k

 The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back ac : s rd r g b g

a ea in Y k rw an o w o loo C g f e in SPECIAL SECTION SPECIAL T h k oo Agenda Agenda L At the conclusion of his tenure as dean, Cowan will embark on a yearlong sabbatical as as sabbatical yearlong a on embark will Cowan dean, as tenure his of conclusion the At After more than 10 years as dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication, Communication, for School Annenberg USC the of dean as years 10 than more After University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government before returning to USC Annenberg Annenberg USC to returning before Government of School Kennedy F. John University’s wealth of new research centers. centers. research new of wealth Harvard at Policy Public and Politics Press, the on Center Shorenstein Joan the at fellow a Cowan leaves his post in July. His legacy is impressive by any standard, evidenced by by evidenced standard, any by impressive is legacy His July. in post his leaves Cowan growth unprecedented students; and faculty of number and quality the in increases dramatic a and advances; curricular pioneering of introduction the research; funded and endowment in looking ahead to his own future as well. as future own his to ahead looking exploring historic events of contemporary importance while while importance contemporary of events historic exploring Roosevelt’s 1912 presidential campaign and the birth of the the of birth the and campaign presidential 1912 Roosevelt’s machine— time figurative his in is Cowan election, primary Engrossed in the book he is writing about Theodore Theodore about writing is he book the in Engrossed Geoffrey Cowan says he’s having fun living in 1912. 1912. in living fun having he’s says Cowan Geoffrey

AA n n n n e e n n b b e e r r g g

Cowan Geoffrey Geoffrey 1996 Annenberg. Kaplan joins USC Associate Dean Martin 1997 becomes dean. Geoffrey Cowan In late November, 1996  The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back

“Geoff Cowan has managed to be ahead of so many curves in our ferocious energy, disciplined intellect, wide-ranging curiosity packaged in a personality that inspires others to give their best the institution he served much better than he found it.” line of work that it is impossible to do justice to them all. His curiosity. convention. Both men also are known for their boundless energy and seemingly infinite sweeping reforms in the nomination process during the 1968 Democratic presidential motivated Cowan, at age 26, fresh out of Yale Law School, to advocate—and achieve— himself fully into the Roosevelt book. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science to further the field of public diplomacy, serve as guest editor of an upcoming volume of Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers”; and, in keeping with his longstanding efforts public’s right to know as part of a national college tour of his award-winning play “Top Journalism); participate in discussions about the government’s need for secrecy and the collaboration with Orville Schell, retiring dean of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of 2008. as the holder of the new Annenberg Family Chair in Communication Leadership in fall as well. Each stop on his way has been a success; each has left and repeated willingness to try new things as they emerge are His longstanding interest in Roosevelt is fitting. It was Roosevelt’s 1912 campaign that During his sabbatical, he also plans to explore innovative business models for news (in 1997 —Hodding Carter III University Professor of Leadership and Public Policy, University of North Carolina Former President and CEO of the Knight Foundation and Former Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs program. identity and branding part of its new graphic its distinctive “A” as USC Annenberg unveils production. supervision—begins under professional students working by Annenberg produced entirely a nightly newscast Annenberg TV News—

USC Annenberg of Councilors. establishes its first Board USC Annenberg • • Resea 1998

