Class of 2020 Commencement events to be held Sept. 17-19

Syracuse University will host a Commencement ceremony—delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic—and other celebratory events for the Class of 2020 during the weekend of Sept. 17–19.  

Commencement will be held Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Stadium. This University-wide ceremony, where Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud will formally confer degrees, is for all undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates. Doors open at 8 a.m.

Following Commencement, all 2020 Newhouse graduates and their families are invited to join Dean Mark J. Lodato and the faculty and staff for a celebratory reception. The event will include a dean’s welcome, recognition of participating graduates and an opportunity to reconnect with faculty. A precise time and location will be announced soon; stay tuned for details.

For more information about Commencement activities for the Class of 2020, see the event listing.

IDJC Report Tracks Influence of Social Media Ads on Presidential Primaries

More than 1,800 groups have collectively spent an estimated $15.3 million to pay for social media advertising that mentions President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump or other presidential candidates, according to a new report from Syracuse University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship (IDJC). 

Research from the IDJC ElectionGraph project found that the millions paid for more than 24,000 ad buys and about 5,500 unique ads on Facebook and Instagram between Sept. 1, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024. This amounts to an estimated 869 million impressions in the months leading up to, and during, the presidential primaries. The majority of ads involved Biden or Trump, the report found.  

The Biden and Trump campaigns spent another roughly $10 million on paid social media content, drawing 303 million impressions, though the incumbent outspent Trump about 7-to-1 on these platforms.  

This is the first report produced via research supported by a $250,000 grant from Neo4j, the world’s leading graph database and analytics company. The grant allows ElectionGraph researchers to use Neo4j’s graph database and analytics software to identify misinformation trends in the U.S. presidential election and other top 2024 contests. 

The research team’s efforts focus on dissecting misinformation themes—pinpointing origins of messages and tracing misinformation by collecting and algorithmically classifying ads run on Facebook and Instagram, as well as social media posts on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter. The project will also gather input from journalists and the public about the 2024 presidential election, and races for U.S. Senate and key congressional districts. 

Jennifer Stromer-Galley

The first set of findings released today demonstrate the importance of requiring social media platforms to disclose details about election advertising and messaging, says Jennifer Stromer-Galley, senior associate dean and professor at the School of Information Studies. An expert in political campaigns and misinformation, Stromer-Galley leads the IDJC ElectionGraph research team.  

“Revealing details about ads and messaging on social media platforms is vital to provide the public with transparency and context,” Stromer-Galley says. “Failure to do so can make voters more vulnerable to manipulation without any sort of accountability.” 

Organizations that ran ads ranged from well-known political action committees, political party groups or other candidates, to obscure players with harder-to-trace ties and agendas, the report found. The analysis identifies the top 30 spenders that each mention Biden and Trump, and examines patterns in how groups apply the honorific of “President” when referring to either candidate. 

The report captures a fraction of overall U.S. election-related content across all social media platforms. While Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, currently allows approved organizations to access ad data, it is not required to be made available—and not similarly trackable—on TikTok, Google, YouTube or Snapchat. 

Margaret Talev

“These findings give us a glimpse at the firehose of information and misinformation coming at voters from groups with a jumble of motives, ties and trustworthiness ahead of the 2024 elections,” says Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of the IDJC, professor of practice at the Newhouse School of Public Communications and a journalist.

The challenge faced by digital researchers and computational journalists in unearthing the consequences of AI-driven misinformation on democracy is enormous, says Jim Webber, chief scientist at Neo4j.  

“Graph technology is an essential enabler to those seeking to uncover hidden patterns and networks of those looking to manipulate democratic populations,” Webber says.

“We at Neo4j are proud to support Syracuse University’s mission to help journalists and citizens separate fact from fake news so that the voting public can make informed decisions as they go to the polls.”

Learn more about the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship

This article originally appeared in Syracuse University News.

Living and Learning in the City

Students experience immersive learning opportunities in the heart of New York City.

