Communications and Media Studies, Tufts University
Encyclopedia
Communications and Media Studies (CMS) at Tufts University
is an interdisciplinary program designed to educate Tufts students about mass media and communications within a liberal arts curriculum. Nearly 30 years after its inception, the program continues to focus on the role of media in the United States and internationally. Through its three minor degrees, its core courses, internship program, campus events, and support of related courses in other departments, the program stresses an interdisciplinary understanding of the impact of mass communications on individuals, institutions, and cultures. It promotes critical thinking skills, media literacy, the relationship between media use/creation and active citizenship, and exposure to a wide range of perspectives on media and society.
Projects can be films, screenplays, advertising or PR campaigns, websites, multimedia projects, media literacy campaigns, photojournalism essays and more.
is an annual event held at Tufts University. Dedicated to illuminating aspects of the many contributions Edward R. Murrow
made to journalism and public diplomacy, the forum brings together interdisciplinary panels to reflect on Murrow’s legacy and relate it to contemporary issues in journalism. The forum debuted in 2006 and has featured Ted Koppel
, Dan Rather
, Tom Brokaw
, Katie Couric
, Chris Matthews
, former Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis, producer Arnie Reisman, Co-Founder of Walnut Hill Media Jonathan Tisch, Janet Wu of WCVB-TV, Executive Director of Synergy Learning Casey Murrow, and author Lynne Olson.
, environmentalist, activist, and founder of 350.org as well as Alan Khazei,
Co-Founder of City Year, and Amy Goodman
, Co-Host of Democracy Now.
honors outstanding contributions in the burgeoning field of children’s media. The award is co-sponsored by the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development and the Communications and Media Studies Program at Tufts University. In recognition of the fact that media plays a significant role in the lives of children, this award honors commitment to innovation, diversity, non-violence, and developmentally appropriate media. The award is given to organizations, individuals, or companies that have made important inroads in the world of children’s media.
Past recipients include Bill Cosby
; Alvin Poussaint
, child psychiatrist and The Cosby Show
consultant; Executive Producer of Arthur
Carol Greenwald; Producers of Dora the Explorer
Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes, and Cathy Galeota; Craig Bartlett,
Executive Producer of Hey Arnold!
; activist Peggy Charren;
software producer and MIT professor Mitchel Resnick
; Walden Media President Micheal Flaherty
; and Linda Ellerbee
of Nick News among others. The 2012 award ceremony will honor LeVar Burton
, actor, writer, producer, and host of the award-winning show Reading Rainbow
.
for Excellence in Entertainment is an annual awards ceremony honoring alumni of Tufts University for their exceptional work in the field of media and entertainment.
The award began as a 2005 collaboration of The Hill to Hollywood Network of the Los Angeles Tufts Alliance, the Tufts Communications and Media Studies Program, the Tufts Department of Drama and Dance, and the Tufts Office of Alumni Relations in celebration of P.T. Barnum’s love of entertainment and creativity, and the desire to honor members of the Tufts community for their advancement of and success within the media and entertainment industries.
Past recipients include Hank Azaria
, Meredith Vieira
, and Steve Tisch
among others.
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
is an interdisciplinary program designed to educate Tufts students about mass media and communications within a liberal arts curriculum. Nearly 30 years after its inception, the program continues to focus on the role of media in the United States and internationally. Through its three minor degrees, its core courses, internship program, campus events, and support of related courses in other departments, the program stresses an interdisciplinary understanding of the impact of mass communications on individuals, institutions, and cultures. It promotes critical thinking skills, media literacy, the relationship between media use/creation and active citizenship, and exposure to a wide range of perspectives on media and society.
CMS Minors
Student Internships
Communications and Media Studies grants credit for internships at communications organizations (television and radio stations; newspapers, magazines, and book publishers; advertising, marketing communications, and public relations agencies; graphic and web design firms; and multimedia, photography, and film production companies). Each academic year, nearly 100 students receive credit for internships in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, D.C. and other cities in the U.S. and abroad.Capstone Senior Project
CMS offers students the opportunity to do a special in-depth project of their own design during their senior year at Tufts. This project is meant to be a “capstone” experience, tying together diverse classes, internships, and experiences while seeing/hearing/participating in a media culture.Projects can be films, screenplays, advertising or PR campaigns, websites, multimedia projects, media literacy campaigns, photojournalism essays and more.
