About the Public Interest Communications Summer Institute
Public interest communications – research-based strategic communications for positive social change – is a growing academic discipline that can provide a path for university programs seeking ways to innovate. Equipping a new generation of students with public interest communications and research skills will better position them to address complex social issues and adapt to an ever-shifting communications job market.
Few institutions offer public interest communications courses; we aim to change that. We helped launched the Public Interest Communications Educators Network to bring together academics and practitioners who want to grow the academic discipline of public interest communications. The network organizes an annual Public Interest Communications Summer Institute, which brings together faculty, graduate students, researchers, administrators and practitioners to learn, share and explore. The institute offers participants valuable skills, networking opportunities and new friendships. Whether you are well-versed in strategic communications for social change or new to the field, this institute is for you!
WHAT: The Public Interest Communications Summer Institute is an annual event organized by the Public Interest Communications Educators Network.
WHY WE HOLD IT: The institute is part of an ongoing effort to build the academic discipline of public interest communications. The idea is to pool knowledge and resources so that educators can incorporate public interest communications into their courses, researchers can build public interest communications scholarship, and administrators can expand course offerings to students, who increasingly seek careers that enable them to make a positive impact.
WHO ATTENDS: The institute brings together college and university educators, administrators, researchers and students as well as practitioners.
WHY THEY ATTEND: The institute has something to offer all who attend:
Educators: New ideas for coursework and connections with like-minded faculty.
Administrators: Ideas for expanding curricula.
Researchers: Connections to other researchers in the social change space.
Grad students: CV-building research presentation opportunities and connections to new collaborators.
Practitioners interested in teaching: Connections to faculty and administrators from institutions around the country.
WHERE: We hold the institute at a different institution each year.
Logistical, financial and technical support for the summer institute is provided by University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) and the UFCJC online master’s program. The college thanks Betsy Karel for her generous support of public interest communications education and practice.