that Bind Transforming the Ties Metamorphosis: Gould School of Law) and Policy (with USC Communication Law Center for r c h I nitiati 1998 v es : . And he intends to immerse of the builds upon the success Program. The program and Communication the Online Journalism The school inaugurates Geneva. Prague, Buenos Aires and Hong Kong, Paris, Amsterdam, Singapore, today include London, abroad programs, which undergraduate study- inaugurates Online Journalism  The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back The school initiates initiates school The study-abroad graduate London, in programs Hong and Capetown Kong. globalization. Thomas Thomas globalization. dean associate Hollihan, academic and faculty for the spearheads affairs, process. 1999 USC Provost USC —C.L. Max Nikias Max —C.L. the study of the impact impact the of study the communication new of the 3) technologies; role the of study entertainment, of and communication study the 4) and culture; consequences the of of potentialities and The school’s strategic strategic school’s The approval, garners plan four targeting pursuit the initiatives—1) in communication of 2) interest; public the revolution in remarkable ways. ways. remarkable in revolution the Annenberg School to the the to School Annenberg the field.” its in top forward the communication communication the forward In the process he has moved moved has he process the In “Dean Cowan has helped carry carry helped has Cowan “Dean created laboratories. The The laboratories. created state- a includes project auditorium of-the-art 220. seating The school completes completes school The $18 an of one phase of renovation million building, Annenberg the linking effectively more wings west and east the creating facility, the of community of sense a high integrating and into technology newly and classrooms : The The dubs dubs pansions r Ex r la unifying the original Annenberg graduate school founded by Ambassador Walter Walter Ambassador by founded school graduate Annenberg original the unifying hen Cowan became dean in early November 1996, he took on the daunting task of of task daunting the on took he 1996, November early in dean became Cowan hen —launched earlier earlier —launched u ic “He radiates a sense of enjoyment and an appreciation of the enterprise,” says Larry Larry says enterprise,” the of appreciation an and enjoyment of sense a radiates “He But unlike Roosevelt, whose favorite proverb was “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” stick,” big a carry and softly “Speak was proverb favorite whose Roosevelt, unlike But “It can be exhausting to be around Geoff Cowan,” says Alex Jones, director of the the of director Jones, Alex says Cowan,” Geoff around be to exhausting be can “It Center for Specialized Specialized for Center UC (with Journalism Berkeley) Western Knight Knight Western

1999 Curr • Internet scholars and and scholars Internet practitioners. in the year—which year—which the in Standard Industry for “must-read” a as Review Annenberg in 1971, the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, and the School School the and Sciences, and Arts Communication of Department the 1971, in Annenberg Transforming the Annenberg School Annenberg the Transforming W Gross, director of the School of Communication. “He has woven together fairly disparate disparate fairly together woven has “He Communication. of School the of director Gross, participation.” shared and enterprise common of sense a all giving groups, and cultures Cowan relies more on his infectious enthusiasm and inspirational leadership to encourage encourage to leadership inspirational and enthusiasm infectious his on more relies Cowan become. could school the what for vision far-reaching his implement to others Shorenstein Center. “There is that apparently bottomless spring of energy, that constantly constantly that energy, of spring bottomless apparently that is “There Center. Shorenstein flying sparks like off throws he that ideas of shower non-stop that and intellect, churning wheel.” sharpening a off 1998 • Curr • • • • Resea 2000

 Journalism Institute for Justice and Wisconsin) (with University of Local News Archives Coverage for Broadcast Political Reliable Resources Journalism in Television Political Awards for Excellence Walter Cronkite in Popular Culture Image of the Journalist The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back ic r u c la h I r Ex nitiati “The last ten years have been a steady stream of such leading figures into his introductory journalism classroom and to a cultural icons he has associated with in his career. Throughout his tenure, he has brought Norman Lear Center. communication revolution,” says Marty Kaplan, associate dean and director of the school’s centers, institutes and research projects that have been at the leading edge of the reputation, endowment, faculty and size, and the creation of a constellation of new cohesive entity, let alone a single whole greater than its parts. of Journalism. Although officially merged in 1994, the three academic units were not yet a by far the best the School has ever known.” pansions Early on, Cowan began calling upon many of the heads of state, media giants and “Not only did he do that, but he also oversaw unprecedented growth in the school’s v 2000 es : : —Joe Saltzman Journalism professor the London School of communication with M.A. program in global pioneers a new joint USC Annenberg •

creation of the Norman school announces of Marty Kaplan, the research program. leading entertainment emerges as the nation’s The Lear Center soon of 21st century life. as a defining concept to study entertainment interdisciplinary effort Lear Center, an Under the direction 2001 for Wallis Annenberg. endowed chairs, named the school’s first two Foundation creates gift, the Annenberg With a $6 million Society Hollywood, Health and • Resea 2001 institutions. degrees from both of the program receive Economics. Graduates