Syracuse University students prepare to thrive in a changing global society by gaining hands-on learning experiences around the world. In addition to a range of study abroad options through the University’s highly ranked study abroad program, students can also take courses and do internships at locations around the United States.

This includes opportunities to live, learn and work for a full semester in the vibrant hub of arts and culture, innovation and enterprise: New York City. Students enrolled in a semester program in NYC take courses at the University’s academic space in midtown Manhattan, learn from working professionals in their fields, make connections with supportive alumni networks and gain practical experience in one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic cities.

Gain Professional Experience in Journalism and Media

a person stands in front of Madison Square Garden in New York City
Ava Vulopas ’24 interned at Madison Square Garden and honed her professional skills via Newhouse NYC. “It was a whole semester of learning how to position ourselves so that we’re in the best possible spot when we graduate,” says Vulopas.

During the Newhouse NYC semester, students from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication work prestigious internships and take courses that include tours of media companies and learning sessions with working professionals. Students build professional skills, gain meaningful work experiences, and make connections that prepare them for a successful transition into the media industry after graduation.

“The professors are all super well-established and well-known in the industry,” says Ava Vulopas ’24, who dual majors in advertising in Newhouse and entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises in the Whitman School of Management. “I learned so much from hearing my professors’ perspectives and feel so much more confident now about what I’m going to do after graduation. I feel I am qualified, and I have connections in the industry that I can reach out to.”

For Vulopas, it was particularly meaningful to connect with alumni of the program. “They talked about when they were in our shoes, how they navigated their semester in NYC and their job application process. Seeing where they are now, just five years later, it was really cool to realize that I can follow their lead and do this too!”

Read about more Syracuse University experiences in NYC

Whitman School Shows Its Commitment to Entrepreneurship by Hiring Student-Run POV Digital Marketing Agency

If you’ve noticed some additional content on the Whitman School of Management’s social media platforms lately, it’s likely the work of POV Brand Management, a student-run digital marketing agency working with the school’s marketing and communications department this semester.

From left are the following: Whitney Krayer, Phoebe Gullingsrud and Fiona Connolly.

“Fostering emerging entrepreneurs and supporting their ideas are at the heart of the Whitman School. And, what better way to promote our commitment to entrepreneurship than to hire some of our own?” says Executive Dean J. Michael Haynie, who also is vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation for the University and a faculty member in Whitman’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises (EEE). “We identified a need in our efforts to market to Gen Z and filled that need this semester by hiring POV, a digital marketing agency founded by a Whitman/Newhouse student and run by other students across the University. It’s been a terrific partnership that has benefitted both Whitman and POV.”

POV was created by Phoebe Gullingsrud ’24, the firm’s CEO. Her entrepreneurial talents date back to high school, but once she started her first year as a dual major in the Whitman School and the Newhouse School of Public Communications, her brain was racing with ideas on how her courses in business and communications could help her establish a real business. At the time, the pandemic was in full force, but Gullingsrud understood that companies were struggling, and there was an urgent need to adapt to online business. Knowing she couldn’t do it all herself, she brought on others with diverse skillsets, and by Gullingsrud’s sophomore year POV Marketing Consultancy was launched.

Gullingsrud continued to run POV, even while studying abroad in Barcelona in spring 2023. Upon her return, she thought about getting an internship but quickly realized what she really should be doing was building out her own company.

Read the full story

Staying Connected Near and Far

For most of our lives, making friends has been rooted in location. As students we make friends with classmates, neighbors and roommates. What happens when the shared place is no longer? Can these relationships continue through inevitable change? Adults face these questions through the journey from education to careers.  

As my graduate program ends, I wrestle with these new realities. I’ve always been afraid of change, especially when a new environment comes with it. I drag my feet at first, longing for the old ways and staying closed off. My college advisor told me that I’d meet my best friends while getting my master’s degree, and I never believed her. I was wrong, because nothing bonds more than going through an intensive program side by side. We may not always live, work and study in the same place ever again.  

three people stand in a hallway
Alex Caban-Echevarria’s friends and classmates stand in Newhouse 3. (Photo courtesy of Alex Caban-Echevarria)

For now, and always, I can remember every time we hunkered down in a booth in Food.com to do homework or take a break between classes, how we’ve walked, drove and took the bus together across campus, and every time we relaxed by watching “Twilight” or “Gilmore Girls” in one of our apartments.  

