from there will work well, all the way up to the steps of the building, even off to one side or the other to see the trees,鈥� Heisler says. 鈥淵our subjects can stand, you can arrange them on the steps or they can find a quiet spot to sit off to one side in the grass.鈥�

Another good thing of taking pictures at the Hall of Languages: it faces north, so your subject will too. The sun stays behind them, and no one has to squint.

Editor鈥檚 note: The Remembrance Wall, which is on the slope in front of the Hall of Languages, is an active memorial and people should not sit or stand on top of it for photos.

9. The Light Will Get Better As the Day Goes On

鈥淭he light just gets prettier later in the day toward sunset as the sun moves lower in the sky and to the west,鈥� Heisler says.

That would be to the photographer鈥檚 right, looking uphill.

And if rain or clouds are in the forecast, Heisler says to bring a waterproof camera.

Though, he adds, most phones are pretty water-resistant.

If it鈥檚 really raining, he recommends leaning into the weather by bringing an umbrella to use as a prop. You鈥檒l be able to shoot wherever you want and also give your subject something to play around with, while providing some shelter from the storm.

鈥淭his may sound strange, but placing your person a foot or two inside an open doorway looking out at you could be the way to go for a single portrait,鈥� Heisler says. 鈥淲hile you’ll be out in the rain (with your now-available umbrella), your model will be bathed in beautiful light. This can be equally useful on a clear day; skillful fashion photographers employ it as their go-to solution to escape harsh midday sun.鈥�

Using the 鈥減ortrait鈥� setting on the phone with that posing will once again do wonders to take the distracting background and save the focus for family and friends.

鈥淚f you have a fancy camera, try a zoom setting longer than 100mm for a flattering perspective, and leave your aperture wide open for shallowest focus 鈥� on most lenses 茠/2 to 茠/4 will blur the background beautifully,鈥� Heisler says.

10. Have Fun

Heisler鈥檚 final piece of advice is to have fun while you’re taking pictures of the day.

鈥淪hoot fast to catch great expressions while people are fresh,鈥� he says.

When shots sounded at the , Ben Bascuk’s first instinct was to reach for his phone to start reporting.

Bascuk 鈥�27, a broadcast and digital journalism major in the , was attending the event as a White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) scholar and was seated in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton. Recounting the events to 性视界 University Today, he says he heard a series of muffled pops.

At first he thought it was an issue with the music playing鈥攐r a tray being dropped or someone pounding on a table.

鈥淭hose noises were anything but gunshots,鈥� Bascuk says. 鈥淲hen the music stopped, I sat there staring at the back of the room. The room fell into an unnerving quiet. Around me, students began ducking under tables as red wine seeped across white tablecloths.鈥�

Soon Secret Service agents rushed past, shouting 鈥渟hots fired, get down,鈥� he says. The agents brushed against his chair as they moved toward the stage, where counter assault teams raised weapons toward the crowd from the podium.

Bascuk says he watched as Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, was escorted out behind him.

With one hand gripping the back of his chair, Bascuk says his other hand held his phone, recording. He soon called his mom and began answering a flood of texts to let loved ones and friends know he was safe.

鈥淢oments later, a CSPAN photographer told me the shots had been fired in the hotel lobby, not inside the reception room,鈥� Bascuk says. 鈥淭hat was the relief I needed to start reporting.鈥�

The man accused of attempting to storm the dinner early into the evening allegedly tried to run near the ballroom, exchanging gunfire with Secret Service agents. The man, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, was tackled and taken into custody. He has been of President Donald Trump.

Once he knew the danger was not immediate, Bascuk, who has been interning for Spectrum News in Washington, D.C., made his way to his network colleagues in the banquet room. He began sending updates to , the University鈥檚 student-run television station, and his Spectrum colleagues.

In the hour following the shooting, Bascuk says he went fully to work in reporter mode 鈥渨ithout fully processing what had happened.鈥�

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say I was ever scared or in fear of danger,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 was shocked and startled. Others, especially those closer to the back, experienced it differently. Some cried, some gasped and others . In that moment, there was confusion, but not chaos. My first priority was making sure my family knew I was OK.鈥�

Even when focused on reporting, he says it was important to take a moment 鈥渢o be human.鈥�

鈥淛ournalists are some of the most loving, caring and kind people you will ever meet, and that was truly on display [that] night,鈥� Bascuk says. 鈥淩eporting in crisis situations isn’t something you think about in the moment or even remember after. What I do remember are the conversations I had and the faces of those around me.”