Pew Hispanic Center r c h I nitiati v es : political practices. commission on Internet to chair a bipartisan appoints Dean Cowan Governor Gray Davis begins in 2002. His official appointment School of Journalism. acting director of the Michael Parks becomes Los Angeles Times journalist and former Pulitzer Prize-winning editor  The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back million grant. Journalist Journalist grant. million Diane author and previously who Winston, and religion directed NYU at projects media joins Northwestern, and inaugural as faculty the in chair the of holder 2003. classes. Participants have have Participants classes. NAMES FEW A included COME. TO James and S. John The Foundation Knight L. Knight the establishes and Media in Chair $1.5 a with Religion Los Angeles Angeles Los San Jose Jose San , of the new Center for for Center new the of Journalism of Study the Democracy. and direction the Under the Monge, Peter of the inaugurates school Colloquia, Annenberg scholars top brings which present to campus to visit and research Former chairman and and chairman Former the of publisher News Mercury USC the joins Harris Jay as faculty Annenberg Annenberg Wallis the and Journalism in Chair director and Democracy fostering proficiency proficiency fostering platforms media all in after encounter will they graduation. student scholarships. scholarships. student Journalism of School The signature its introduces which in curriculum core undergraduate all of students—regardless study— of track their and orientation take print, in courses skills online and broadcast concurrently, media resources for new new for resources new projects, research and positions faculty : : es v pansions Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Urban and Secretary Former Housing of Executive Chairman, CityView Chairman, Executive —Henry Cisneros —Henry nitiati r Ex r h I h la c u r who Cowan recruited first as a visiting professor and then as director of the School School the of director as then and professor visiting a as first recruited Cowan who

ic “When students have the opportunity to be exposed to such an amazing range of of range amazing an such to exposed be to opportunity the have students “When While the caliber and quantity of events and speakers at the school fostered USC USC fostered school the at speakers and events of quantity and caliber the While “That Geoff has the largest Rolodex I’ve ever seen has been a great help,” notes notes help,” great a been has seen ever I’ve Rolodex largest the has Geoff “That

Program USC Annenberg / Annenberg USC Journalism Arts Getty Program for the Study Study the for Program Broadcasting Public of Strategic Public Public Strategic Center Relations Annenberg USC