When I first got to Syracuse, I kept in touch with my friends from home and created a group chat with my college friends. This was meant to bridge the newfound gap we found after graduation and to decide what deems a “mass text” or not.  I was fortunate enough to live and go to college in the same town. On academic break, I saw my friends who came home, and when they went back to their schools, my friends from school came back from their homes. We had a home base to be there for us through the years.  

As I think about how I’ll be leaving Syracuse behind in a few weeks, I wonder where the new home base will be for the friends who I met here. How do we stay in touch when the group chats begin to fade, the events we have in common are no longer and our careers take precedence over fun? I’m going to prioritize these friends who have supported me in the hardest year of my life by committing to them through lessons I’ve only learned from them. 

Firstly, to never be afraid to ask for help. Reaching out to someone, no matter how long it’s been since you last talked, is harder than it sounds. All relationships are two-way streets, and as long as you try your best, you can’t regret any effort you put in. 

Secondly, to not judge someone for their feelings. Opening up and being honest is the first step to strengthening these bonds. When someone trusts you, you listen, and learn to understand them. Honesty and trust are the only ways to get to know each other, and judgment only violates that sincerity. 

Thirdly, to try even when it gets hard. No matter the distance, there are always ways to stay in touch. Something like a shared memory, a photo or memento, or planning the next adventure can strengthen and help friendships bend to a new phase of life. 

Alex Caban-Echevarria is a graduate student in the magazine, news and digital journalism program at the Newhouse School.

The Beauty of an Immersion Program

two people embrace each other while sitting on a couch on the set of the tv show "Friends"
Gloria Rivera (left) with fellow Goldring arts journalism and communications student Jeannie Jedlicka during the L.A. immersion trip. Photo courtesy of Gloria Rivera.

During my time here, I’ve attended three immersion trips. The first was a weekend trip to Toronto, the second was a week in New York City and the third was a week in Los Angeles. Two of these trips were worked into my program, so they were luckily part of my curriculum and made attending an easy “choice.” The other was an immersion trip I took with the public relations department, and I had to decide if I wanted to use elective credits, which in the words of my director “are prime real estate,” as well as spend the money, and devote my spring break to a school trip. Here are three reasons why I’m happy with my decision:

The first is maybe obvious, I’m grateful to get to see new places. I had never been to Toronto, and we went in September during the Toronto International Film Festival. It was exciting, filled with people and we got to do SO much. New York City is my hometown, and yet I rarely go to see Broadway shows or visit museums, so the chance to re-explore my city was both exciting and a nice chance to fall back in love with my city. And the last time I’d been to Los Angeles was a brief family trip while I was in high school, so I had no real concept of the city or what it had to offer. The chance to go to these places with a set agenda allowed me to see more of what life looks like in these areas and get an idea of the possibilities available to me post-grad. 

Another reason was a chance to bond with folks that are in my own or other programs. We do get to spend time with our peers in many ways, but there’s not much time to travel for fun in a year-long program. A lot of my weekends are filled with work or projects, so when I have a chance to explore it’s usually around Syracuse. So, taking advantage of going somewhere felt a little like a cheat code to explore a new place with friends.  

Lastly, the chance to explore new programs allowed me a peek into a variety of positions within the communications field. One of my favorite parts of my Newhouse career has been the opportunity to grow in my craft while not limiting myself to only one field. Working on press releases, presentations and meeting industry professionals allowed me insight into what it may look like to pivot and which of my skills are transferable between industries. 

Overall, if you have the chance to visit a new place and learn new things, do it now! 

Gloria Rivera is a graduate student in the Goldring arts journalism and communications program at the Newhouse School.

2024 Newhouse Student Awards

Each spring, the Newhouse School recognizes those students whose dedication, ingenuity, academic excellence and creativity exhibit extraordinary talent and effort. We congratulate our 2024 award winners!