Bascuk has been in Washington for the spring semester reporting for Spectrum News while studying away at . The dinner was his first time reporting on an active scene.

In those moments, he says he found, 鈥渋nstinct is everything.鈥�

鈥淚nstinct comes from practice,鈥� he says. 鈥淏efore any reporting happens, you have to protect your own safety and the safety of others, mentally and physically. Every story, no matter how small, helps build the skills you鈥檒l rely on when you least expect it. A live shot from a derby race, a feature of a local butcher shop or a story about Christmas lights鈥攅ach one builds the instincts you鈥檒l rely on when it counts.鈥�

Newhouse Dean Mark Lodato was also in attendance that night, present as a guest of alumna Weija Jiang G鈥�06, the current WHCA president and senior White House correspondent for CBS News. , Lodato pointed to Bascuk鈥檚 reporting during the unsettling circumstances.

鈥淏en, like so many other journalists in the room, jumped into action and reported for,鈥檚 student-run television studio,鈥� Lodato wrote. 鈥淚 want to note when the Newhouse team checked in on Ben, he immediately replied to let them know he was safe, so not only was he being a professional journalist, but he was also keeping the school informed.鈥�

Bascuk, for his part, says he鈥檚 not sure he could have continued to report the events of the evening without the support of his fellow WHCA scholars and Spectrum colleagues.

鈥淭hey were my crutch in the moment and in the days that followed,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 feel incredibly fortunate to have such a strong support system in Washington, D.C., 性视界 and back home in Ohio. I鈥檓 deeply grateful to my friends, family, professors, the WHCA and my mentors for their continued support and outreach after [that] night. The Newhouse community was spread throughout the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, and somehow, I was able to connect with so many of them before and after everything unfolded.鈥�

Even with what he experienced, Bascuk says it was an honor to attend the dinner.

鈥淎lthough the evening didn鈥檛 go as expected, it hasn鈥檛 discouraged me from reporting; in fact, it reinforced just how vital storytelling is to our democracy,鈥� he says.

Three 性视界 University seniors are about to do something no one has done before: graduate with a degree in .

Ryan Blankenhorn 鈥�26, Cole Hilary 鈥�26 and Brianna Nechifor 鈥�26 were drawn to the interdisciplinary program for its blend of sport management, digital media and gaming through classes offered by the听 and the .

They entered with different esports backgrounds鈥擝lankenhorn as an avid gamer, caster and coach, and Hilary and Nechifor producing, directing and supporting the live streaming of varsity esports competitions鈥攁nd will leave as trailblazers, the first students with an esports degree.

鈥淚 came to 性视界 because I wanted to help this esports program grow, which I knew would advance my career at the same time,鈥� says Blankenhorn, who broadcasts 性视界鈥檚 varsity esports competitions. 鈥淭o be part of the inaugural class that sets the stage for future esports students really means a lot.鈥�

Leading up to Commencement, the trio reflects on making history and shares how the degree will help with their post-graduation career goals.

How special is it to be part of the inaugural esports graduating class?

Ryan Blankenhorn: 鈥淚 wanted to leave something behind not only as a legacy, but as something that future generations of students can build on what we started. This program required risk-taking, ambition and desire, and while there may only be three of us graduating now, there鈥檚 going to be a lot more students graduating in the next four years. I appreciate knowing there are people who are going to continue to grow that foundation.鈥�

Cole Hilary: 鈥淭his is a conversation starter and will give us a huge leg up. This degree gave all of us so many different skills, from communications to event management and event production, and those skills can easily transfer over to other industries. It鈥檚 a valuable degree that will open a lot of doors.鈥�

Brianna Nechifor: 鈥淚t’s amazing being part of this first class. That鈥檚 why I joined, to make a lasting impact. I wanted to take those first steps for students like me who want to make a career out of esports. I wanted to be part of making history. This has been a great experience. I鈥檒l be sad to go but I鈥檓 very happy we have left this imprint because esports is a major that offers students so many interesting opportunities.鈥�

How has the esports degree program left a lasting impression on you?

