News

In 2005, Wilma Wirt speaks at an end-of-semester job fair she held each semester to give her students experience with interviewing and to help graduating seniors find jobs. (Photo by Thomas Gehring)

Longtime journalism professor and Capital News Service founder Wilma Wirt dies at 89

April 8, 2025

A beloved advisor and mentor with high standards, she created hands-on experiences that propelled students into communications and teaching careers.

VCU researcher Mariam Alkazemi tracked the evolution of an Egyptian social media group between two periods of protest. (Getty Images)

VCU researcher finds insights into social media, activism and journalism by exploring unrest in Egypt

March 31, 2025

A Facebook group’s transition points to how 2010s expectations for social media didn’t materialize, the Robertson School’s Mariam Alkazemi says.

New research by Baobao Song, Ph.D., finds that celebrity endorsements from South Korean boy band BTS and other celebrities can push their fans to take action. (Photo: AJEONG_JM, Wikimedia Commons)

Celebrity endorsements can drive advocacy by fans, VCU researcher finds

March 6, 2025

Examining the popular South Korean boy band BTS and their preferred causes, the study found three factors that shape the behavior of their devoted followers.

VCU alums who won Black History in the Making Awards when they were students. Clockwise from top left: Eloise Berry, Ph.D., Fadel Allassan, Jaz-Munn Johnson, M.D., Taylor Pattie, Tonecia Brothers-Sutton and Sasha Pierre-Louis.

Checking in with VCU’s Black history makers

Feb. 26, 2025

For more than four decades, VCU has honored students with Black History in the Making Awards – and here are updates on six accomplished recipients.

Black History in the Making Award alum Taylor Pattie

Black History in the Making Award alumni highlight: Catch up with 2019 Award Recipient, Taylor Pattie

Feb. 21, 2025

For Black History Month, we’re shining a spotlight on Black History in the Making Award recipients.

Jatia Wrighten, Ph.D. and Alexandra Reckendorf, Ph.D., talked to students about political and social movements during their session in the U.S. Democracy United/Divided course. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

For the many layers of American democracy, new course taps into the many layers of VCU faculty expertise

Feb. 13, 2025

Nearly three dozen specialists in the College of Humanities and Sciences are collectively teaching U.S Democracy United/Divided this semester – and organizers think the concept will evolve.

VCU alum Kam Black is a content creator on the social media team at EA Sports and has worked on two of the video game developer’s top titles: Madden NFL and EA Sports College Football. (Contributed photo)

In the merging of sports, video and social media, VCU alum Kam Black is a top player

Jan. 9, 2025

The Robertson School master’s graduate brings creative flair to familiar platforms, including notable games from EA Sports.

VCU students pursuing a new academic minor explored how the media cover AI – and how they often are framed together. (Getty Images)

As part of a new minor in practical AI, students explore its intersection with mass media

Jan. 7, 2025

Robertson School professor Joshua J. Smith’s class is developing a dataset that examines coverage of the technologies’ benefits, drawbacks – and the communications industry itself.

A new album produced by a VCU class seeks to “capture Richmond’s mantra.” (Thomas Kojcsich, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

On the fast tracks: Media entrepreneurship class produces an album with Ram rhythm

Dec. 5, 2024

Robert Milazzo’s students curate and release ‘Mantra, Vol. 1’ as their semester project.

Mass communications major Hazel Hoffman will bring a radio background into their blossoming career in podcast production. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2024: Hazel Hoffman put their stamp on the inaugural Student Podcast Day

Dec. 4, 2024

From marketing to emceeing, Hoffman did a little of everything. Now, they will embark on a D.C.-based podcast internship.