NORMAN, OKLA. – The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma is pleased to announce the Hearst Foundations Speaker Series, focusing on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various fields of media and communication. Thanks to a generous gift from the The Hearst Foundations, each area within the college will host guest speakers to discuss how AI is shaping the future of journalism, advertising, public relations, creative media production, and research.
Journalism Area Guest Speaker:
The Journalism area will host Nikita Roy, a computational journalist and data scientist researcher at Harvard, on March 11, 2024. Roy will deliver a lecture on computational journalism and data analytics at 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. and 2:45-3:45 p.m. on Monday, March 11, in the Gaylord Hall auditorium. She hosts the successful AI podcast, Newsroom Robotos, which consistently charts among the top technology podcasts across 25 countries. She has been a part of the International Center for Journalists' News Innovation Lab and the Google News Initiative Startups Lab.
Public Relations Area Guest Speaker:
The Public Relations area will welcome Mark McClennan, APR, Fellow PRSA, on April 2, 2024. McClennan is the general manager of the Boston office of C+C, a communications agency dedicated to supporting good causes and purpose-driven brands. He also serves as a PR ethics instructor at Boston University. As the 2016 National Chair of PRSA, McClennan co-led the development of the PR Council's Ethics Guidelines on Generative AI and served as an expert resource for the PRSA AI Ethics Guidelines. His presentation, titled "Preparing Communicators to Survive and Thrive in a Dynamic AI Environment," will address the evolving challenges and opportunities that AI presents in the field of public relations at 7 p.m. in the Gaylord Hall Auditorium.
Graduate Studies Area Guest Speaker:
The Graduate Studies area will host Dr. Yong Jin Park, a Faculty Associate at Harvard University, from March 24-26, 2024. Dr. Park will present a talk titled "AI data and inequalities: What it is and how it is being produced" on March 25th, at 4:30 p.m. in the Gaylord Hall auditorium. His research focuses on the effects of emerging AI technologies on social and policy issues, particularly how the combination of AI, algorithms, and personal data contributes to social and racial inequalities. His first book, "The Future of Digital Surveillance" examines AI's perpetual appetite for data surveillance.
More information about the speakers for the Creative Media Production and Advertising areas will be released as details are finalized. Gaylord College would like to express its gratitude to The Hearst Foundations for their generous support in making this speaker series possible.
About the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication
The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma is committed to preparing the next generation of media professionals. The college offers five undergraduate majors in advertising, creative media production, journalism, professional writing and public relations, providing students with a diverse and engaging educational experience. In addition to its undergraduate offerings, Gaylord College features graduate and Ph.D. programs, as well as an online master’s degree. These advanced programs are designed to nurture academic excellence, adapt to diverse learning needs and inspire innovative thinking among students. For more information, visit ou.edu/gaylord.