Hilary: 鈥淚 chose a business focus because I was receiving plenty of hands-on experience on the esports production side and I wanted to balance my skills. The business side has shown me how much I like marketing esports and working with companies to advance esports. Learning how to plan esports events helped me see the field in a different way.鈥�

Nechifor: 鈥淲hen the degree program became a reality, I wanted to gain tangible skills that can carry over to jobs in the fields of sports, esports, traditional entertainment and business management. It has been amazing, building up this program and being part of the first graduating class. I love the direction this program has taken.鈥�

Blankenhorn: 鈥淓sports is a relatively new industry. Whether you’re an event organizer, a coach, a student competitor or a caster, you鈥檙e constantly going to be changing as the industry evolves. I learned how to become a problem-solver while learning how to stay calm under pressure. This management major helped me understand that things are going to go wrong no matter how thorough your plan is. I鈥檝e learned how to become a leader, someone who knows how to adapt.鈥�

What are your post-graduation plans?

Nechifor: 鈥淚鈥檝e accepted a full-time role as a broadcast multi-skilled operator at Gravity Media on assignment with Riot Games. Gravity Media is a remote broadcast center for Riot Games. This is honestly my dream job! I鈥檒l be working in Washington state starting in June, and I cannot wait to make an impact there!鈥�

Blankenhorn: 鈥淚鈥檓 beginning a master’s in management and human resources program at the University of Tennessee while helping grow Tennessee鈥檚 esports program. They鈥檝e had an esports club program for more than a decade, and I want to help Tennessee become the first SEC Division I school to earn varsity esports status.鈥�

Hilary: 鈥淚 want to run my own production team or serve as a content director for a professional organization. I鈥檝e always enjoyed creating content, and with esports, I love being able to share that content and those stories live with the audience. Being able to tell a story live and use that content to entice and excite people to watch a competition motivates me.鈥�

性视界 University Libraries鈥� LaunchPad hosted an inaugural Athletes for Data Sovereignty (A4DS) Summit and Pitch Competition, in partnership with UMiEconomy through its Charitable Foundation, , on April 24. The pitch competition was open to student-athletes, student-athlete alumni and student entrepreneurs with sports-related ideas. Winners of the pitch competition were:

• Gabriel Josefson 鈥�28 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of XCHKR, won the grand prize of $2,000.
• Zach Richter 鈥�26 (College of Arts and Sciences) and Taran Singh 鈥�26 (Whitman School), founders of Wavelength, tied for second place, winning $750.
• Edouard Agbor G鈥�27 (School of Information Studies), founder of GritGateway, also won $750 for second place.
• Marissa Johnson 鈥�26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), founder of Gymify, won $250.
• Dylan McKinley 鈥�26 (Newhouse School), founder of DylanDoesBasketball, won a Tier 1 Marketing Package from UMiEconomy.
• Jase Malloy 鈥�27 (School of Information Studies), founder of ErgoCraft, won a Tier 2 Marketing Package from UMiEconomy.
• Ethan Barone 鈥�26 (Whitman School), founder of CaneCLamp, won a Tier 1 Intellectual Property Legal Package
• Jonathan “Jack” Wren 鈥�26 (Whitman School) and John “Trey ” Adams III 鈥�26 (Whitman School), founders of Happy Duck, won a Tier 2 Intellectual Property Legal Package

In addition to the pitch competition, the summit included interactive games and workshops around the importance of data in industries such as sports, healthcare, media and finance, and how startups can build long-term value beyond short-term deals.

性视界 University Libraries recognized its student employees with an awards celebration on April 20. The Libraries typically employs about 150 undergraduate and graduate students each year to contribute to the safety of Libraries鈥� spaces, the quality and repair of collections, and service support to patrons and student entrepreneurs.

Supervisors nominate student employees who have demonstrated dedicated service over time and significant contributions that have made a lasting impact on the Libraries.

