News and Announcements

Dr. Isabelle Freiling, Dr. Sara Yeo, and Dr. Haoning Xue have published new research examining how people accept partially true health information when it is produced by humans, generative artificial intelligence, or a combination of the two.

For Jaydin Kroutil, Intermediate Journalism (COMM 4555) offered more than an opportunity to strengthen her reporting skills—it provided a space to reflect on her experiences in sports media and amplify voices that are often overlooked.

Leandra H. Hernández, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Utah was awarded the Everett Hughes Holle Award for Social Justice and Community Engagement on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the National Communication Association 111th Annual Convention in Denver, Colorado.

For Daniela Imbrett-Hook, PR Cases & Campaigns (COMM 3585) offered an opportunity to bring strategy, analysis, and creativity together in a capstone experience focused on real-world public relations challenges.

For Emma Lemler, Absolute Communication (COMM 3630) offered a direct window into what a career in strategic communication can look like beyond the classroom—complete with real clients, real expectations, and real deliverables.

When Addison Burnsed enrolled in Intermediate Journalism (COMM 4555), she was looking to gain an introduction to the world of journalism and help her develop a journalistic style. What she gained was far more tangible: a published opinion piece, hands-on newsroom experience, and a platform to advocate for an issue that affects her daily life.

Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for the College of Humanities, Michael Middleton brings together rigorous scholarship, innovative pedagogy, and student-centered leadership.

The Department of Communication, in partnership with Continuing Education, is launching a new Professional Certificate in Conflict/Dispute Resolution and Mediation, a one-semester program that fulfills the approved training requirements for the Utah Court Roster of Mediators (Basic Roster).

The Department of Communication is excited to highlight the work of PhD candidate Ellie Estrada, whose scholarship explores how communities build connection, make meaning, and share stories.

U of U researchers from Communication, Kinesiology, Population Health Sciences, and Nursing have secured a $4M CDC grant to expand access to lifestyle change programs in rural communities.

Associate Professor Jake Nelson has published new research examining how journalists understand the evolving role of social media platforms and how they imagine the audiences who use them

Associate Professor Tae Lee and Assistant Professor Haoning Xue have been awarded funding through the FY26 Summer Cancer Control and Population Sciences (CCPS) Pilot Grant Award Program at the Huntsman Cancer Institute for their collaborative project, “An Exploratory Study on Tailoring Core Value-Based Narrative Messages to Address Cancer Prevention Behaviors and Policy Support for Rural Residents Using Large Language Models (LLMs

The John R. Park Debate Society, in partnership with the Provost’s Office and Insight Debate, is expanding debate education across campus through its new Debate Across the Curriculum initiative, culminating in the first annual Great Campus Debate on November 11, 2025, focused on whether generative AI does more harm than good.

Students from the Department of Communication and Athletics received a rare glimpse into the fast-paced world of live sports broadcasting during an educational walkthrough of ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot setup ahead of the Utah vs. Cincinnati matchup at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

The Department of Communication is proud to share that PhD student Damon Darling recently published a new article titled, “H(a)unting Grounds: Exorcising the Queer Ghosts of Metronormativity,” in the Journal of Homosexuality.

It’s National Cat Day, and around here, that means one thing: an excuse to celebrate our department’s most purr-suasive personalities (and their humans, too).

The University of Utah’s John R. Park Debate Society is entering an especially exciting chapter—one that honors its storied history while creating new opportunities for students, faculty, and the community to participate in civic debate. With new leadership, a return to the tradition of policy debate, and novel initiatives, the 25-26 academic year promises to be a landmark moment for Utah forensics.

In an opinion piece for The Conversation, Associate Professor Jacob Nelson offers a deeper look at what leadership changes might mean for CBS News and, perhaps more importantly, what they might not mean for the network’s audience.

While science enjoys higher levels of public trust than many other institutions, many Americans still question whether scientists share their values—including religious ones. A newly published study by Department of Communication professors Dr. Isabelle Freiling and Dr. Meaghan McKasy, together with University of Georgia colleague Dr. Michael Cacciatore, explores how perceptions of conflict and harmony between religion and science shape public confidence in science.

Jeremy J. Chatelain, who earned his Ph.D. from the Department of Communication in 2018, died on Sept. 15 in Denver. He was 51.