Prominent Tufts Alumni in Media Fields
- Hank AzariaHank AzariaHenry Albert "Hank" Azaria is an American film, television and stage actor, director, voice actor, and comedian. He is noted for being one of the principal voice actors on the animated television series The Simpsons , on which he performs the voices of Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Chief...
(A85)- Actor and voice actor, The Simpsons, The Birdcage, and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. - Matt BaiMatt BaiMatt Bai writes the “Political Times” column for the New York Times and is a frequent contributor for the Times Magazine, where he covered both the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns. Bai often explores issues of generational change in American politics and society...
(A90)- Political Journalist, The New York Times. - Albert Berger (A79)- Film Producer, Little Miss Sunshine, Election, and Cold Mountain.
- Rob Burnett (A84) - Producer and writer, The Late Show with David Letterman, President/CEO of Worldwide Pants.
- John Davidow- Executive Editor, New Media, WBUR/NPR Boston
- David FaberDavid Faber (CNBC)David H. Faber is a financial journalist and market news analyst for the television cable network CNBC. He is currently the co-host of CNBC's The Strategy Session, and appears on the show Squawk on the Street.-Career:...
(A85)- Financial journalist, CNBC. - Adam FelberAdam FelberAdam Felber is an American political satirist, author, radio personality, actor, humorist, novelist, television writer, and comic book writer.Felber attended Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, and graduated as an English major in 1989...
(A89)- Political satirist and radio personality, NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me. - Micheal FlahertyMicheal Flaherty (educator)Micheal Flaherty is Co-Founder and President of Walden Media, a Production Company, which focuses on films that entertain and educate. Through Walden, he has developed educational materials and programs that insight enthusiasm in the classroom and connect learning to entertainment.Prior to founding...
(A90)- Entertainment executive, President and Co-Founder of Walden Media. - Peter GallagherPeter GallagherPeter Killian Gallagher is an American actor, musician and writer. Since 1980, Gallagher has played many roles in numerous Hollywood films. He starred as Sandy Cohen in the television drama series The O.C. from 2003 to 2007...
(A77)- Golden Globe and SAG award-winning actor, American Beauty, Covert Affairs, and The O.C. - Leslie GelbLeslie GelbLeslie Howard Gelb is a former correspondent for The New York Times and is currently President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is author of published by HarperCollins in March 2009.-Background:...
(A59)- Author and foreign policy correspondent, Council on Foreign Relations, formerly correspondent for The New York Times. - Jeff GreensteinJeff GreensteinJeff Greenstein is an American television writer and producer. His credits include Desperate Housewives, Jake in Progress, Will & Grace, Partners, Friends, and Dream On....
(A84)- Television writer and producer, Desperate Housewives and Friends. - Cary Granat (A90)- Entertainment executive, Co-Founder Bedrock Studios, Co-Founder of Walden Media.
- William HurtWilliam HurtWilliam McGill Hurt is an American stage and film actor. He received his acting training at the Juilliard School, and began acting on stage in the 1970s. Hurt made his film debut as a troubled scientist in the science-fiction feature Altered States , for which he received a Golden Globe nomination...
(A72)- Actor, Robin Hood, Syriana, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Body Heat. - Kara Kennedy (J83)– The late television producer and filmmaker.
- Brian KoppelmanBrian KoppelmanBrian Koppelman is an American screenwriter, novelist, director, and producer. Best known as the co-writer of Ocean's Thirteen, and Rounders, Koppelman has also produced films such as The Illusionist and The Lucky Ones as well as directed films such as Solitary Man.His writing partner is David Levien...
(A88)- Screenwriter, novelist, director, producer, Ocean’s Thirteen, The Illusionist. - Lisa Lax (J86) and Nancy Stern (J86)- Filmmakers and producers at Lookalike Productions, All My Children, Lost, Good Morning America, and Emmanuel’s Gift.