The Libraries recognize these students through the generous support of Kathy and Stanley Walters, the family of Patricia Kutner Strait and the many donors to the Libraries Dean鈥檚 Fund.

In addition, this year the Libraries acknowledges Carole and Glenn Johnston for their gift in honor of their daughter, Beth Ann Johnson, who was killed in the Dec. 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

鈥淲e are incredibly fortunate to work alongside our library student employees, whose energy, commitment and talent strengthen our community every day. In my role, I see firsthand the meaningful impact they have across our organization. Many of these students stay with us throughout their time at 性视界 University, growing into trusted and valued members of the SU Libraries community,鈥� says David Seaman, dean of the Libraries and University Librarian.

2026 student award recipients and their respective Libraries departments are:

Kathy and Stanley Walters Student Employee Scholarship Awards

• Souleymane Bah 鈥�26 (College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Niah Edwards 鈥�26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), public services student, Special Collections Research Center
• Grace Hoffman G鈥�26 (College of Law), graduate assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Ava Lubkemann 鈥�27 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), Orange Innovation Scholar, Strategic Initiatives
• Duyen Thum Pham 鈥�26 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), student assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Katie Ryder 鈥�26 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), preservation assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Alexander Schulz G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), Information Literacy Scholar, Information Literacy

Patricia Kutner Strait Student Scholarship Awards

• Mason Burley 鈥�27 (School of Education), preservation assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Alani Henderson 鈥�26 (College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Anna Shuff G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), graduate student archivist, Special Collections Research Center
• Anthony Thomas 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), innovation mentor/marketing team lead, LaunchPad
• Sreynoch 鈥楯ess鈥� Van 鈥�26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), photographer/videographer, Marketing and Communications

Dean鈥檚 Commendations Awards (in memory of Pan Am 103 victim Beth Ann Johnson)

• Hadja Fatoumata Barry 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Joel Carpenter G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), Information Literacy Scholar, Information Literacy
• James Harman 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), student worker, Access and Resource Sharing
• Iman Jamison G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), graduate instruction assistant, Special Collections Research Center
• Calvin Silver 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), public services reference, Special Collections Research Center
• Grace Suhadolnik 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), student worker, Learning and Academic Engagement
• Camren Wych鈥�26 (College of Visual and Performing Arts), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security

Honorable Recognitions:

• Khadija Kante 鈥�26 (Arts and Sciences), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Philomena Kern鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), student archival processing assistant, Special Collections Research Center
• Hannah Marosi G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), collections team graduate student worker, Department of Research and Scholarship
• Alexus Rowe 鈥�26 (Arts and Sciences), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Mera Singh 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Fatumata 鈥楴ima鈥� Sow 鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), floor monitor, Libraries Facilities and Security
• Haven Travis G鈥�26 (School of Information Studies), graduate student assistant, Access and Resource Sharing
• Jiaying Wang 鈥�26 (Arts and Sciences), public services student employee, Special Collections Research Center

性视界 University is launching a minor in the creator economy, the first academic offering from its trailblazing Center for the Creator Economy, providing a new path for students to build careers in content creation, digital entrepreneurship and the fast-growing ecosystem reshaping how ideas, audiences and businesses are built online .

Slated to begin in fall 2026, the minor highlights the University鈥檚 commitment to prepare students for dynamic opportunities in an expanding sector of the economy, where creative entrepreneurs can produce and monetize content across digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Substack.

While a handful of institutions have introduced content creation programs, the 性视界 University minor听is distinguished by听the听integration of courses offered by听the听renowned S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the top-ranked Martin J. Whitman School of Management, which co-lead the Center for the Creator Economy.

