WASHINGTON – New software now allows millions of Americans to unlock the free FM radio receivers built into almost every smartphone sold in the US. Called NextRadio, the free app unlocks the FM receiver, enabling the phone to receive all local FM radio stations for free without using the cell phone network, so there are no data charges or other costs. Just remember to recharge your battery. NextRadio only works on Android cell phones, and not yet on all Android phones. Originally developed with Sprint, NextRadio now runs on all major US cell phone networks. The new app does more……
Month: January 2015
Geoffrey Baum quoted on Vice President Biden's push for free community college
Managing director Geoffrey Baum was quoted in The Argonaut after meeting Vice President Joe Biden, who visited West Los Angeles College to discuss the Obama administration's plan to subsidize community college fees. The initiative would "free up resources to add classes, innovate new programs and develop other aspects of student support," said Baum…….
Policymakers and industry leaders take steps to improve cell phone capabilities during emergencies
Mobile phones today offer enormous potential in regards to public safety and emergency preparedness, but current infrastructure and systems present substantial challenges as well. The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands and the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy have launched an initiative to research these issues, explore solutions and define minimum capabilities of cell phones for health care, public safety and other public services. On Sunday and Monday, 20 high-level government officials, top mobile technology industry professionals, public advocates and entrepreneurs attended an event hosted by CCLP in Washington, DC. The event, entitled "Mobile Phones for Public……
Latonero speaks at AAAS conference on big data and human rights
On January 15 and 16, research director Mark Latonero spoke at the Science and Human Rights Coalition's "Big Data and Human Rights" conference in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Sessions explored how human rights can be affected by the collection and analysis of big data, the rapidly growing collections of information that can now be processed thanks to recent technological advances. "The application of big data in the human rights domain is still really in its infancy," said Latonero. "The positives and negatives are not always clear and often exist in tension……
On Many Fronts, Women Are Fighting for Better Opportunity in Hollywood
The New York Times featured faculty fellow Dr. Stacy L. Smith, highlighting her research at USC Annenberg on gender and diversity in film…….
Senior fellow publishing new book on California as she wraps up CIR project on armed security guards
As project editor on a two-month long assignment with the Center for Investigative Reporting, CCLP senior fellow Narda Zacchino oversaw reporter Shoshana Walter's and others' six part series "Hired Guns." The team reported on armed security guards across the country who endanger public safety through a haphazard system of lax laws, minimal oversight and almost no accountability. The project includes a graphic novel and an interactive map. Zacchino and Walter are hoping that the series will raise awareness about this issue and change policies across the country. CNN teamed up with CIR and featured two segments on the story,……
Hundreds gather in Annenberg Hall to watch President Obama’s penultimate State of the Union address
On Tuesday night about 250 people packed the new Wallis Annenberg Hall to watch President Obama's sixth State of the Union address, the Republican response by Sen. Joni Ernst and a panel discussion that included two CCLP senior fellows. The event, which according to CCLP senior fellow Dan Schnur had the largest on-campus turnout for a political event since the 2012 election night viewing, was co-sponsored by USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, the Center on Communication Leadership & Policy and the Unruh Institute of Politics. See more event photos in our Flickr album……
State Of The Union 2015: How Will The SOTU Shape Obama’s Legacy?
Senior fellow Dan Schnur was quoted in the International Business Times on President Obama's recent breakneck pace. "He realizes that he doesn't have a lot of time left in office, and he realizes that he's not going to be able to accomplish a great deal through Congress," Schnur said. "Those two motivators seem to be driving him forward."……
Arabs’ Public Diplomacy Vacuum
The Huffington Post published an article by faculty fellow and Annenberg Vice Dean Philip Seib on the "public diplomacy vacuum" in Arab nations…….
Mark Latonero speaks at the AAAS Science & Human Rights Coalition meeting
Research director Mark Latonero is speaking at t the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Science & Human Rights Coalition meeting in Washington D.C., discussing big data and human rights. Read the full agenda here…….