- Jon Levin (A75)- Talent agent
- Andrea Nelson Meigs (J90)- Talent agent
- Ameesha PatelAmeesha PatelAmeesha Patel is an Indian actress who appears in mainly Bollywood movies. Making her acting debut in the blockbuster Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai , Patel won critical praise for her performance in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha , which became one of the biggest hits in the history of Hindi cinema, earning her a ...
(J97)- Bollywood Actress - Oliver PlattOliver PlattOliver James Platt is a Canadian-American actor. He is currently starring in the Showtime original series, The Big C with Laura Linney.-Early life:...
(A83)- Television and film actor, The Big C, Lake Placid, and 2012. - Shari RedstoneShari RedstoneShari Ellin Redstone is an American businesswoman. She is the president of National Amusements, vice-chairman of CBS Corporation and Viacom, and on December 21, 2007 became chairman of Midway Games...
(J75) - Entertainment executive, National Amusements, CBS Corporation, Viacom. - Joshua SeftelJoshua SeftelJoshua Seftel is an American filmmaker. Born in Schenectady, New York, Seftel graduated from Tufts University in the class of 1990 as a pre-med and French literature major. He currently lives in New York City and is represented by Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles, California...
(A90)- Film and Television producer, director, and writer, Queer Eye, War Inc., Taking on the Kennedys. - Neal ShapiroNeal ShapiroNeal B. Shapiro is the president of PBS station Thirteen/WNET New York City, installed in February 2007. He is the chief executive of the station's license holder, the Educational Broadcasting Corporation , which also operates the Long Island, New York, PBS outlet WLIW.- Life and Career :Shapiro...
(A80)- Entertainment executive, President and CEO of the PBS station WNET/WLIW New York City, former president of NBC News. - Ben SilvermanBen SilvermanBenjamin Noah "Ben" Silverman is the founder and CEO of Electus, a next generation entertainment studio staked by IAC's Barry Diller....
(A92)- Entertainment executive, founder and CEO of Electus, former Co-Chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. - Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr.Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr.Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. became the publisher of The New York Times in 1992 and chairman of the board of its owner, The New York Times Company, in 1997, succeeding his father, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger...
(A74)- Publisher, The New York Times. - David Sutherland (A67)- Documentary Filmmaker, Country Boys, The Farmer’s Wife.
- Jonathan TischJonathan TischJonathan M. Tisch has been Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels since 1989, as well as being Co-Chairman of the Board and Member of the Office of the President of Loews Corporation, its parent company. He is the son of Founder Robert Tisch....
(A76)- Co-Founder, Walnut Hill Media. - Steve TischSteve TischSteven "Steve" Tisch is an American businessman. He is the Chairman and Executive Vice President of the New York Giants, the NFL team co-owned by his family, as well as a film and television producer...
(A71)- Film and television producer, Risky Business, Forrest Gump, American History X. - Courtenay Valenti (J85)- Entertainment executive, Warner Brothers Pictures.
- Meredith VieiraMeredith VieiraMeredith Louise Vieira is an American journalist, television personality, and game show host. She is best known for her roles as the original moderator of the ABC talk program The View and co-host of the long-running NBC News morning news program, Today...
(J75)- TV show host, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and formerly Today. - Gary WinickGary WinickGary Winick was an American film director and producer who directed films such as Tadpole and 13 Going on 30...
(A83)- The late Producer and Director, 13 Going on 30, Alias, Tadpole.