The minor also includes electives offered by other schools and colleges, including a Name, Image and Likeness class offered by the David B. Falk College of Sport and Music Industry Marketing and Media class offered by听 the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

鈥淭he creator economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and 性视界 University is uniquely positioned to prepare students to lead in it. This minor brings together two of the country’s premier schools in communications and business to give students the skills, strategy and confidence to build something that lasts,鈥� says Acting Chancellor J. Michael Haynie. 鈥淭hat is exactly the kind of bold, interdisciplinary thinking that defines what we do here.鈥�

The curriculum for the minor听includes听three听required courses:

• Introduction to the Creator Economy: A Newhouse class that surveys media industries and platforms with an emphasis on the intersection of creators with topics including brands, entertainment, sports, gaming, news and music.
• Business Toolkit for Creators: A Whitman course that focuses on the business tools needed for creation, including monetization, developing strategic partnerships and customer acquisition.
• Entrepreneurship: Students can choose one of two hands-on entrepreneurship courses where students work on their own creator startup: Launchpad (at Whitman) or New Media Venture Launch (at Newhouse).

Students can then choose听three听courses听from a menu of electives that meet their career goals, spanning topics including entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, electronic retailing and marketing, social media for communicators and sports content for social platforms.

罢丑别听debut of the听minor punctuates a productive first year for the Center for the Creator Economy,听which also opened its physical home at the Newhouse School this spring.听The space听features听areas听for collaboration, programming and听video and podcast production.

Programs and academic offerings from the center are available to students from all schools and colleges at 性视界 University, and the听minor鈥檚听interdisciplinary design reflects the scope of the听creator听economy itself. According to Goldman Sachs Research,听67 million people听globally work as full- or part-time creators, and the sector could be worth听nearly听$500 billion听by 2027.

“What excites me most about the Center for the Creator Economy and this new minor is that they reflect a deeper commitment from 性视界 University: We鈥檙e preparing students for where the economy is going, not where it has been,鈥� Haynie says. 鈥淎s the center grows and its physical home at Newhouse comes to life, I believe SU will become the destination for students who want to turn their creativity into a career.鈥�

The Center for the Creator Economy launched听in November听2025听with听a kickoff celebration at the Whitman School in 性视界, followed by events during the听spring听semester in New York City,听Washington, D.C.听and Los Angeles.

The Class of 2026 is wrapping up final assignments, studying for exams and gearing up for their next adventure. But the days before Commencement are a chance to take in everything campus has to offer one last time, whether it’s a final cup of coffee at People’s Place in Hendricks Chapel, a farewell slice of pizza at Varsity or a laughter-filled stroll through the Quad with friends.

Eight seniors shared with 性视界 University Today the one thing they need to do before they go.

Daniel Baris, a sport analytics and statistics major in the and the (A&S): 鈥淲in a championship in intramural wiffleball. My team has come close in the past, and I feel like this could be our year.鈥�

Caiyan Bass, a communication sciences and disorders major in A&S and a Remembrance Scholar: 鈥淭ake a trip up the Mount to visit Flint Hall, my freshman year residence hall. Walking through campus and the Quad to get to the top of the Mount steps was something I did every day when I first got to 性视界. Going back would serve as a fun moment to not only remember that uphill trek, but also to reflect on everything the past four years have taught and given me.鈥�

Juinkye Chiang, an architecture major in the : 鈥淚 want to build a full-scale mockup of my architectural design, as this will be one of the only opportunities I will ever have to access the advanced fabrication facilities in Slocum Hall.鈥�

Tommy DaSilva, a public health, policy studies and citizenship and civic engagement major in the and a Remembrance Scholar: 鈥淗ave a movie night with friends. With college ending, I know that there is a very low possibility that I will live so close to all my friends again, so I want to make the most of our last few weeks together through our film nights.鈥�

Janese Fayson, a marketing听补苍诲听finance听major in the听 and executive vice president of the (SGA): 鈥淰isit every academic building on campus. Somehow, there are still a few I鈥檝e never stepped foot in, and it feels important to experience all the spaces that make up the University before I leave. It鈥檚 a way of fully taking in everything 性视界 has to offer while closing this chapter feeling complete.鈥�

Joy Mao, a television, radio and film major in the听, policy studies major in the Maxwell School and A&S and a Remembrance Scholar: 鈥淚 took Fashion and Portraiture with Professor Gregory Heisler my sophomore year. It was an impactful class for my creative brain. One of the photographers we researched was Margaret Bourke-White, the first female photographer for Life magazine and the first female war correspondent. She gave her work to the University after she retired. I would like to visit the in Bird Library prior to graduation.鈥�

