Dean&#8217;s Message

The Oscar Whisperer

For two decades, Lisa Taback (’89) guided Hollywood clients to awards-season glory. Now, she’s working for Netflix—and has won an Oscar of her own.

Videos Included

By Emma Guillén and Marc Chalufour

Student working camera at basketball game.

Game Time

From tip-off to the final buzzer, BUTV10 provides award-winning coverage of BU Athletics

Videos Included

By Marc Chalufour

Big Data, Big Impact

How what you read and watch is changing media forever

By Art Jahnke

Going Deep With the Patriots’ Star Receiver

COM alums bring story of wide receiver and Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman to Showtime with new documentary

By Joel Brown

Shutterbugs

Photojournalism students discuss the value of real-world experience and learning from mistakes

Man in gray suit staring at blank billboard. Illustration.

Is This the End of the Ad Agency?

How technology and the internet are forcing traditional agencies to adapt to a rapidly changing industry

By Lara Ehrlich

Advertising

A PR Life

Lee Cherenson (DGE’49, COM’51), who graduated from COM when Truman was president, reflects on 60 years of public relations

By Emma Guillén

Alessandro Uzielli leans against a sports car.

The Transporter

By placing Hollywood stars in Ford cars, Alessandro Uzielli (CGS’87, COM’89) connects two of America’s iconic industries

Video Included

By Marc Chalufour

Advertising, Film & Television, Journalism, Public Relations, Business & Technology

Find Meaning and Create Masterpieces

Convocation speakers encourage passionate, creative storytelling

Video and Photos Included

“The Cause of the Common Good”

Mitchell Zuckoff, the Redstone Professor of Narrative Studies and author of Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11, delivers the keynote at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa. Follow @comatbu on Instagram for more COM news.

Advertising, Business & Technology, Film & Television, Journalism, Public Relations

COM’s Next Dean

Mariette DiChristina (’86), editor-in-chief of Scientific American, to succeed Tom Fiedler (’71) as dean of COM

By Joel Brown

Meet the 2019 Redstone Film Festival Winners

The next generation of filmmakers lauded for work inspired by today’s headlines

By Amy Laskowski

Epic Fall and Rise Recounts the Story of 9/11

A new book from Mitchell Zuckoff, the Redstone Professor of Narrative Studies, traces that day from multiple perspectives

By Joel Brown

“Alone, in America, with You”

Novelist and journalist Farai Chideya recounts 25 years of reporting at the 2019 Power of Narrative Conference

Podcasting Finds Its Voice

With audio storytelling more popular than ever, what will it take to be heard above the crowd?

Audio Included

By Marc Chalufour

Public Relations, Film & Television

Studio portraits of Tiye Barnes (COM’19) and Kayla Richardson (COM’20)

Tackling Communications’ Lack of Diversity

COM is taking on an industry-wide issue—and restoring a historic connection to Claflin University

By Andrew Thurston

Podcasting Partners in Crime

How two alums turned their conversations about crime and the paranormal into a hit podcast

Audio Included

By Emma Guillén

Business & Technology

Managing Information Overload

COM professor among BU researchers receiving $1 million grant to analyze online data with artificial intelligence

By Kate Becker

Business & Technology

Hugo Shong Reporting on Asia Award Presented

Pulitzer-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario honored for her work

How Binge-Watching Netflix Warps Your Worldview

Researchers find watching back-to-back episodes of violent shows can cause “mean world syndrome”

By Madeleine O’Keefe (CAS’18, COM’19)

Student Showcase Success

Two graduate students capture top honors in the Page Society’s Case Study Competition in Corporate Communications

Journalism, Business & Technology, Film & Television

Live From COM

Students and faculty analyzed real-time social media data on election night 2018, and reported the results live from the Zimmerman Family Social Activation Center

Video Included

By Marc Chalufour

Crisis Reporter

Pulitzer Center fellow Flaviana Sandoval (’19) (far right) returns home to report on Venezuela’s organ transplant crisis

Photo Gallery Included

By Flaviana Sandoval

Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations, Film & Television, Business & Technology

Dean’s Message

With the launch of the COM Beyond online learning platform, alumni—and the public—can continue to advance their communication skills

Video Included

By Thomas Fiedler (’71)

Making Hollywood Paperless

Former script coordinator Steven Vitolo (’05) saw a problem and invented a solution: His Scriptation app aims to streamline script revisions

Video Included

By Joel Brown

Michael Holley on Brady, Belichick and Boston Sports

The journalist discusses winning a Pulitzer, covering the Pats and what he’s teaching his COM students about sports writing

Video and Audio Included

By Emma Guillén

The Face of Facebook

Facebook’s Anthony Harrison (’81) on dealing with negative news and managing an audience of two billion

By Emma Guillén

A World of Influence

Barri Rafferty (’88) keeps learning and innovating—and now she’s doing so as the first woman CEO of a top-five PR agency

By Marc Chalufour

Advertising, Film & Television, Journalism, Public Relations

Composite image of student holding smart phone, digital camera and notepad.