Undergraduate Awards

Advertising Awards

Deborah Fink Green Award

Harry D. Meyers Memorial Prize in Advertising

Most Promising Advertising Student

Newhouse Advertising Department Award for Academic Excellence

John Philip-Jones Advertising Student of the Year Award

Bandier Program Awards

Bandier Leadership Award

Bandier Innovator/Operator Award

Broadcast and Digital Journalism Awards

Don Edwards Broadcast Journalism Award

The Radio-TV-News Power Producer Award

Magazine, News and Digital Journalism Awards

Heather L. Fleishman Memorial Scholarship

Henry J. Leader Memorial Prize in Editing

Henry J. Wolff Prize

Lauretta H. McCaffrey Journalism Prize

Maria Riccardi Scholarship

Newhouse Award for Journalism Excellence

The Samuel V. Kennedy III Award for Newspaper Editing

William Glavin Award for Excellence in Magazine Writing

The John Mitchell Award for Sports Reporting

All Journalism Awards

Bob Heisler Award for Excellence

Photography and Graphic Design Awards

Bertram J. Davis Scholar Award

Dr. Frank Meola Photography Prize

Society for News Design/Marshall Matlock Designer of the Year

The Visual Communications Department Prize in Design

The Visual Communications Department Prize in Immersive Media

The Visual Communications Department Prize in Motion Graphics

The Visual Communications Department Prize Video Production

Public Relations Awards

Julie Mendez Diversity and Inclusion Award in Public Relations

The Public Relations Department Chair Award for Leadership

The Public Relations Public Service Award

The William P. Ehling Award

Television, Radio and Film Awards

Edward L. Hersh Award

Glenn Steinfast Award for Excellence in Documentary Film Production

Gordon J. Alderman Memorial Prize

Irene M. Sholkin Prize in Script Writing

Oscar Micheaux Filmmaking Award

Stan Alten Excellence in Audio Award

The Zach Trifone Love of Life and Music Award

Armando Doreste Award

All Undergraduate Majors

Dean’s Service Award

The Beth Mowins ’90 Award in Sports Media

Excellence in Web Development and Coding Award

Newhouse First-Year Achievement Award

George Plavocos Radio Achievement Award

David Rubin 1st Amendment Prize

Class Marshals

Newhouse Scholars

Graduate Awards

Graduate School Master’s Prize

A. William Bluem Award

Catherine L. Covert Research Award

Charnice Milton Award for Community Journalism

Public Relations Certificate of Achievement

The Magazine, News and Digital Journalism Graduate Achievement Award

The William Doescher Outstanding Public Relations Master’s Degree Student

Newhouse in the News

Some recent media appearances, interviews or stories by Newhouse School faculty and staff.

Nancy Austin, Advanced Military Visual Journalism

Dwight Caines, Television, Radio and Film

Kuande Hall, Public Relations

Robert Thompson, Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture

Roy Gutterman, Magazine, News and Digital Journalism

Joel Kaplan, Magazine, News and Digital Journalism

Margaret Talev, Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship

Bill Werde, Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries

Michael O. Snyder, Visual Communications

Jennifer Grygiel, Communications

Comedy, Satire and How Humor Can Address Topics Related to Race, Diversity and Other Serious Issues

Read more about the latest episode of the “Newhouse Impact” podcast and listen to the show.

We often laugh at comedy and satire. But can these forms of entertainment be effective in spreading understanding about serious issues such as bridging racial gaps ?

On this episode of the “Newhouse Impact” podcast on WAER 88.3, Syracuse University faculty members Charisse L’Pree and Luvell Anderson discuss their work breaking down the messages that can be embedded in satire and humor. L’Pree is an associate professor of communications at the Newhouse School, while Anderson is an associate professor of philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences. Their interdisciplinary PoSH Lab (Psychology, Philosophy and Pedagogy of Satire and Humor) can help students examine serious topics and inform their work.