Emma Muchnick, a sport management major in the Falk College and a midfielder on the : 鈥淏efore I graduate, I want to win a national championship. To be able to bring back a national championship to 性视界 with this group would be so special and a perfect way to cap off my time as a student-athlete here. I’m so proud to represent this University and I want to do it on the biggest stage.鈥�

German Nolivos, a political science major in the Maxwell School and A&S, public relations major in the Newhouse School, SGA president and a Remembrance Scholar: 鈥淰isit the chimes in the bell tower in Crouse College. It鈥檚 such a meaningful and recognizable part of the University, representing the history and tradition that defines the 性视界 experience. Being able to stand there before graduating feels like a full-circle moment.鈥�

Students interested in studying abroad in spring 2027 can begin applying on Friday, May 15, at 9 a.m. ET.

With over 60 program options and locations around the globe, from major cities to hidden gems, there’s a 性视界 Abroad experience waiting just around the corner. 性视界 Abroad centers in Florence, London, Madrid, Santiago (Chile) and Strasbourg (France) are each designed to provide an authentic and immersive study abroad experience. Select World Partner programs are available across Africa, Asia, Australia and more.

View all .

New Program Features Debuting in Spring 2027

Iconic Travel Destination Added to Santiago Center Program Itinerary

Beginning in spring 2027, the Santiago Center program is adding an exciting component to its included travel itinerary: students will take a group trip to Machu Picchu, Peru, to explore the expansive Inca terrace system.

As a master class in agricultural innovation, students will dive into the history of this ancient land while studying soil conservation, water irrigation systems and more. In addition, all courses in the spring are taught in English, with the exception of Spanish beginner and intermediate Spanish language classes. This spring program is ideal for students who have basic Spanish-language skills and are interested in .

Looking to fulfill core course requirements? The course Dictatorships, Human Rights and Historical Memory in Chile and the Southern Cone, taught by center director Mauricio Paredes, will now count as IDEA credit. This course studies the military coup of 1973 and its time period and evaluates its significance and contributions to the configuration of social, political and economic aspects of Chile today.

In addition, all students studying in Santiago in spring 2027 will receive a $2,000 location grant automatically applied to program costs. There is no additional application required.

Learn more about .

性视界 Abroad Global Ambassador Isabella Gardea poses in Machu Picchu, Peru.

Special Program Launching for Environment, Health听 and Policy Enthusiasts

The Santiago Center will also offer a new program focusing on health, sustainability and the environment in Latin America. will include new focusing on local health practices Latin America.

Chile ranks among the region鈥檚 leaders in environmental legislation, public health reform and urban sustainability. Students on this program will explore the intersection of these issues through special courses and field trips, including visits to Machu Picchu, Patagonia, Buenos Aires and more.

Exclusive Communications Internship in Strasbourg, France

In collaboration with the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, the Strasbourg Center has partnered with local publication station ARTE to create a new paid, nearly full-time, on-site internship program.

, a leading European media and cultural platform headquartered in Strasbourg just minutes from the 性视界 center, will host two prestigious internship opportunities in the Digital News and Global Offers divisions exclusively for 性视界 students. This credit-bearing internship program will allow students to intern, produce media and take related courses at the Strasbourg Center.

A limited number of opportunities are available, and all internship students will receive a monthly stipend and a $1,000 scholarship. The application deadline for the ARTE Internship program is Sept. 1; students can reach out to Brad Gorham or visit the to learn more.

Preparing to Study Abroad

The spring 2027 application cycle opens on Friday, May 15, at 9 a.m. ET and closes on Oct. 1 for most programs; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with the exception of special programs and World Partner programs. The application deadline for World Partner programs is July 1. For specific deadlines, students should refer to each program鈥檚 individual application page.

Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, as many programs have limited capacity. Due to these constraints, securing a spot at specific Centers in the spring, and at World Partner programs, cannot be guaranteed. As part of the application, students will be asked to select a second and third choice program should their first choice program reach capacity.

For more information, students can with an international program advisor or make a general advising appointment to explore their options. 性视界 Abroad will continue to offer virtual advising appointments throughout the summer on a limited basis.听Visit the to view all application details and requirements.