Making Them Work For It

Students have taken COM 101 for decades. Now, the faculty has reimagined the class to challenge undergraduates with hands-on projects

By Patrick Kennedy (’04)

Reporting on Hurricane Maria’s Aftermath

COM and public health students travel to Puerto Rico to find the untold stories of Hurricane Maria

Video and Photo Gallery Included

By Diego Marcano (’19)

Talking about Success in Hollywood

Podcaster Cody Brotter (’13) interviews Terrier power players in film and television

Audio Included

By Megan Woolhouse

Ready Camera One

COM’s Academy of Media Production offers an immersive experience for high schoolers

By Joel Brown

Journalism, Film & Television

Alum Builds Washington News Bureau

Jacqueline Policastro (’06) of Gray Television delivers the Beltway to Heartland viewers

By Joel Brown

Undercover in the KKK

As a young reporter, Professor Dick Lehr went undercover to expose the Ku Klux Klan in Connecticut

By Dick Lehr

Journalism, Public Relations

Shaping the Story of Guns in America

Catherine Mortensen (’90, CAS’90) of the NRA and Josh Sugarmann (’82) of the Violence Policy Center lead divergent missions in the gun control debate

By Julie Butters

Thomas Fiedler to Leave COM Deanship Next Year

Wants his last year at the helm to be like Big Papi’s–full of home runs

By Amy Laskowski (’15)

Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations, Film & Television, Business & Technology

WTBU Then and Now

Alums share memories of BU’s student radio station, from meeting Ice Cube to reporting on the Gulf War

Audio Included

By Emma Guillén and Julie Butters

Journalism, Advertising, Business & Technology, Film & Television, Public Relations

Achieving Victories for Humanity

Convocation speakers urge new graduates to improve society

Video and Photo Gallery Included

By Emma Guillén

Filmmaker Vibha Bakshi Awarded Honorary Degree

Bakshi (’93,’96, Hon.’18) shines a light on gender violence–and also offers hope

By Megan Woolhouse

Journalism, Film & Television

Denise Graveline Helped Women to Speak Publicly

Public speaking coach and alum (’81) inspired women around the world, helping them communicate with confidence

By Havi Hoffman

Journalism, Advertising, Business & Technology, Public Relations

Capital Winner

James G. Heuser’s work for the NHL’s Washington Capitals usually happens behind the scenes. But when the team lifted the Stanley Cup, Heuser (’08,’10), the Capitals’ director of digital media, was given his moment on the ice.

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Photographing President Obama

Former White House photographer Pete Souza (’76) receives COM award, describes capturing Obama’s presidency

By Emma Guillén

Journalism, Advertising, Public Relations, Film & Television, Business & Technology

Welcome to the New All-Digital COMtalk

It feels like our world has changed—at least as it relates to the way we can deliver stories to you

By Tom Fiedler (’71)

The War on Fake News

President Trump claims the media peddles fake news. Has it made itself an easy target?

By Lara Ehrlich

Journalism, Film & Television, Advertising, Public Relations

COM Grad Student Publishes Self-Help Book for Undergrads

Dealing with This Thing Called College was written from experience

By Amy Laskowski

Remembering Jonathan Klarfield

His classroom was his students’ first newsroom

By Amy Laskowski

Thesis Film Explores #MeToo

The Bartender, a graduate thesis film, explores a bystander’s dilemma: intervene or do nothing?

By Sara Wells (’18)

Public Relations, Film & Television, Business & Technology

Hulu’s Social Stories

How Amanda Domuracki (’15,’16) used her COM thesis project to land a social media job at the streaming company

By Ahlea Isabella

Graduating, with a Big Assist from Dad

BU custodian uses University benefit to give his son a COM education

Video Included

By Bill Politis (’13) and Amy Laskowski (’15)

Being a Woman—and a Boss—in Hollywood

Industry alums talk gender discrimination, taking creative risks and work-life balance

Videos Included

By Emma Guillén and Julie Butters

Film & Television, Business & Technology

Star Wars’ Effects Jedi

Visual Effects Producer Janet Lewin oversees behind-the-scenes magic for a galaxy far, far away

Videos Included

By Julie Butters

How Bonnie Arnold Became a Hollywood Powerhouse

The Oscar-nominated producer reflects on a career that’s included Dances with Wolves, Toy Story, How to Train Your Dragon and other hits

By Julie Butters

Film & Television, Business & Technology

New BU LA Programs Head: “First Be Good, Then Be Fearless”

Former NBC exec Charisse McGhee-Lazarou introduces students to the ways of Hollywood

By Amy Laskowski

COM Wins Big at Regional Emmys

Among the COM winners at the 2018 Boston/New England Emmy awards were (l to r) Michael Alcaraz (’18), Marissa Dianas (’19), Jane Rose (’18), Jessica Citronberg (’18, CAS’18) and Nick Neville (’18). Read more on Instagram.

Hong Chau Talks Downsizing

The Golden Globe-nominated actress and alum (’01) talks about her film role opposite Matt Damon

From Twitter

Terry Clarke (’63,’89), the Adman in the Barbershop Quartet

The late adjunct professor was a multitalented champion

By Bryan Marquard

Advertising

A Big Win

On its 40th anniversary, PRLab wins first place for a “Cause Marketing Campaign” in PR Daily’s 2018 Media Relations Awards

Photo by Justin Saglio

Redstone Film Festival 2018

Check out this selection of trailers for COM student films and find out who won.