L’Pree and Anderson also said on “Newhouse Impact” that humor has long been a place where race and differences have been discussed, and in some cases it’s a way to call out stereotypes and break down barriers.

Visit the WAER episode page to listen to the podcast.

Newhouse to the NFL Network: Alumna Sara Ries ‘05 Oversees NFL Draft Coverage

The NFL draft weekend is one of the busiest times of the offseason for Sara Ries ’05, the senior director at the NFL Network. Almost a year’s worth of preparation culminates with a hectic, three-day event watched closely by dedicated football fans. 

Sara Ries headshot

Ries, a broadcast journalism alumna, started as a production assistant for the network. She answered a few questions recently about how Newhouse prepared her for her career; covering the draft; her experience as a woman in a male-dominated field; and advice for students who want to get into the sports industry. Below are excerpts from her recent interview.  

How did your Newhouse experience help you in your career journey? 

I really feel that we gained a basis editorial background that we developed over the four years, and it was constant. And I think then you can kind of sprinkle in the other aspects because we were able to touch all the equipment nice and early at Newhouse. I loved that because I could take a camera out with me and shoot, there wasn’t a barrier to entry for that piece.  

And so, then I could kind of not only be creative, but learn what I wanted to learn at my pace. And I did some work at the TV station on campus and the radio station as well because I thought the more I could do, the better. And that’s exactly what I took into my work here at the network, was the moment you walk in the door, just be ready to do anything. And whether it [would] be putting yourself out there and putting your hand up and saying “I’ll do it, I’ll learn it” or … just being ready to jump at any opportunity. That was something that Syracuse always helped kind of instilled in us and still to this day, I tell that to everyone. 

The NFL draft has turned into a big offseason event for football fans. What do you like most about overseeing and producing draft coverage?  

I really think what’s been cool about the draft is really making the city and the moment itself unique. How do we incorporate the music? How do we incorporate these big names that people know into our coverage? And how do we make those moments special? So, it’s unique every year. And honestly, at the end of the day, I feel just lucky to be a part of it.  

And I’m here for the chaos, the trades and all the madness because that’s truly what makes it fun. And it’s like “boom,” we’ve got to go on to the next player, we’ve got to go on to the next team. And that kind of gives you the adrenaline rush that I think a lot of us got into live TV for. 

Would you mind sharing your experience as a woman in sports, and give advice for women who are hoping to break into the industry? 

When I first started, there were still very few women who were really, I think, visible to us. And that wasn’t just because we were in sports—we were pretty much never on TV. I mean, aside from the Olympics, there wasn’t that much coverage [of women’s sports]. I feel like we just weren’t really being seen, it was just about the women who were on TV. … I remember interviewing people at ESPN, some of their women were there when I did an internship, and I was just desperate to talk to them about what they had experienced. Because really, behind the scenes, there were two or three women, but that was it. I think there’s just been such a wave of women in industry and that I really hope it continues and it should be that way because we have to really be able to see and experience sports through everyone’s eyes before we can really make the coverage of sports fair and equal. You can’t just have one perspective. 

The only way we can grow is for women to keep pushing their way in, keep wanting their voice to be heard, whether you’re on the sidelines as a fan raising your hand, or whether you’re really wanting to break into this industry. And just know that there are those of us here with welcome arms for whoever wants to join.  

Forever Orange: Aaron Partnow ’23

While completing a bachelor’s degree in political science and geography at Syracuse University, Aaron Partnow developed an interest in documentary film. During his senior year, Partnow learned of the Forever Orange Scholarship, which provides half of the tuition for students who enroll full-time in a qualifying graduate degree or certificate program at Syracuse University.

The scholarship is automatically available to all Class of 2024 graduating Syracuse University seniors who are eligible for admission—no separate scholarship application is needed. Graduating seniors who have already been admitted to a qualifying graduate program are also eligible.

Partnow saw the scholarship as an opportunity to obtain a master’s degree in television, radio and film at the Newhouse School, where he would get to work with and learn from the school’s experienced and knowledgeable faculty like Richard Breyer,  a professor and documentary filmmaker.