Signature CMS Events
In addition to hosting a number of career panels, film series, lectures, and discussions throughout the year, CMS sponsors the following events on a regular basis:Annual Edward R. Murrow Forum on Issues in Journalism
The Edward R. Murrow Forum on Issues in JournalismThe Edward R. Murrow Forum on Issues in Journalism
The Edward R. Murrow Forum on Issues in Journalism is an annual event held at Tufts University. Dedicated to illuminating aspects of the many contributions Edward R. Murrow made to journalism and public diplomacy, the Forum brings together interdisciplinary panels to reflect on Murrow’s legacy and...
is an annual event held at Tufts University. Dedicated to illuminating aspects of the many contributions Edward R. Murrow
Edward R. Murrow
Edward Roscoe Murrow, KBE was an American broadcast journalist. He first came to prominence with a series of radio news broadcasts during World War II, which were followed by millions of listeners in the United States and Canada.Fellow journalists Eric Sevareid, Ed Bliss, and Alexander Kendrick...
made to journalism and public diplomacy, the forum brings together interdisciplinary panels to reflect on Murrow’s legacy and relate it to contemporary issues in journalism. The forum debuted in 2006 and has featured Ted Koppel
Ted Koppel
Edward James "Ted" Koppel is an English-born American broadcast journalist, best known as the anchor for Nightline from the program's inception in 1980 until his retirement in late 2005. After leaving Nightline, Koppel worked as managing editor for the Discovery Channel before resigning in 2008...
, Dan Rather
Dan Rather
Daniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is an American journalist and the former news anchor for the CBS Evening News. He is now managing editor and anchor of the television news magazine Dan Rather Reports on the cable channel HDNet. Rather was anchor of the CBS Evening News for 24 years, from March 9,...
, Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw
Thomas John "Tom" Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors...
, Katie Couric
Katie Couric
Katherine Anne "Katie" Couric is an American journalist and author. She serves as Special Correspondent for ABC News, contributing to ABC World News, Nightline, 20/20, Good Morning America, This Week and primetime news specials...
, Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews
Christopher John "Chris" Matthews is an American news anchor and political commentator, known for his nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, which is televised on the American cable television channel MSNBC...
, former Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis, producer Arnie Reisman, Co-Founder of Walnut Hill Media Jonathan Tisch, Janet Wu of WCVB-TV, Executive Director of Synergy Learning Casey Murrow, and author Lynne Olson.
Inside the Activist’s Study
This discussion series brings together prominent journalists, actors, filmmakers, and a wide array of activist leaders to explore how the media can play a role in bringing about positive social change. Past panelists have included Bill McKibbenBill McKibben
William Ernest "Bill" McKibben is an American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College...
, environmentalist, activist, and founder of 350.org as well as Alan Khazei,
Alan Khazei
Alan Khazei is an American social entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Be the Change, Inc., a Boston-based group dedicated to building national coalitions of non-profit organizations and citizens to enact legislation on issues such as poverty and education...
Co-Founder of City Year, and Amy Goodman
Amy Goodman
Amy Goodman is an American progressive broadcast journalist, syndicated columnist, investigative reporter and author. Goodman is the host of Democracy Now!, an independent global news program broadcast daily on radio, television and the internet.-Early life:Goodman was born in Bay Shore, New York...
, Co-Host of Democracy Now.
Eliot-Pearson Awards for Excellence in Children’s Media
The Eliot-Pearson Award for Excellence in Children’s MediaEliot Pearson Awards
The Eliot-Pearson Award for Excellence in Children’s Media is an award given biennially to honor outstanding contributions in the burgeoning field of children’s media. The award is co-sponsored by the and the Communications and Media Studies Program at Tufts University...
honors outstanding contributions in the burgeoning field of children’s media. The award is co-sponsored by the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development and the Communications and Media Studies Program at Tufts University. In recognition of the fact that media plays a significant role in the lives of children, this award honors commitment to innovation, diversity, non-violence, and developmentally appropriate media. The award is given to organizations, individuals, or companies that have made important inroads in the world of children’s media.
Past recipients include Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
; Alvin Poussaint
Alvin F. Poussaint
Alvin Francis Poussaint is a noted professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and the author of numerous books on child psychiatry, with a particular focus on the raising of African American children.-Biography:...
, child psychiatrist and The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
consultant; Executive Producer of Arthur
Arthur (TV series)
Arthur is an American/Canadian animated educational television series for children, created by Cookie Jar Group and WGBH for the Public Broadcasting Service...
