USC Annenberg Center - CCLP

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USC Annenberg Center - CCLP

USC Annenberg Center connecting high-impact scholarship to policy change

Guided by Ambassador Walter Annenberg’s vision that communication affects all aspects of the society and should be used in the public interest, the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy (CCLP) seeks to explore and expand the frontiers of leadership through a combination of research, writing, events, projects and courses. The Center examines the ways in which theory, technology, regulation and practice can be used (or abused), and the ways in which leaders have performed and can perform at optimum levels – inspiring, empowering, managing and creating – in corporations, non-governmental organizations and the government. Based on both traditional values and cutting-edge research, the Center seeks to teach a new generation of leaders and to inspire, critique and improve the performance of those who are already having a major impact on society.

09/18/2026

Join the USC Center for the Political Future on September 18 from 10AM to 11AM on Zoom for a conversation about presidents, civility, and the state of American political discourse. How have presidents shaped the tone of our national dialogue? Can political leaders disagree without deepening division? What lessons can past presidencies offer for restoring respect and productive debate in public life? Join Frederick J. Ryan Jr., Chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute and former Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan, and Bob Shrum, Director of the USC Center for the Political Future and veteran Democratic political strategist, for a bipartisan conversation about presidential leadership and the role of civility in American democracy.

Featuring:
- Fred Ryan: Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's Center on Civility and Democracy, Chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, Co-Founder of Politico, former Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan.
- Bob Shrum: Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics; Author of “Concessions of a Serial Campaigner”

REGISTER HERE: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UGa-76dsQUiiV9nwaX9TYA #/registration

09/16/2026

Join the USC Center for the Political Future on Wednesday, September 16 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the USC Ronald Tutor Campus Center, The Forum (TCC 450) for a conversation about the state of American education. How did Mississippi surpass California in educational outcomes? Do charter schools and voucher programs undermine public instruction? Are teacher unions part of the problem or part of the solution to better education in America? Join top experts in this lively discussion about which reforms are working and which ones are not.

Panelists Include:
- Bob Shrum (Moderator): Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics; Author of Concessions of a Serial Campaigner
- Amy McIntosh: Former Assistant Secretary of Education in the Obama Administration; Fall 2026 Fellow, USC Center for the Political Future
- Pedro Noguera: Dean, USC Rossier School of Education
- Marshall Tuck: CEO, EdVoice; Former CEO, Partnership for Los Angeles Schools; Former President, Green Dot Public Schools

We are immensely grateful to Sue and Jeff White for launching this nonpartisan dialogue series at USC.

IN PERSON REGISTRATION LINK: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/education-reform-whats-working-and-whats-not-tickets-1998397973133?aff=oddtdtcreator

REGISTER FOR THE ZOOM WEBINAR: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JyaJha1URPiqHXLWcD1SEw

09/08/2026

Bob Shrum and Mike Murphy welcome the Fall 2026 CPF Fellows to USC for a virtual discussion of the current state of politics today. How's Trump doing? What about the Democrats? What do you need to know ahead of the 2026 Midterms?

Join us on Zoom on Tuesday, September 8 from 12PM to 1PM PT for an insightful discussion of the politics of today. The conversation will also explore the Fellows’ study groups and their wide-ranging careers in politics and public service.

CPF Fellows are prominent political professionals who are invited by CPF to lead study groups for USC students. They hold office hours, host lunchtime discussions, bring in guest speakers, and participate in high-profile events and conferences throughout the year. These resident Fellows expose students to a wide array of perspectives, broadening and challenging their understanding of government while strengthening civil dialogue on campus and within the community. We are proud to announce our full slate of Fall 2026 fellows:

- Mike Donilon: Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden
- Julianna Goldman: Former White House Correspondent, Bloomberg & CBS News
- Mike Madrid: Former Political Director, California Republican Party; Co-Founder, The Lincoln Project
- Amy McIntosh: Former Assistant Secretary of Education in the Obama Administration
- Claudine Schneider: Former U.S. Representative (R-Rhode Island)
- Jeffrey Toobin: Contributing Opinion Writer, The New York Times; Bestselling Author of The Nine and The Run of His Life (adapted into FX's The People v. O.J. Simpson)

We encourage USC students to apply to CPF Study Groups to develop friendships and mentorships with some of America's leading political voices.

REGISTER HERE: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BdDZscjCQBy-yWi7hqObbw

08/26/2026

Join the USC Center for the Political Future on Wednesday, August 26 from 11:30AM to 1PM for a discussion entitled: What Would the Founders Say About America 250? A Conversation with Dr. Jane Kamensky of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Learn what America’s Founders might make of the nation at its 250th anniversary.

