This year, USC Annenberg Media is dedicating itself to the creation of its first ever International Desk, providing students with the tools and skills needed to report on international news. USC Annenberg Media is the official media organization of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. The International Desk will serve as a bridge between USC and the international community, and is dedicated to providing content relevant to students, staff, faculty and audiences everywhere. More specifically, the desk has several goals:
- To approach international events from a USC angle. The desk looks to understand how foreign affairs impact the USC population, as well as what students think about what is going on around the world. For example, assessing USC student’s opinion of the new president of the Philippines
- To provide journalism students with an outlet for international reporting. Through partnerships with foreign universities and media organizations, the International Desk allows Annenberg students to explore foreign reporting and pursue their interests while still at USC. For example, dispatching one of our students journalists to Tijuana to report on the surge of Haitian migrants.
- To inform students of international issues in engaging ways. The desk releases a weekly “explainer” video that highlights a newsworthy topic that students may not otherwise learn about, such as the latest protests in South Africa.
- To serve USC’s international students. The desk produces content relevant to international students and highlights members of the community who may otherwise not be covered by other media outlets. For example, exploring the Russian-American community’s response to the US elections.
Annenberg Media operates based on student interest and initiative, and while faculty help guide journalists through the reporting process, students write and produce the content entirely. The International Desk also follows this guiding principle, and is meant to serve as a voice for students, by students at USC.
If you are interested in learning more about the International Desk, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact us at: annenbergintl@gmail.com.