class institution and, most importantly, touched the lives of of lives the touched importantly, most and, institution class students in profound ways.” profound in students enhancing the Annenberg School know he has created a world- a created has he know School Annenberg the enhancing USC Annenberg’s Annenberg’s USC growth continued financial adding and Foundation establishes a establishes Foundation endowment million $100 fueling school, the for The Annenberg Annenberg The Curr • • • 2002 Resea people, it’s potentially a life-changing experience,” says Cowan. “They become part part become “They Cowan. says experience,” life-changing a potentially it’s people, Annenberg’s reputation as a leader in the field, the primary beneficiary remains the remains beneficiary primary the field, the in leader a as reputation Annenberg’s students. Michael Parks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former editor of the the of editor former and journalist Prize-winning Pulitzer the Parks, Michael Times Journalism. of wide range of public events at the school. school. the at events public of range wide Those of us who have watched his energy and dedication to to dedication and energy his watched have who us of Those 2002 “Geoff Cowan made an immensely important difference at USC. USC. at difference important immensely an made Cowan “Geoff  The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back from the Center for the Digital Future—which conducts a widely respected longitudinal decade further strengthen the school’s rich academic environment. They have ranged faculty,” he says. “That’s a direct result of the accomplishments of Geoff’s tenure.” Book Award. “There’s been a huge change in the caliber of people who want to join our Award winners in broadcasting, authors of bestselling books and finalists for the National more than 90 outstanding applicants, including Pulitzer Prize winners, duPont-Columbia past decade. According to Parks, a search for new journalism faculty this year has yielded scholars and teachers to the ranks of its faculty, which has grown exponentially over the welcomed.” of a conversation where everyone is equal, where their perspective is embraced and the Norman Lear Center—the nation’s leading entertainment research program—to the a Federal Communications Commission hearing on media ownership rules—and from study of the Internet—to the Center for Communication Law and Policy—which hosted or send a check with Geoffrey Cowan Scholarship Fund noted on the memo line to: —will re-imagine the future as they help to shape our society. educating innovative and ambitious young people who—like Geoff Cowan himself enable USC Annenberg to continue, in perpetuity, the tradition of attracting and who honors Geoff in this way may take pride in knowing that his or her gift will also USC Annenberg to its current leadership position. Additionally, each individual man whose vision, passion and extraordinary range of talents have helped to propel these values. community service and equal opportunities by selecting students who best exemplify addition the scholarship will honor Cowan’s commitment to the importance of financial aid packages by eliminating their loan and work/study obligations. In undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need, enhancing the students’ costs of higher education. The Geoffrey Cowan Scholarships will therefore support and so he has actively sought support for students who must struggle to meet the students thrive best when they are freed from burdensome financial-aid obligations, Cowan has taught a highly popular undergraduate course each year. He believes that environment and exceptional opportunities for professional experience. In addition, Annenberg’s students: providing them with intellectual challenges, a supportive man. and others whose lives have been touched and transformed by this extraordinary significant endowment from friends, colleagues, students past and present, parents the I U A host of interdisciplinary research centers and programs established over the past The school also attracts some of the world’s leading communication professionals, SC Annenberg Announces the To make a gift to the Geoffrey Cowan Scholarship Fund, please call 213-821-1660 All gifts to the Geoffrey Cowan Endowed Scholarship Fund will pay tribute to a Throughout his tenure as Dean, Geoff Cowan’s no. 1 concern has been for USC Los Angeles, California 90089-0281 3502 Watt Way, Suite 304 Development and Alumni Relations USC Annenberg School for Communication particularly for its students, the school is pleased to announce that it is establishing n deep gratitude for all that Geoff Cowan has done for USC Annenberg and G eoffrey Cowan Endowed Scholarship G eoffrey Cowan Scholarship F und in his honor. We hope to raise a F und  The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back Ph.D. Candidate Ph.D. —Amelia Arsenault —Amelia

USC Annenberg is reinventing journalism and communication education while also also while education communication and journalism reinventing is Annenberg USC students feel that they are his first priority.” Perhaps most importantly—despite his many education. Perhaps most importantly—despite all of us with his energy, intelligence and dedication to all of us with his energy, responsibilities, projects and initiatives—he never fails to make responsibilities, projects and communities, the first program of its kind anywhere. The school also launched a joint joint a launched also school The anywhere. kind its of program first the communities, and Economics of School London the with communication global in program master’s first master’s degree in public diplomacy as part of the Center on Public Diplomacy, a Diplomacy, Public on Center the of part as diplomacy public in degree master’s first on Program Weingarten Annenberg Charles The institute. teaching and research major online of study the in track new a in enroll to students enables Communities Online pioneering new fields of study. Together with the USC College of Letters, Arts and and Arts Letters, of College USC the with Together study. of fields new pioneering world’s the offers now Annenberg USC Relations, International of School Sciences’ Pew Hispanic Center, the largest think tank and research operation studying Hispanic Hispanic studying operation research and tank think largest the Center, Hispanic Pew today. America in attitudes “Dean Cowan has been a larger than life force—inspiring than life force—inspiring “Dean Cowan has been a larger • • • • • Resea 2003