Aaron Partnow

Undergraduate Program: Political Science and Geography, 2023
Newhouse Master’s Program: Television, Radio and Film, 2024

Aaron Partnow headshot

What drew you to Syracuse University for your undergraduate studies? 

My mom grew up about an hour north of Syracuse in Watertown, and so she always rooted for the Orange. When I was looking for schools, I wanted a place that had a strong sporting environment and good academics, something that was really lacking in Alaska. Syracuse seemed like a place where I could be equally passionate about my academics and rooting for the sports teams. The more time I spend here and learn about it, the more I realize it is truly an “everything” school. There is a way to find passion and purpose, even if you never step foot in the Dome. 

What made you want to pursue a master’s degree?    

I had an unusual undergrad experience. My first semester was dictated by a racial reckoning on campus during the #NotAgainSU movement and later by COVID-19, which made the college experience I wanted impossible. I ended up spending a full semester at home managing a political campaign in my sophomore year, and a semester abroad in London my junior year. I then graduated a semester early as I had enough credits. Had the pandemic not happened, I think it may have been easier to take on a minor or double major at Newhouse, something I always wanted to do. For most of undergrad, my goal was just to focus on political science and getting those requirements done. Now that I’m in the television, radio and film graduate program, I see this as an opportunity to gain new skills and focus more narrowly on documentaries than I ever have, even if I do not go into the entertainment industry in the future. 

How did you first hear about the Forever Orange Scholarship and how did it play a role in your decision to attend graduate school?  

I hadn’t heard of it until late in the fall of my senior year. I was certain I was going to be moving on from school, but I thought it might be good to give myself a one-year buffer before going into the “real world.” It also allowed me to stay close with some of my friends on campus who were younger than me and still enrolled as undergraduates. Towards the end of undergrad, I found myself trending more towards the creative side of political discourse, i.e. documentaries, and I eventually learned that SU was a great place for that as well. It would allow me the flexibility to gain new skills while also avoiding the traditional path of law school or consulting, neither of which seemed as meaningful to me. 

The Forever Orange scholarship made a big difference. Especially as someone with a significant amount of student debt, I didn’t want to further burden my mom who had paid for my undergrad as much as possible. The scholarship made it more accessible to obtain a new degree without taking on additional debt, something I am very proud of. 

What unique features of your graduate program made you want to apply?  

I had always heard about Newhouse’s broadcast and digital journalism program but less so about television, radio and film. As I was doing research, I discovered there was a decent amount of faculty also interested in documentaries. In fact, there used to be a documentary, film and history program, an ideal career path for me. While the program no longer exists, I figured the remnants were still intact and it would be a great opportunity to learn more from seasoned professors I had wanted to work with in undergrad, including Professor Breyer. Because of this program, I was able to take Documentary Production with him, the highlight of my first semester. 

It also made a huge difference that this was only a one-year program. It made it easier to sell to myself that this was not a long commitment but more of a pit stop on my journey towards doing something impactful. 

What moments in graduate school have been the most exciting or defining thus far?  

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed being a TA for COM 107. It was really exciting to get to know the students who are the future leaders in communications. I also appreciated the opportunity to develop a solid working relationship with Professor Faren Karimkhan and better understand that teaching is much more than what happens in the classroom alone. I think education is a great form of public service and the unique opportunity to TA as a grad student made me believe that even more so. 

What advice would you give to students that are in the initial stages of deciding to pursue graduate school? 

Come in with a plan. I think the students who find a one-year program most valuable are those who have an idea that they want to fully flesh out and a plan to use Newhouse resources to get there. In my case, I am learning that to make a documentary in a short period of time, you need to do a lot of research and find story inspiration outside of class time. If you just wing it, you are less likely to come away with something you are proud of, and which makes the grad school investment worthwhile. Overall, having a concrete end goal-and writing it out explicitly when applying-is a great way to determine if grad school or any program at Newhouse is right for you. 

Learn more about the Forever Orange Scholarship

For more information on Newhouse School graduate programs, please email nhmasters@syr.edu.