Public Interest Communications

By Angela Bradbery, Frank Karel Endowed Chair in Public Interest Communications In the emerging academic discipline of public interest communications, the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) is a national leader. To that end, we aim each year to offer students more opportunities to explore the field…

“I usually don’t try to speak because I don’t want to make people uncomfortable, but I realize that is not always the best thing.” — Narrative Justice Project participant Too often, mainstream media silence marginalized voices and experiences through stereotypical representations of people of color (POC). The recent rise of…

This is an excerpt from an article published in the fall 2023 issue of the Stanford Social Innovation Review. The article, co-authored by Angela Bradbery, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Frank Karel Endowed Chair in Public Interest Communications, examines how public interest communications offers solutions in a…

Pam Fultz, senior communications manager at Vi and University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications online master’s program adjunct instructor, was interviewed for an episode of the “On Top of PR” podcast from AXIA Public Relations on Aug. 29. In “The Benefits of Purpose-Driven Storytelling,” Fultz discusses purpose-driven storytelling,…

By Angela Bradbery, Frank Karel Endowed Chair in Public Interest Communications At the University of Houston, communications students were enlisted in 2021 to help the local Latino community recognize the signs of Alzheimer’s and learn how to address them. Community members wanted positively framed messages that would work across generations…

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Board has announced that the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Public Relations program has been approved for recertification for its resident undergraduate program and received initial certification for the online undergraduate program, online postgraduate program and resident postgraduate program.…

Sam Snyder, adjunct faculty member in the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications online Master’s concentration in Public Interest Communications, shared this public interest communications success story with his students. Snyder is campaign director at True Blue Strategies and former senior campaign manager at Wild Salmon Center. As…

Diverse perspectives and trauma-informed copywriting are among the topics explored in the latest issue of the Journal of Public Interest Communications. This is the first issue of the revamped, peer-reviewed, open-access journal, which is dedicated to advancing public interest communications scholarship and bringing together the voices of both academics and…

Public Interest Communications Student Association The Public Interest Communications Student Association aspires to cultivate the development of communicators interested in effecting positive social change with an emphasis on science-driven approaches. PICSA offers opportunities to learn and grow in the public interest communications field through education, hands-on experience and community.  Email:…

Social change communicators running social media campaigns should ensure people feel they are able to help resolve the issue and tout the benefits of participating in the campaign to increase engagement, a new study finds. Although social media has changed the landscape of how people can gather around a cause,…

By Ann Christiano and Annie Neimand In an article published earlier this year, we asked nonprofits to stop raising awareness, and instead focus on super-strategic communications efforts that will result in lasting change. But starting this process presents some challenges. What’s the first step? And how can you help others…

In the latest edition of The Stanford Social Innovation Review, Ann Christiano, the Frank Karel Chair in Public Interest Communications, and Annie Neimand, communications manager for the College of Journalism and Communications and research director for frank, argue that changemakers must put an end to raising awareness. Instead, those seeking to move the…