The Harrington School features a network of collaborative, cross-disciplinary teams that engage in research and scholarship that advance communication and media and provide students with experiential learning opportunities that prepare them to succeed in an increasingly globalized communication ecosystem.
Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence
As artificial intelligence is increasingly used in newsrooms around the world, Harrington researchers are working to understand perceptions of AI-generated content, as well as developing a framework for understanding AI media use in the developing world.
Media Studies
Mass media touches virtually every aspect of modern life. Harrington faculty study how media outlets conceptualize issues related to race, sex and gender, how communities can be more resilient to disinformation and propaganda, how independent filmmaking has evolved and adapted to new media landscapes and much more.
Science Communication
Climate change and other environmental challenges have made public understanding of science a pressing societal issue. In the Harrington School, researchers use cutting-edge digital technologies to engage communities to address large-scale environmental challenges, study how environmental messaging affects people’s attitudes and behaviors, and work to elevate the contributions of people from traditionally underrepresented groups in science
Social Media
Social media has changed the way people consume information and interact with each other. Harington researchers explore the societal implications of social media–for example, how social platforms influenced people’s willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine–along with applied study of how corporations and nonprofits position their brands in the social space. In Harrington’s Social Media Lab, students have the opportunity to work directly with leading companies of public relations firms to learn research skills applied in real-world applications.
