The Center for Media Studies

The Center's Mission

The Center for Media Studies is concerned with the impact of media on contemporary society. Through research, teaching, public events and outreach, the Center seeks ways for the media to better serve the public interest.

Founded by the Department of Journalism and Media Studies in the School of Communication, Information, and Library Studies at Rutgers University, the Center brings faculty and students together from diverse departments at each of Rutgers' campuses to work with citizens, educators, foundations, government agencies, and media professionals.

Reaching the Center

Director, Robert Kubey
E-Mail: kubey@scils.rutgers.edu
Phone: (732) 932-7500 ext. 8164
FAX: (732) 932-7830

Asst. Director, Cynthia Walker

Web: www.mediastudies.rutgers.edu

Mail: Center for Media Studies
SCILS, Rutgers University
4 Huntington Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1071

Rationale

• Probably at no time in history has access to, and proficiency with, media and information technologies been more important in the public mind, nor more critical to policy making and teaching in government, schools and universities.
• Nor at any time in the recent past have the nation's press, media, and information sectors been the object of as much intense public concern or scrutiny with a growing recognition of their unmatched importance in the conduct of our daily lives and democratic institutions.
• Never before have the once separate worlds of news, stored knowledge, and the products of the mass media and entertainment industries converged locally, nationally, and globally, with even greater convergence certain to take place in the years ahead.
• The Center recognizes that both media creators and citizens bear responsibility for the quality and impact of media, and that in contemporary society, research and teaching about the media are essential to the development of an informed and critical public.

• To initiate and support intellectual partnerships across departments and academic units toward new collaborative research and scholarship, teaching, and outreach efforts.
• To initiate and develop working liaisons among and between researchers and scholars; media professionals; educators, parents and others who work with children and youth; as well as those in business and government, thereby increasing the relevance of our research and teaching efforts to the world beyond the academy.
• To address issues of public concern regarding media performance and to bring critical issues to the public's attention. To involve the public in the Center's programs and events.

• International Media
• Media and Cultural Diversity
• Media and Health
• Media, Politics, & Policy
• New Media
• Youth and Media Education

The Center engages in outreach, teaching, consultation, and information dissemination in service to a number of key constituencies.

• Scholars and researchers, faculty and students, at Rutgers University and other colleges and universities in the region.
• Citizens of the state interested in becoming more knowledgeable about the media or active in advocacy, criticism, aesthetic appreciation, media education and media production. In particular, this includes public and private school teachers (K-12), parents, and others who work with young people.
• Public officials and those active in politics interested in exploring ways to improve the quality of the media's role in local and state campaigns during elections (news coverage, political advertising, debates).
• Public officials and those in the health community and foundations interested in finding ways to employ media education or help improve the media's information dissemination around health and other public interest issues.
• Media practitioners wishing to explore solutions to issues of media ethics, responsibility, and daily practice.

• Workshops, Seminars, Public Events and Conferences are designed to serve each of our key constituencies.
• Public events and conferences, press releases, press conferences, and televised and radio broadcast events are organized by and through the Center in consultation with the Rutgers Office of University Relations.
• The Center sponsors events of value to students, faculty, and interested citizens. Toward this end, media scholars, critics, advocates, and practitioners are invited to participate and debate.
• Distance Learning. The Center works with SCILS' growing distance learning program as well as that of the university so as to make programs, workshops, and events widely available.
• Information Site. As part of the Center's outreach function, we will establish a Center library of critical media resources, reference works, and newsletters not currently collected by the Rutgers libraries, as well as help provide information to the public.