 Communication on International Research Network Annenberg of Japan) International University Communcations at Center for Global Studies Center and (with USC East Asian Japan Media Review Youth and Media Annenberg Institute on Initiative Local Broadcast News USC Annenberg Relations) School of International Diplomacy (with USC USC Center on Public The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back r c h I nitiati “Geoff Cowan is a world-class human being, and I’m proud thinking outside the box and across time.” to count him as a personal friend. I admire his wide open intellectual curiosity about everything, and the way he’s always day workshops throughout the year.” journalists each year. theater and musical theater—have been introduced since 1999, benefiting more than 300 journalists—focusing on arts, health, justice, new media, science and technology, and specialized journalism has just won approval, while numerous programs for mid-career in all media platforms they will encounter after graduation. A new graduate degree in now take courses in print, broadcast and online media concurrently, fostering proficiency enhancing its stature as a premier credential for professional communicators. unveiled sweeping changes to the communication management master’s program, The remarkable growth of the school over the past decade necessitated and was fueled “And those are just the formal programs,” adds Parks. “We have 20 other smaller, one- In the School of Journalism, all undergraduates—regardless of their track of study— v es : Former CEO of FedEx Kinko’s Partner, Texas Pacific Group Gary Kusin visual communication art and communication, of media and culture, specialist in the areas of Communication. A director of the School joins USC Annenberg as Pennsylvania, Larry Gross the University of communication at After 35 years teaching MORE. Williams, NEED TO ADD William Styron, Juan such leading figures as that has attracted of topics in the news lunchtime discussion series—an informal the Dean’s Open Forum war, the school launches On the eve of the Iraq 2003 journal examining how Review publish the University of Japan to at the International Global Communications and the Center for Asian Studies Center with the USC East The school partners in Communication. Wallis Annenberg Chair Annenberg faculty as the Castells joins the USC information age, Manuel authority on the A world-renowned and lesbian studies. found the field of gay minorities, Gross helped and media portrayals of , an online-only Japan Media Commission, along with Communications Members of the Federal campaigns. public relations services and integrated strategic-planning business clients providing nonprofit and small- works exclusively with USC Annenberg. The firm relations firm based at student-run public Communications—a launches TriSight The school journalism in Japan. business and politics of practice, ethics, law, are changing the emerging technologies  The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back professionals. student seminar room, a room, seminar student multimedia 20-student 2,300- a classroom, media new square-foot square 3,100 center, student- 21 for feet 4,000 and offices services doctoral for feet square students. a develops school The program certificate new Communication in for Management writer writer New Yorker New The school completes completes school The the of phase third the and expansion building project, renovation than more adds which the to feet square 14,000 30- a including facility, four other sub-fields of sub-fields other four discipline. the Center Lear The of series a produces Tribeca the at events including Festival, Film and discussions panel featuring presentations Norman Jennings, Peter Lear, a and Auletta Ken news, other of host industry entertainment experts. government and 2004 and international international and and communication, in five top the among The Doctoral Education Education Doctoral The the of Committee Communication National ranks Association as Annenberg USC in program top the and communication second the technology, program leading intercultural in for Higher Education Education Higher for Learning Distance for presented Teaching Distance U.S. the by for Association Learning Corporate Strategic her class Communication 502). (Communication : es v Vice Chairman, Goldman Sachs Goldman Chairman, Vice —Suzanne Nora Johnson Nora —Suzanne nitiati h I h c

r

An $18 million, three-phase renovation of the building begun early in Cowan’s tenure tenure Cowan’s in early begun building the of renovation three-phase million, $18 An “The university and the Annenberg family have been wonderfully supportive,” says says supportive,” wonderfully been have family Annenberg the and university “The Haptics Lab Haptics from UCLA) from Center for the Digital Digital the for Center (transferred Future

