University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication

05/19/2026

What does it take to land a role at Sony Music Group straight out of college?

For Madilyne Nguyen-Acosta '21, it came down to three things: authenticity, a strong sense of purpose, and knowing how to take full advantage of every opportunity in front of her.

As a public relations graduate of the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, Madi didn't wait for her career to come to her. She studied abroad in Ghana, led career development initiatives as PRSSA chapter president, competed for—and won—a coveted MAIP fellowship, and leaned on SOJC faculty and advisors who invested in her success.

Now, as a diversity, equity, and inclusion specialist at Sony Music Group, she has three tips for students preparing to enter the workforce:

Stay grounded in your why. Be authentic. And take every professional development opportunity you can find—inside school and beyond.

The SOJC's PR program is built to give students that foundation: tangible skills, hands-on experience, and a network of faculty and industry professionals ready to help you launch.

🔗 Read Madi's full story: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/news/alumni-profile-madi-nguyen-acosta

🎓 Explore the SOJC public relations program: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/public-relations

05/14/2026

The University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication offers sports communication opportunities that students can’t get anywhere else. And when you donate today for Ducks Give day, you’re investing in hands-on, experiential learning that gives students unmatched access to the world of sports media.

🫶 Support our students: https://ducksgive.uoregon.edu/giving-day/112779/department/112788

This year, your contribution on supports the SOJC’s new Sports Communication Fund, designed to remove financial barriers so every student—whether they major in journalism, public relations, advertising, media studies, or one of our graduate programs—can participate in hands-on opportunities that build portfolios, networks, and confidence.

Go Ducks! 💚💛🦆

05/13/2026

The UO’s Ducks Give day of giving is TOMORROW, May 14–but we’re giving you a sneak peek today. Give today or tomorrow by midnight to support sports communication opportunities that students can't get anywhere else.

Sports communication is an exploding field, and SOJC students majoring in journalism, public relations, advertising, and media studies are at the center of it because the SOJC is uniquely positioned to give students hands-on experiences, real-world connections, and the kind of career-launching opportunities that simply can't be found at any other college or university.

Watch the video to hear from journalism major Shane Balian ’26 and public relations major Destinee Kaya ’26, two SOJC students who are turning these sports comm opportunities into careers.

But experiences like these require funding. Your gift today or tomorrow makes it possible for students to learn in the field, make professional connections, and build the networks that will carry them through their careers. Don't miss your chance to make an impact on Ducks Give! 🦆

👉 Give here: https://ducksgive.uoregon.edu/sojc/

04/28/2026

We’re proud to share Ko-Kwel: He Carries a Story—an immersive augmented reality experience created by Snap AR Scholars and nominated for the AWE Auggie Award for Societal Impact.

Snap AR Scholars is a student-led creative agency and research initiative housed within UO's Oregon Reality Lab. Students learn to design, build, and test immersive AR experiences using Snapchat's Lens Studio, with real-world social impact as the goal.

For this project, the team partnered with Dr. Jason Younker, past Chief of the Coquille Indian Tribe, to bring to life a story that survived the 1954 Western Oregon Indian Termination Act—legislation that stripped dozens of tribes of federal recognition, triggering cultural erasure and Indigenous diaspora.

Built for Snap Spectacles, the experience guides users through Coquille ancestral homelands, fostering cultural understanding and a deeper connection to Coquille communities and places. It's a powerful example of how AR can serve as a tool for heritage preservation and Indigenous oral storytelling.

▶️ Watch the trailer: https://vimeo.com/1183981293
🗳️ Vote for Ko-Kwel by May 14 at https://auggies.awexr.com/
1. Log in or create an account
2. Search "Ko-Kwel"
3. Cast your vote

Congratulations to the Snap AR Scholars team and to all who made this work possible:
Leila Okahata
Isaac Wu
Roberto V Jolliffe III
Songyi Borello
Tai Le
Luke Walker
Thu Do
Kathleen Darby
Nishat Parvez
Isabella Cortez
Jason de Parrie-Turner
Emily Schumann

04/22/2026

What if your next public relations strategy session started with a soccer match? ⚽

In our latest video, SOJC Professor of Practice Attila Schillinger breaks down the fundamentals of public relations using the "beautiful game" as a playbook, and the parallels are sharper than you'd expect.

