Department of Communication
About Us
By its very nature, Communication is a dynamic and interdisciplinary department. Our department is organized around the study, ideas and understandings of three key areas:
- Cultural identities and relationships
- Textual analysis
- Structures and institutions
Our department distinctively addresses pressing contemporary issues in Communication and media studies, specifically:
- The impact of globalization on cultural industries, popular texts, and communication politics.
- The role of new media technologies in historical and current contexts.
- Multiculturalism and the role of cultural identity in interpersonal relationships, cultural production and consumption, and social movements.
- The comparative state of democracy and citizenship in rhetorical argument and institutional practice.
These areas give our department a unique identity and relate directly to New Orleans and its position in the United States, the Americas, and the world.
With over 150 majors, our faculty members offer a range of theoretical, historical, and praxis-oriented courses. We offer a Film Studies major and minor, and contribute to the Cultural Studies minor. Our faculty and department also maintain partnerships with African Diaspora Studies, Latin American Studies, the Digital Media Production major, and Women Studies. As part of our commitment to New Orleans and the University’s undergraduate public service graduation requirement, we offer several service learning courses in video production, media literacy, and cultural production for local nonprofit agencies, educational institutions and businesses.
Calling All Communication Majors!
People United for Armstrong Park (PUfAP) needs your help!! PUfAP is a volunteer-based 501c3 non-profit organization that led the community effort to re-open Armstrong Park in New Orleans. They are active citizens sowing seeds in sacred ground to produce opportunities to preserve the past, promote the present and endow the future culture-bearers of New Orleans.
Their primary work is coordinating and collaborating with individuals and institutions to make the park a nurturing environment for the arts and a premier hub of the city's cultural economy. Here's how you can help: PUfAP is looking for students to help with their "Jazz in the Park" music series. In particular, they have the following positions available:
Media Coordinator
The media coordinator will be in charge of contacting all print, television and radio media outlets in the greater New Orleans area to ensure that "Jazz in the Park" is thoroughly publicized.
Advertising Coordinator
The advertising coordinator will have the responsibility of coordinating all advertisement related to "Jazz in the Park." This includes, but is not limited to, contacting local business and hotels to spread the word about the series, distributing flyers and placing ads in local newspapers and/or magazines.
Social Media Coordinator
The social media coordinator will run and operate PUfAP's facebook and twitter page throughout the "Jazz in the Park" series.
Interested students should email their resumes to kristen.rome@gmail.com as they are looking to fill these positions immediately. PUfAP looks forward to working with you to bring the spirit of New Orleans culture back home to its rightful place in the Treme and Louis Armstrong Park!
The "Jazz in the Park" series began on April 5, 2012 and will continue until May 10, 2012. The main acts include Michael Baptiste, James Andrews, Donald Harrison and Kermit Ruffins.
MediaNOLA Preserves and Connects Cultural Heritage
Before Hurricane Katrina, few people were worried about the way New Orleans’ cultural heritage was being preserved. It didn’t occur to people that it was in any kind of danger. Katrina snapped that issue into focus for many, including one Tulane professor, who decided to do something about it.
“Tulane lost its media library in the basement of the Howard-Tilton Library,” says Vicki Mayer, associate professor of communication. “Being a media professor, I was concerned about the way in which our libraries were preserving some of this wonderful culture that New Orleans has.”
Read the full story here.
Communication Student, Jay Gard, Wins Best of Festival
Communication student Jay Gard was recently awarded Best of Festival at the 2012 BEA Festival of Media Arts. His original TV series pilot "Fetch" was selected from the top-ranked entries in each of the student competitions to win the BEA Best of Festival King Foundation Award.
As a Best of Festival winner, Jay will receive a $1,000 cash award from the Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation and will be honored during a special awards ceremony at the BEA convention. Learn more about the festival here.
Communication Dept., Tulane U., 219 Newcomb Hall, 1229 Broadway, New Orleans, LA 70118 504-865-5730 comminfo@tulane.edu