excellence not only improved our institution during his tenure tenure his during institution our improved only not excellence but also set important benchmarks for the future. Indeed, his his Indeed, future. the for benchmarks important set also but wins the 2004 Award Award 2004 the wins • Annenberg USC professor communication Weintraub Rebecca Resea • ownership. 2004 Communication Law and and Law Communication changes discuss to Policy media governing rules to at a USC Annenberg Annenberg USC a at hosted forum public for Center the by representatives from from representatives creative the and industry gather community and a score of inviting seating areas, is conducive to the kind of interaction Cowan says says Cowan interaction of kind the to conducive is areas, seating inviting of score a and big-screen its With university. big a at experience college small a creating to essential is and completed in 2004 added more than 14,000 square feet to the facility, adding an an adding facility, the to feet square 14,000 than more added 2004 in completed and and east the linking effectively more while laboratories and center media new auditorium, card coffee a with complete lobby. Annenberg renovated The building. the of wings west a rising tide lifts all ships. We made a contribution to USC’s rising tide, but we benefited benefited we but tide, rising USC’s to contribution a made We ships. all lifts tide rising a well.” as it from Cowan. “The Annenbergs have made it possible to do the things we dreamed of doing. doing. of dreamed we things the do to possible it made have Annenbergs “The Cowan. said, Kennedy F. John As improvement. overall university’s the of part been we’ve And by a corresponding investment in the school’s endowment and physical plant. plant. physical and endowment school’s the in investment corresponding a by legacy will no doubt only grow as time goes on.” goes time as grow only doubt no will legacy “Dean Cowan’s consistent articulation and delivery of academic academic of delivery and articulation consistent Cowan’s “Dean • • • Curr • Resea 2005 10

and Musical Theater Institute in Theater NEA Journalism Education Future of Journalism Initiative on the Carnegie-Knight Fellowships Health Journalism California Endowment Intervention Project Grand Avenue The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back ic r u c la h I r Ex nitiati “I have watched Annenberg (and USC as a whole) do exactly view, offer very practical knowledge.” what the alumni hope it will do—get better and better each year. Dean Cowan has created a dynamic environment for students than what we dreamed it could be.” advice to his successor is to take advantage of what’s been built and “make it even better T F we would.” don’t think Annenberg would have been in there,” adds Parks. “Now, without question, Gross. funding. first endowed chairs, now numbering five; and a twelve-fold increase in external research a gift of $100 million from the Annenberg Foundation in 2002; creation of the school’s more dramatic: endowment growth from $6.5 million to more than $200 million, including larger world. televisions broadcasting news 24/7, it also helps students maintain a connection with the and has attracted wonderful professors to the school who, in my pansions uture of the School “If you asked professionals 10 or 11 years ago to name the top journalism schools, I “‘Transformed’ is a word that gets used a lot in academia, but here it really fits,” says While the school’s physical alteration is readily apparent, its financial renovation is even v es he consensus is Cowan will be a tough act to follow. : “It’s great to leave when people don’t want you to leave,” says Cowan, whose : —Seth Doane ’00 New Delhi, India Correspondent, CNN-International prestigious National qualifications to the for the most consecutive holds the national record anniversary. The squad celebrates its 125th Trojan Debate Squad The USC Annenberg photography contest. prestigious annual press world’s largest and most Photo exhibition, the to host the World Press one of two U.S. locales USC Annenberg becomes diplomacy—the first of degree in public launch a new master’s International Relations the USC School of USC Annenberg and program. it into a signature the team and making providing funding for Annenberg umbrella, Squad under the USC the Trojan Debate Dean Cowan brought Debate Tournament. 2005 show. television magazine TV Awards for best 2004-2005 College takes first place in the Annenberg students, produced by USC news magazine “Impact,” the television world. its kind anywhere in the The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back 11 Federal Communications Communications Federal hearing— Commission of outside first the D.C. Washington, cohort of students students of cohort new the in enrolling program. for Center The and Law Communication official an holds Policy Leadership. of School The Communication sweeping introduces the to changes Communication master’s Management first the with program Dean Cowan is named named is Cowan Dean of holder inaugural the Family Annenberg the Communication in Chair director and Leadership Center school’s the of Communication on : : es 2006 v pansions nitiati r Ex r h I h la c u r ic Journalism Fellows Fellows Journalism Program PopAndPolitics.com Media New Knight Center Annenberg Charles Program Weingarten Communities Online on News21 Murrow R. Edward