On July 4, 2026, the United States marked 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The milestone arrived amid sharp political divisions over the country’s past, present, and future. Drawing on her scholarship and her work at Monticello, Dr. Kamensky will explore what the Founders’ own debates about the unfinished project of American democracy can tell us about this moment - and the questions Americans still seek to answer as the country looks toward its next 250 years.

Panelists include:
- Bob Shrum (Remarks): Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future; Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics; Author of "Concessions of a Serial Campaigner"
- Jane Kamensky: President and CEO, Thomas Jefferson Foundation; Trumbull Professor of American History Emerita, Harvard University
- Bill Deverell (Moderator): Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences, USC Dornsife; Professor of History, Spatial Sciences and Environmental Studies; Founding Director, Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West

Run of Show:
- 11:30AM - 12:00PM ... Lunch
- 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM … Moderated Discussion
- 12:45 PM - 1:00 PM … Audience Questions

IN-PERSON REGISTRATION: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/whawhat-would-the-founders-say-about-america-250-with-dr-jane-kamensky-tickets-1998284976156?aff=oddtdtcreator

LIVESTREAM REGISTRATION: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MC6Eo6mqTqiZ9HGUtFZRjA

07/02/2026

The Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative invites community members to help preserve the stories of the July 2025 floods.

This July, we are hosting Community Archive Recording Sessions where anyone impacted by the floods is invited to share their experiences in a recorded oral history interview. The interviews will be conducted by high school students from across Texas who were impacted by the floods, alongside students from California whose communities experienced devastating wildfires.

Recording sessions will be held:
• Saturday, July 11, 1:30-5:00pm, at the Kerr Together Disaster Relief Center
• Sunday, July 12, 1:30-5:00pm, at the Heart of the Hills Heritage Center

Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on leadership, community memories, acts of care and courage, lessons learned, and hopes for the future.

Whether you are a survivor, student, volunteer, first responder, community organizer, business owner, neighbor, or more, your story is welcome. The sessions are open to everyone, of all ages.

The oral histories collected during these sessions will become part of a permanent community archive housed at the Heart of the Hills Heritage Center, helping preserve this moment in history.

To RSVP, scan the QR code or click here: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_00AGC1zXevBYEuO

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What is the Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative? The initiative trains high school students to document and share community stories in the aftermath of natural disasters. USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy, in partnership with Schreiner University, Texas Public Radio, Kerrville Community Arts Program and Heart of the Hills Heritage Center, is leading the summer program for high school students impacted by the July 2025 floods in Texas. This initiative is supported in part by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country through the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.

06/25/2026

There’s still time left to apply to the Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative! 📣 Listen to this message from our Wildfire Youth Media Initative students about why you should sign up.

05/24/2026

📣 Application deadline extended for the Texas Hill Country Youth Media Initiative!

We are still accepting applications from Texas high school students interested in storytelling, journalism, media production, and community building. This fully-funded summer program will bring students together to document and share the stories of their communities.

Apply by May 31 → https://communicationleadership.usc.edu/texas-hill-country-youth-media-initiative/

04/09/2026

📣 It’s Local News Day!

Some of the most important news is close to home. CCLP is proud to support Local News Day by partnering with local newsrooms working to keep our communities informed and connected.

Check out local newsrooms near you 👉 LocalNewsDay.org

04/08/2026

CCLP is pleased to welcome Julianna Goldman as its newest Senior Fellow. Goldman is an award-winning journalist who reported on politics for decades with Bloomberg and CBS News. At CCLP, Goldman will contribute her expertise in student journalism, including through a partnership with KidNuz, a daily news podcast for kids.

“We are delighted to welcome Julianna Goldman to the USC Annenberg Center,” CCLP Director Geoffrey Cowan said. “She has been an important political reporter and played an influential role in mentoring student journalists at Barnard. We look forward to helping her launch her new project helping student reporters.”

Read the full announcement here: https://communicationleadership.usc.edu/2026/04/08/cclp-announces-julianna-goldman-former-cbs-and-bloomberg-white-house-correspondent-as-a-senior-fellow/

03/30/2026

CCLP is pleased to welcome Kevin Merida as its newest Senior Fellow.

A former Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times and member of the Pulitzer Prize Board, Merida is an acclaimed journalist, media executive, and widely published author with decades of experience spanning broadcast, digital and print media. He currently serves on the board of The LA Local, a new nonprofit news collaborative in Los Angeles.

“We are thrilled to have Kevin Merida join us,” CCLP Director Geoffrey Cowan said. “We look forward to supporting his work on LeBron James and to working with him on new efforts to improve local news in Los Angeles.”

To read the full announcement, click here: https://communicationleadership.usc.edu/2026/03/30/kevin-merida-award-winning-journalist-and-former-la-times-executive-editor-joins-cclp-as-a-senior-fellow/

Address

USC Annenberg School For Communication And Journalism
Los Angeles, CA
90007

Website

http://communicationleadership.usc.edu/, http://linktr.ee/commleadusc

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