News

Brian G. Smith has been named director of VCU’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication. He will begin his role July 1. (Contributed photo)

Brian G. Smith named director of VCU’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication

April 1, 2026

At the University of Mississippi, he has chaired the Integrated Marketing Communications department.

At VCU, Manuella Escobar said, “I have taken on every opportunity, endeavor and project I stumbled upon to grow as a professional and as a human being.” (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

How I found my research: Manuella Escobar dives deep into the Latino college experience

April 1, 2026

Escobar, a Colombia native, gravitated to her line of study when her classmates’ questions about her cultural background transitioned from ‘Narcos’ and drug cartels to Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Latin music.

From left: Brian Alves, Alexis Washington, VCU men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr., Marcus Leary, Ben Rekosh and Andrew Thompson take a break in the media room in Greenville, South Carolina during the Rams' recent NCAA Tournament run. (Courtesy photo)

With Martelli’s praise at NCAA Tournament, student journalists get a bounce

March 31, 2026

And they return the compliment as national attention follows the Rams and the young reporters.

“Echoes of a Dream,” a documentary that examines Martin Luther King’s relationship with Richmond, debuted in the fall. (The Newviews Agency)

Documentary explores MLK’s relationship with the Richmond community

Feb. 18, 2026

Filmmaker Tyrone Nelson Jr., a VCU alum, says ‘Echoes of a Dream’ tells the overlooked story of how Richmond ‘shows up in the arc’ of King’s rise, while attempting to help reset the city’s understanding of its importance.

Kyler Gilliam served as director of the VCU InSight broadcast program, a staff writer and producer for The Commonwealth Times and president of the National Association of Black Journalists at VCU. (Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2025: Kyler Gilliam completes unique degree path

Dec. 17, 2025

Gilliam, who has gained experience as a writer, producer and director, marked a VCU first with his double-major in broadcast journalism and multimedia production.

Students can earn the new Richmond History Foundational Badge by participating in a number of Valentine programs, such as a guided walking tour. (Contributed photo)

New collaborative microcredential highlights Richmond’s history

Dec. 9, 2025

VCU and the Valentine partner to offer students free opportunities to engage with their city’s past and present.

Sarah Hagen, the managing editor of The Commonwealth Times, honed her reporting skills as a VCU journalism student, garnering praise for her “rigorous persistence” and her committment to informing the community. (Photo by Dean Hoffmeyer, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Class of 2025: Sarah Hagen shines in mass (and brass) communications

Dec. 3, 2025

From the headlines of news coverage to the sidelines of Rams games, the student journalist and Peppas trombonist has reflected a passion for VCU.

Darreon Barner is graduating from VCU with a mass communications degree with a concentration in media production. (Contributed image)

Class of 2025: On film and in life, Darreon Barner sets a rich scene

Dec. 2, 2025

With an embrace of media production, the Brunswick County native hopes to make a mark in Hollywood and his hometown.

Students including Blake Jocuns traveled around Central Virginia to conduct interviews at polling locations throughout the day. (Contributed photo)

Journalism and political science students had Election Day covered

Nov. 20, 2025

Collaboration between the Robertson School and the Department of Political Science offered real-world training at the polls.

College students working with the Television Academy Foundation’s The Interviews Curriculum for media studies. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Content Services)

TV icons have creatively joined a new Robertson School course

Oct. 22, 2025

Archival interviews from the Television Academy Foundation are at the heart of a modern curriculum built by professor Joshua J. Smith.