Ph.D. student Laila Abbas earned an ICA Top Dissertation Award Honorable Mention for her research on how emotionally charged TikTok content can inspire political identity and collective action, using the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement as a case study. In a Q&A, she reflects on the impact of her research, offers advice for aspiring scholars, and shares her favorite memory from SJMC.
Students
News about SJMC undergraduate and graduate students.
Sharing Stories, Building Community: SJMC and Posse Partner to Empower Students Through Storytelling
This spring, UW–Madison Posse scholars teamed up with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication for a storytelling workshop led by teaching faculty Adam Schrager. Designed to help students confidently share their lived experiences, the event reflects SJMC’s commitment to centering student voices and building inclusive, cross-campus partnerships.
Small Classes, Big Connections: New SJMC Courses Expand First-Year Experience
Professors Karyn Riddle and Kathryn McGarr developed new SJMC courses that do more than just educate students: they build community.
From Campus to Community: How Two SJMC Courses Made an Impact
In two courses, professor Sue Robinson brought the Wisconsin Idea to life, connecting students with the greater Madison community to apply their skills in storytelling, advocacy and strategic communication.
Spotlight on Graduate Student Award Winners
This year, four TAs were awarded campus-wide and college-level awards for their work both in and out of the classroom. They shared what these awards mean to them and what they find most rewarding about teaching.
Graduate Student Highlight: Tahereh Rahimi
Ph.D. student Tahereh Rahimi won ICA’s Top Student Paper Award in the Communication History Division for her research on press control in Iran during the Qajar Era. She shares what the award means to her, the value of staying true to your academic interests and her favorite memories from the SJMC community.
Graduate Student Highlight: Abby Qin
Ph.D. student Abby Youran Qin won AEJMC’s Top Student Paper Award for her research on democratic attitudes and the role of right-wing media in the United States. She reflected on the award, shared insights from her academic journey and offered advice for future scholars.
Celebrating the 2025 Alumni Award Winners
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication has announced its winners of the 2025 Alumni Awards. A ceremony will be held on Friday, April 25 to present the awards and celebrate the achievements of the winners.
SJMC Communities: Advertising Club
Learn about the Advertising Club through our series SJMC Communities which highlights student organizations available to SJMC students.
Three SJMC Students awarded Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation Scholarships
On February 22, three SJMC students, Oliver Gerharz, Ray Krisch and Joey Bonadonna, were selected by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation (WBAF) to receive their WBA Student Scholarship at the WBA Student Forum at Lambeau Field.