Change the future with Walter Cronkite
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Student-produced news is a win-win, providing hands-on learning opportunities to students and a vital source of information to the community.
Fostering excellence and ethics
The Cronkite School fosters excellence and ethics among students as they master the professional skills they need to succeed in the digital media world of today and tomorrow. The Cronkite School serves over 2,500 students on campus and online, with an esteemed faculty of award-winning industry veterans and world-class media scholars. Our students aren’t just learning about media: they are creating it, carrying out award-winning reporting projects and sharing information that’s critical for people to make informed decisions in their communities. Today, our graduates are leading in their industries as producers, reporters, digital marketers, journalists, content creators and more.
Through Changing Futures®, we will write the next chapter of this story: one that harnesses the power of storytelling to positively shape the world.
Addressing rising mistrust and news deserts
Mistrust of the press is on the rise, even as the need to shed light on critical issues is greater than ever. Cities and small towns across America are becoming “news deserts,” where residents lack access to information about topics and events that directly affect their lives. Increasingly, people seek information from social media and content creators rather than from established news organizations. Globally, disinformation and misinformation threaten the foundations of democracy. These trends are accelerated by technologies like augmented intelligence that are, for better and for worse, disrupting media, industry and governance.
Students at Cronkite are prepared to navigate even the most challenging realities of today’s media landscape.
A thriving talent pipeline is critical to the health and future of journalism everywhere.
Developing journalistic talent from all backgrounds
At a time when universities face enrollment challenges, the Cronkite School is committed to supporting students regardless of background. A thriving talent pipeline is critical to our industries.
“Preparing students to enter the industry with really important skills ultimately helps address some of our deepest challenges,” says Rebecca Blatt, senior associate dean and professor of practice at Cronkite.
Removing
barriers for all students
Achieving these goals will require direct support, especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds. The need is significant: more than a third of Cronkite students are eligible for federal student aid based on family income. Empower to Inform, Cronkite’s signature scholarship program, removes barriers of affordability and accessibility. Through Changing Futures, donor support will be critical to ensuring renewable support for students of all backgrounds.
As Dean Battinto Batts says, “The more people we can get to come through here from varied backgrounds – the industry will be better for it, and society will be better for it.”
Scaling News Co/Lab’s impactful programs
Trustworthy, ethical journalism and media are vital to maintaining free societies and strong communities. Since 2017, News Co/Lab has advanced media literacy by working with journalists, educators and technology companies. Mediactive, a free online course launched in 2020, has enrolled roughly 4,000 people. It helps the public recognize misinformation, build media literacy and navigate digital media.
Changing Futures will allow News Co/Lab to grow programs like Mediactive while forging new partnerships. Plans include building an online curriculum on Media Literacy and AI to explain its use by media, businesses and government agencies—and how it can be misused.
Cronkite Agency
“Cronkite Agency is one of the many immersive capstones here at Cronkite,” says John Nicoletti, Professor of Practice for Cronkite Agency. “It’s a great opportunity for students who are specializing in either Strategic Communications or Digital Marketing to work with real-world clients throughout the semester.” In this integrated communications agency, students serve clients through public relations, digital marketing, brand content and bilingual engagement work.
Students emerge from The Agency ready to execute and lead strategic communications work at brands, teams, nonprofits, agencies and other organizations. And some of them graduate from Cronkite as awardwinning professionals. Recent accolades for studentled work at The Agency include a 2024 Communitas Award, a 2024 BIG Innovation Award from the Business Intelligence Group and multiple prizes in the 2023 dotComm and MarCom international awards.
Access to hands-on learning opportunities is critical to a topnotch education in journalism and mass communication.
the future of media Support Cronkite and shape
Cronkite News reports on stories with great societal significance: for example, the flow of migrants through the jungles of Panama.
The future of journalism and communication is tied to the future of democracy, public health and the planet itself. At Cronkite, we recognize these connections and take seriously the responsibility we have to our students and to the communities we serve. “The education that we’re providing to students here allows stories across industries and communities to be told better and stronger,” says Jessica Pucci, senior associate dean and professor of practice.
Join us as we support our students, connect with communities and change the future.
Change futures by supporting
Transform global education
We know that building a pipeline of talent from a variety of backgrounds leads to high-quality, trustworthy storytelling that reflects broader community perspectives. With donor support, Empower to Inform strives to eliminate financial barriers and support students of all backgrounds in their pursuit of careers in journalism and communication. With a focus on online and non-traditional learners, Empower to Inform will improve retention and graduation rates with increased financial aid. With the help of generous donors, Changing Futures will grow and sustain this critical program through increased funding, including endowed support.
