New US student exchange aims to double college-level exchange students to, from Latin America

WASHINGTON – The newest U.S. educational exchange initiative was the focus of this month's CCLP Communications Leadership Forum here. Called "100,000 Strong in the Americas", the public-private partnership will try to nearly double the number of college students going between U.S. and Latin American colleges and universities. Citing what he termed "an East-West bias," Daniel Restrepo, former Special Assistant to President Obama for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said it seems that U.S. study abroad programs focus almost exclusively on Europe…….Continue Reading New US student exchange aims to double college-level exchange students to, from Latin America

In memoriam: Senior fellow Laurie Becklund

Senior fellow Laurie Becklund, an award-winning journalist and former staff writer at the Los Angeles Times, passed away Sunday night at her home in Hollywood from metastatic breast cancer. She was 66. The USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership & Policy mourns the loss of Becklund, who exemplified CCLP’s mission of shaping the future of news and civic discourse. “Aileen and I knew and admired Laurie for more than 30 years,” said CCLP director Geoffrey Cowan. “She was a courageous reporter but an even more courageous cancer victim. We were lucky to have had her in our lives.” Becklund spoke……Continue Reading In memoriam: Senior fellow Laurie Becklund

Americans can now listen to FM radio on their cell phone – for free

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……Continue Reading Americans can now listen to FM radio on their cell phone – for free

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…….Continue Reading Geoffrey Baum quoted on Vice President Biden's push for free community college

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……Continue Reading Policymakers and industry leaders take steps to improve cell phone capabilities during emergencies

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……Continue Reading Latonero speaks at AAAS conference on big data and human rights

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,……Continue Reading Senior fellow publishing new book on California as she wraps up CIR project on armed security guards