Carol Greenwald; Producers of Dora the Explorer
Dora the Explorer
Dora the Explorer is an American animated television series created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner. Dora the Explorer became a regular series in 2000. The show is carried on the Nickelodeon cable television network, including the associated Nick Jr. channel. It aired on CBS until...
Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh Valdes, and Cathy Galeota; Craig Bartlett,
Craig Bartlett
Craig Michael Bartlett is an animator best known for writing for Rugrats and creating the television series Hey Arnold!.-Career:...
Executive Producer of Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold! is an American animated television series created by Craig Bartlett for Nickelodeon. The show's premise focuses on a fourth grader named Arnold who lives with his grandparents. Episodes center on his experiences navigating big city life while dealing with the problems he and his friends...
; activist Peggy Charren;
Peggy Charren
Peggy Charren founded Action for Children's Television , a national child advocacy organization, in 1968, in an effort to encourage program diversity and eliminate commercial abuses in children's television programming....
software producer and MIT professor Mitchel Resnick
Mitchel Resnick
Mitchel Resnick is LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research, Director of the Okawa Center, and Director of the at the MIT Media Lab. Resnick currently serves as the head of the Media Arts and Sciences academic program, the academic program that grants master's degrees and Ph.Ds at the MIT Media...
; Walden Media President Micheal Flaherty
Micheal Flaherty (educator)
Micheal Flaherty is Co-Founder and President of Walden Media, a Production Company, which focuses on films that entertain and educate. Through Walden, he has developed educational materials and programs that insight enthusiasm in the classroom and connect learning to entertainment.Prior to founding...
; and Linda Ellerbee
Linda Ellerbee
Linda Ellerbee is an American journalist who is most known for several jobs at NBC News, including Washington, DC correspondent, host of the Nickelodeon network's Nick News, and reporter and co-anchor of NBC News Overnight, which was recognized by the jurors of the duPont Columbia Awards as...
of Nick News among others. The 2012 award ceremony will honor LeVar Burton
LeVar Burton
Levardis Robert Martyn Burton, Jr. , professionally known as LeVar Burton, is an American actor, director, producer and author who first came to prominence portraying Kunta Kinte in the 1977 award-winning ABC television miniseries Roots, based on the novel by Alex Haley...
, actor, writer, producer, and host of the award-winning show Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow is an American children's television series aired by PBS from June 6, 1983 until November 10, 2006 that encouraged reading among children. The award-winning public television series garnered over 200 broadcast awards, including scores of Emmy Awards, many for "Outstanding Children's...
.
P.T. Barnum Awards for Excellence in Entertainment
The P.T. Barnum AwardsP.T. Barnum Awards
The P.T. Barnum Awards for Excellence in Entertainment is an annual awards ceremony honoring alumni of Tufts University for their exceptional work in the field of media and entertainment...
for Excellence in Entertainment is an annual awards ceremony honoring alumni of Tufts University for their exceptional work in the field of media and entertainment.
The award began as a 2005 collaboration of The Hill to Hollywood Network of the Los Angeles Tufts Alliance, the Tufts Communications and Media Studies Program, the Tufts Department of Drama and Dance, and the Tufts Office of Alumni Relations in celebration of P.T. Barnum’s love of entertainment and creativity, and the desire to honor members of the Tufts community for their advancement of and success within the media and entertainment industries.
Past recipients include Hank Azaria
Hank Azaria
Henry Albert "Hank" Azaria is an American film, television and stage actor, director, voice actor, and comedian. He is noted for being one of the principal voice actors on the animated television series The Simpsons , on which he performs the voices of Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Chief...
, Meredith Vieira
Meredith Vieira
Meredith Louise Vieira is an American journalist, television personality, and game show host. She is best known for her roles as the original moderator of the ABC talk program The View and co-host of the long-running NBC News morning news program, Today...
, and Steve Tisch
Steve Tisch
Steven "Steve" Tisch is an American businessman. He is the Chairman and Executive Vice President of the New York Giants, the NFL team co-owned by his family, as well as a film and television producer...
among others.