Reshape our relationship with the planet
The Sustainability Coverage and Communication Catalyst will connect diverse audiences to critical news and information about one of the most pressing societal issues of our time: climate change. In addition to training journalists and communicators to effectively report on sustainability issues, we will offer openaccess courses and a hands-on reporting initiative, allowing students to engage in solutions journalism and explore innovative practices from around the world. Critically, this initiative will prioritize a focus on underserved communities, ensuring new perspectives and storytelling that highlight local sustainability efforts. Changing Futures will establish the Cronkite School as a leader in sustainability journalism.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Empower community resilience
Since its inception in 2017, News Co/Lab has collaborated with journalists, educators and tech companies to address the critical need for media literacy education. Support for News Co/Lab will help the program scale its operations with increased human capital and expanded resources, including funding to broaden outreach and educational offerings. Content will be developed and tailored for different audiences including students, educators and professionals. Changing Futures will help us make strides toward our ultimate goal of cultivating a more informed and resilient society.
The Center for the Future of News is a bold concept – a one-of-a-kind, multilocational, collaborative learning laboratory that dares to reimagine the news – how it’s created, delivered and consumed. From business model failures to dwindling news coverage and a loss of trust in media, The Center for the Future of News aims to address the biggest issues facing journalism today. This interdisciplinary initiative will establish six labs focused on critical areas such as digital engagement, storytelling, inclusion, technology, sustainability and the relationship between journalism and democracy. Ultimately, the Center aspires to transform journalism through research, experimentation and knowledge sharing, fostering a more vibrant and trustworthy media landscape.
Through community-engaged reporting, Connecting Communities empowers citizens as discerning communicators who use media to connect rather than merely distribute. By leveraging media tools like reporting, documentaries and podcasts, the Cronkite School engages students and citizens alike to foster proactive communication with the communities we serve. The project will roll out in phases, starting with partnerships in Phoenix, followed by deeper community integration and media literacy programs. Ultimately, Connecting Communities aims to enhance community resilience through robust information sharing and connections, addressing issues of isolation and misinformation.
The Lifelong Learning project at the Cronkite School aims to empower communities through education in journalism and communication, providing accessible training for diverse audiences across the lifespan. Key initiatives include “Cronkite in the Classroom” workshops for K-12 students, Camp Cronkite for high schoolers, and CronkitePro for adult learners, all focused on fostering media literacy and responsible storytelling. Lifelong Learning addresses the increasing challenges of misinformation by equipping individuals with skills to discern truth and share impactful narratives. Changing Futures will help ensure that anyone, regardless of age or background, can access the training necessary to create and share trustworthy information.
Change futures by supporting
Build the future of health
The One Health Communication Initiative will build upon the success of existing health-focused programs and partnerships at the Cronkite School to foster an understanding of public, environmental and human health through journalism and strategic communication. This initiative will create an international community dedicated to comprehensive health and resilience, particularly in underserved border communities. Our efforts will include interdisciplinary workshops, research, educational programs and public engagement efforts to address health disparities. By enhancing health literacy and promoting effective communication strategies, we can empower communities and reduce vulnerabilities to health threats.
The field of journalism is known for its high rates of burnout and attrition among media professionals, especially among underrepresented groups. The Advancing Media Wellness initiative will publish research, conduct training and inspire conversation around the urgent topic of journalist wellness. By promoting healthier work environments, Advancing Media Wellness will enhance the sustainability and quality of journalism while supporting the wellbeing of both students and professionals. Through Changing Futures, we can create a media landscape where journalists can thrive, thereby contributing to a more informed and resilient society.
Inspire tomorrow’s game changers
Mobilizing Media Trailblazers aims to enhance the Cronkite student experience by providing financial support for semester away and abroad opportunities, professional development experiences and media entrepreneur endeavors. Key initiatives include supporting student travel for global reporting, establishing live-learn communities for networking, and providing funding for internships and media startups. This program equips students with diverse experiences and professional skills necessary for today’s media landscape, transforming storytelling in the process.
Walter Cronkite
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of Journalism and
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Advance technology for good
AI in Global Media Lab will be a go-to resource for thought leadership, innovation and knowledge-sharing around the rapidly evolving topic of AI in the media. The Lab seeks to empower local newsrooms, particularly those serving underrepresented communities, by developing tools that streamline content production and combat misinformation. Based at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix Campus, the Lab will leverage existing networks and expertise to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and thought leadership on AI’s impact in media. With the help of generous donors, Changing Futures will provide student and faculty support, access to new AI tools, resources for national workshops and convenings and more.
Making Media Meaningful aspires to transform how media is experienced, fostering a more empathetic global community through interactive and immersive storytelling technologies. These tools allow us to engage audiences in even the most complex stories, building shared understanding and stronger communities along the way. Each year, Cronkite’s best and brightest creators will travel to a location of international importance to create multimedia journalism and immersive experiences, allowing audiences worldwide to experience a corner of the world few will ever see in person. Donor support for Changing Futures will take this work to the next level, supporting initiatives like educator and K-12 outreach and the creation of a digital hub to showcase our work to a global audience.
About us
The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication is the nation’s premier mass communications school. We’re a test bed for media innovation, and we’re developing the storytelling approaches — and the storytellers — that media companies want.
ASU Charter
ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.
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