UW Department of Communication

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UW Department of Communication

We foster and teach equitable and ethical communicative practices in an intellectually diverse, innovative, and interdisciplinary environment.

The Department of Communication at the University of Washington is committed to rigorous, relevant scholarship that speaks to public challenges and promotes social progress. Communication is foundational to our political, cultural, and economic systems; our interpersonal relationships; and to the constitution of our individual and collective identities in an increasingly diverse and globalized wor

ld. The ability to connect, communicate, and collaborate on issues and ideas has never been more critical. As such, Communication as a field of study has never been more relevant, with partisan rhetoric dominating the news; social media and data analytics reshaping public life; seismic paradigm shifts transforming journalism and politics; and our personal, familial, and community interactions facing new challenges. Our department is a leader in the field for relevant, engaged scholarship that advances our discipline, prepares our students for a changing professional and civic landscape, and fosters connections within and outside the academy. We share the University of Washington’s commitment to “being public,” and we embrace our role as global citizens, rooted in a dynamic local community.

05/26/2026

UW COM is headed to NYC October 21-24, 2026!

Interested in exploring communication careers, meeting industry professionals, and building your network? Apply for the Autumn 2026 Career Exploration Trip to New York City.

What To Know:
- Open to UW Communication undergraduate students
- Limited spots available
- $250 student cost (travel, lodging, and meals covered!)
- Apply by June 15 at 11:59pm at the link in our bio!
- Questions? Email [email protected] or stop by CMU 102A

https://com.uw.edu/career-kickstart/career-exploration-trips/

05/21/2026

Five University of Washington Journalism and Public Interest Communication students spent three intensive days inside The Seattle Times newsroom in late April, earning publication opportunities, professional recognition and career connections at the newspaper’s prestigious Best of the Northwest Symposium.

The annual symposium brings selected student journalists from across the Pacific Northwest into the newsroom for an immersive experience that includes hands-on training, mentorship from professional reporters and editors, newsroom shadowing, and a high-pressure live reporting exercise that culminates in publication opportunities and end-of-week honors.

Full article linked below.

https://com.uw.edu/post/uw-journalism-students-tackle-seattle-times-symposium/

05/14/2026

Earlier this spring, the Center for Journalism, Media and Democracy welcomed USC Associate Professor Mike Ananny for a thought-provoking conversation on how generative AI shapes public understanding, accountability, and society.

The discussion explored why treating AI as a public problem is essential to understanding its broader social and political impacts. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important conversation on media, technology, and public life.

05/13/2026

Inside Seattle’s Approach to AI

Join us for a conversation between Lisa Qian, the city of Seattle’s first AI officer, and CJMD fellow Austin Jenkins on how Seattle is approaching the responsible and innovative use of artificial intelligence across city operations and public services.

The discussion will include governance, implementation, and the challenges of bringing AI into the public sector, with time for audience Q&A.

📅 Wednesday, May 27 | 6:00 PM
📍 CMU 126
🔗 More info found here: https://cjmd.com.uw.edu/upcoming-event-inside-seattles-approach-to-ai/

05/07/2026

On April 13, NPR spotlighted Professor LeiLani Nishime (University of Washington) on It’s Been a Minute.

In the conversation, she shares insights on the rise of “Wasian” identity and the increasing visibility of mixed-race Asian identity in the U.S.

🎧 Listen to the full segment:
https://www.npr.org/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5768263/welcome-to-the-republic-of-wasia

05/06/2026

Inside Seattle’s Approach to AI

Join us for a conversation between Lisa Qian, the city of Seattle’s first AI officer, and CJMD fellow Austin Jenkins on how Seattle is approaching the responsible and innovative use of artificial intelligence across city operations and public services.

The discussion will include governance, implementation, and the challenges of bringing AI into the public sector, with time for audience Q&A.

📅 Wednesday, May 27 | 6:00 PM
📍 CMU 226
🔗 More info found here: https://cjmd.com.uw.edu/upcoming-event-inside-seattles-approach-to-ai/

05/04/2026

Sometimes a single conversation can completely change your trajectory.

Years ago, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and UW Comm alum Evelyn Iritani (’78) was chatting with UW history professor Richard McKinnon when he mentioned something shocking: during WWII, he and his American father were traded to the U.S., but they were forced to leave his Japanese mother behind.

"I had never heard of the exchanges," Evelyn recalls.

That brief conversation sparked a years-long investigative journey. The result is her incredible new book, Safe Passage.

Evelyn spent years digging through global archives, including our own UW Tateuchi East Asia Library, to uncover the largely forgotten story of how the U.S. and Japan quietly traded nearly 6,000 civilians by sea at the height of the war. But her book goes far beyond the diplomatic logistics. It dives deep into the devastating human cost, particularly for the Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated and used as leverage by their own government.

We are so proud of Evelyn Iritani for dedicating her time and talent to bringing this complex, lost chapter of history out of the shadows.

Discover how Evelyn Iritani brought this lost chapter of history to light in UW Magazine:
https://magazine.washington.edu/feature/evelyn-iritani-tells-of-diplomatic-trade-efforts-in-wwii-with-her-new-book-safe-passage/
💜💛

04/27/2026

2026 Scheidel Lecture: Preempting Public Misconceptions About Controversial Science

On April 1, the UW Department of Communication hosted its annual Scheidel Lecture, a tradition since 1998 that brings distinguished scholars to engage with faculty and students pursuing advanced study in communication.

We were honored to welcome Dr. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. She is also the cofounder of FactCheck.org and SciCheck.

Dr. Jamieson explored how a “mental models” approach—using visual, verbal, and animated tools—can increase public understanding of science and reduce susceptibility to misconceptions, particularly in climate and health communication.

04/23/2026

🎉 Happy Husky Giving Day!

Thank you to everyone supporting the University of Washington today. Your generosity helps make a difference and strengthen our Husky community.

➡️ Learn more or give: https://com.uw.edu/about/make-a-gift/

04/17/2026

Why Everything Feels Political Now: How Media Turn Health and Science Into Public Battlegrounds

Join CJMD fellow Jisoo Kim for a discussion about her recent research on how media turn health and science into political debates. Learn how politicization shapes trust, communication, and public views.

📅 Wednesday, May 13 | 3:30 PM
📍 CMU 126 | 2023 King Ln NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Register here: https://cjmd.com.uw.edu/upcoming-event-why-everything-feels-political-now-how-media-turn-health-and-science-into-public-battlegrounds/

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4109 E STEVENS Way NE Ste 102
Seattle, WA
98105

Website

https://com.uw.edu/, https://linktr.ee/uwcom

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