Join us May 19-21, 2026, for the 2026 Public Interest Communications Summer Institute, which we will hold at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in Phoenix.
Organizers & Sponsors
Submit a workshop or panel proposal
The 2026 Public Interest Communications Summer Institute invites scholars and practitioners to submit proposals for interactive workshops or panel discussions that advance evidence-based strategies for social change. We are looking for sessions that equip attendees with skills, knowledge and inspiration they can immediately apply in their institutions, courses, organizations or communities.
The deadline for submitting a proposal is Oct. 31, 2025.
2026 Theme
In a world shaped by rapid technological change, divisions and shifting social norms, the concept of belonging has emerged as both urgent and multifaceted. Belonging speaks to the human need for connection, recognition and inclusion, yet it is increasingly contested in public discourse and institutional structures. Academic research has long underscored the importance of belonging for individual and collective well-being—Tajfel and Turner’s social identity theory (1979) situates belonging as foundational to group affiliation, while Baumeister and Leary (1995) argue it is a basic psychological need essential to motivation and mental health. In communication studies, belonging is further explored through narratives, language, media representation and organizational rhetoric that shape who is seen, heard and valued.
In the 2026 summer institute, we’ll explore belonging as a communicative practice and a contested space in this moment of division and global uncertainty. How do communication processes foster or constrain belonging? What factors go into deciding who belongs and who does not? Along with these questions, we recognize that fostering belonging and putting it into action often requires courage—to speak across differences, to challenge beliefs and to imagine new forms of connection. Drawing from interdisciplinary research and real-world experiences, we will explore critical, creative and community-engaged perspectives that reimagine belonging and chart a path forward. We ask attendees to consider not only where we belong, how belonging is being redefined across contexts and how those who are told they no longer belong are responding, but what we can do to foster belonging in our classrooms and communities.
Logistics
Please check back here for information about the institute hotel.
About the Institute
The Public Interest Communications Summer Institute is an annual gathering that brings together academics, administrators, graduate students and practitioners to learn, share and explore the growing academic discipline of public interest communications. Our aim is to equip a new generation of students with public interest communications and research skills to better position them to address challenging societal problems and adapt to an ever-shifting communications job market.
This year’s summer institute – our fifth! – will be May 19–21, 2026, at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more about the institute here.
Why attend?
The summer institute is a great place to meet others working in the public interest communications space, make new connections and friends, and gather ideas to take back to your institutions. College and university instructors can learn new teaching techniques and, through our syllabus workshop, get help with incorporating public interest communications into existing syllabi. College and university administrators can leave with ideas for new course offerings for students. Academic researchers may find potential collaborators, while graduate students have an opportunity to present and get feedback on research and research ideas in a friendly, low-stress environment. Practitioners can hear about the latest academic research pertaining to the field, meet fellow practitioners and learn about opportunities to teach.