Whether you're a seasoned communications pro or just stepping onto the pitch, here's what the game can teach you about PR:

•Timing and targeting are everything.

•One wrong claim can cost you your reputation.

•Words, culture, and audience always matter.

•A strong game plan builds communication confidence.

Watch the full video and level up your PR game. 🎓

The Soccer Guide to Public Relations

04/15/2026

After a decade producing videos for major brands, SOJC alum Zach Putnam wanted more than commercial success. He wanted meaning.

Through the Multimedia Storytelling Master’s program at the UO School of Journalism and Communication Portland, Putnam reshaped his career around ethical, people-centered documentary work and nonprofit storytelling.

Read our latest story by recent grad Kaia Mikulka to find out how his SOJC journey continues to influence both his filmmaking and his teaching.

🔗 https://journalism.uoregon.edu/news/zach-putnam-nonprofit-storytelling

04/06/2026

Mark your calendars: SOJC Commencement 2026 is Monday, June 15, and we can’t wait to celebrate our graduates! 🎓

Get details about the big day: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/commencement

04/03/2026

We are proud to announce that Dr. Regina Lawrence has been named the Edwin L. Artzt Dean of the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication, following a national search.

Dr. Lawrence brings deep expertise in political communication, local news ecosystems, and the role of media in democracy—along with a proven record of growing programs, building community, and leading with vision. Since joining SOJC in 2015, she has helped expand the SOJC’s Portland-based professional master's programs, the Agora Journalism Center, and the Oregon Reality (OR) Lab, among many other contributions.

At a pivotal moment for both higher education and the journalism and communication industries, we are confident that Dr. Lawrence's leadership will help SOJC navigate change and continue to thrive. Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved honor! 🎊

Learn more about Dr. Lawrence: https://provost.uoregon.edu/regina-lawrence-named-edwin-l-artzt-dean-school-journalism-and-communication


University of Oregon Portland

04/01/2026

Step inside the UO School of Journalism and Communication’s new state-of-the-art multimedia studios in Portland.

In this video, Multimedia Storytelling Master’s student Kaiya Laguardia-Yonamine gives a behind-the-scenes tour of the spaces where SOJC graduate students are producing podcasts, recording voiceovers, experimenting with animation and world-building, and bringing multimedia stories to life.

The facilities include:
🎙️ An audio studio with an Allen & Heath 16-channel mixer, JBL reference speakers, and a Mac editing station running Adobe Suite.
🎧 A sound booth equipped with three Shure SM7B microphones and a Zoom H6 Essentials recorder for professional-quality interviews and voice work.
🎥 A production studio with an LED wall, 20-foot volume space for animation and immersive environments, cycloramas for photo and video shoots, and a high-powered workstation running Blender, Maya, and Unity.
It’s all part of the hands-on learning experience in the SOJC’s Multimedia Storytelling Master’s program.
📹 Watch the whole video: https://youtu.be/CKv5nHQAsMc

🎓 Interested in creating powerful multimedia stories?
Apply by May 15: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/academics/graduate-programs/multimedia-journalism/apply

03/19/2026

“Network early.”

That’s the biggest piece of advice Kelsy Alston, account director at Recess Studios in Portland, shared with students at the SOJC.

In this video, she reflects on her career path—from exploring options after graduation to discovering the fast-paced, multifaceted world of agency life. We asked her three questions, and her advice is simple but powerful: Seek out mentors, ask questions, and don’t let intimidation stop you from making connections.

She also shares a personal story about the faculty support she received as a student, highlighting the kind of community that makes the SOJC experience unique.