Resea • Curr • • • • 2006 to those who know him that he has put his powerful powerful his put has he that him know who those to

like sparks flying off a sharpening wheel. It comes as comes It wheel. sharpening a off flying sparks like

intellect, and that non-stop shower of ideas that he he that ideas of shower non-stop that and intellect,

Director, Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics & Public Policy Public & Politics Press, the on Center Shorenstein Joan Director, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Government, University of School Kennedy F. John —Alex S. Jones S. —Alex on the Annenberg School, and I have no doubt that the the that doubt no have I and School, Annenberg the on

chapter will be just as glorious.” as just be will chapter apparently bottomless spring of energy, that constantly constantly that energy, of spring bottomless apparently

“For everything there is a season,” adds Cowan. “It’s time for the school and for me me for and school the for time “It’s Cowan. adds season,” a is there everything “For In addition to a strong senior faculty, USC Annenberg has nurtured and retained an an retained and nurtured has Annenberg USC faculty, senior strong a to addition In “The school is in wonderful shape,” he adds. “It has great faculty and students, a great great a students, and faculty great has “It adds. he shape,” wonderful in is school “The churning stamp next no surprise no book on the subject. the on book produced by the Lear Lear the by produced also which Center, companion a publishes conference on the the on conference fashion of nexus cultural entertainment and & the Ownership Ownership the & Creativity—a of groundbreaking and academia converge converge academia and for Annenberg USC at Fashion Share: to Ready Top names in fashion, fashion, in names Top film television, music, family, to a city and a school that have become enormously exciting places, and see other other see and places, exciting enormously become have that school a and city a to family, spring.” another enjoy and bloom flowers wonderful to engage in a type of repotting —to discover new skills and new forms of creativity. I’ve I’ve creativity. of forms new and skills new discover —to repotting of type a in engage to great a be will It root. take can things wonderful where environment an create to tried Annenberg the of generosity the to thanks back, come will I Then me. for year transition strong, if not stronger in terms of faculty and in terms of resources. The field is dynamic dynamic is field The resources. of terms in and faculty of terms in stronger not if strong, field.” the of frontiers and issues key the in placed well very are we and impressive mid-career and junior faculty. “A lot of us are veterans,” says Gross, “but the the “but Gross, says veterans,” are us of lot “A faculty. junior and mid-career impressive as least at be will school the years, 10 In board. the across strong extremely is cohort next facility, strong interdisciplinary programs, an excellent reputation. The next generation generation next The reputation. excellent an programs, interdisciplinary strong facility, way.” own its it define to has throws off throws that “It can be exhausting to be around Geoff Cowan. There is is There Cowan. Geoff around be to exhausting be can “It 2005 edited by Larry Gross and scholarly publication co- Communication International Journal of the launch of the The school announces 2007 12 The Cowan Years: Looking Forward, Looking Back , a new and education. during Cowan’s term as dean, from the future of digital media to its effect on children society. This mission touches on many of the research centers and programs started projects with the hope of reaching a better understanding of the effects media has on exactly what he wants to do in the position. As chair, he will lead a series of research Family Chair in Communication Leadership. W W Annenberg Weingarten and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten. of foundation trustees Leonore Annenberg, Wallis Annenberg, Lauren Bon, Charles in honor of Cowan’s retirement, part of a $6 million donation made at the direction hat’s next? The project is made possible by a generous gift from the Annenberg Foundation While “Communication Leadership” may seem difficult to define, Cowan knows

of a different kind, serving in the newly funded position of the Annenberg hen Geoffrey Cowan returns from sabbatical in 2008, he will begin a tenure

study. Communities begins Program in Online Annenberg Weingarten students in the Charles The first cohort of Manuel Castells. will be held by Martin and Society. The chair in Entertainment, Politics the Norman Lear Chair its fifth endowed chair, announces creation of USC Annenberg 2007 $20 million. fundraising also reaches Center. The center’s total and director of the Lear Kaplan, associate dean