"Through the generosity of a gift in honor of a graduate, a student received help to pursue her own dream of studying journalism. She is going on to make her way in the world in journalism and strategic communication. And a past professor’s legacy lives on in new ways. It’s a privilege to be a part of a place that makes things like this possible."

Join the SJMC for 1,848 minutes of celebrating our Badger pride and supporting hands-on educational opportunities for current and future generations of storytellers. Plus, when we reach 150 gifts, we'll unlock an additional $42,000, thanks to a generous group of current and former Board of Visitors members. Learn how you can get involved and join the party.

This February, WSUM, UW–Madison's student radio station, was named Best College Station in the Nation by Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS). The IBS Media committee judged WSUM against all college radio and television stations at schools of any size, and awarded WSUM its highest honor. Read more about WSUM and this incredible honor.

In December, three Professional MA students presented their final portfolios and completed their degrees. These students honed their journalistic skills by diving into a chosen specialty, such as nutrition, social justice and documentary storytelling. Read highlights from their portfolios and future plans.

Recent PhD grad Mengyu Li had a whirlwind December. Not only did she defend her dissertation and earn her PhD, she also got married, started working as a lecturer and research fellow at Rutgers University and will begin her next chapter as a tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Florida later this year. Read more about Mengyu's season of milestones.

What happens when AI is built to think like people? How do some ideas and messages persuade while others fall flat? UW–Madison researchers Yun-Shiuan Chuang, Dhavan Shah and Sijia Yang are exploring those questions through an AI Terrarium, a simulated ecosystem designed to study human beliefs and social influence. Read more about the project and its impact.

A new study from SJMC professors Young Mie Kim and Ross Dahlke is the first to quantify the effect of microtargeting on voter turnout. They found that participants who saw ads with vote-suppressing messages on Facebook were 1.9 percent less likely to vote in the 2016 Presidential election than people who did not see the ads. Read more about the study and their findings.

This spring, two SJMC alumni and two graduate students are bringing their real-world expertise into SJMC classrooms. These adjunct instructors and lecturers will offer undergraduate students new perspectives informed by their experiences in diverse fields. Get to know the new members of our staff.

This February, we welcomed documentary filmmaker Rachel Bozich (BA'14) back to campus to share her experience as a true crime storyteller. Best known for her work on Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal on Netflix, Rachel dove into the ethical responsibility that comes with documenting real people, real loss and real consequences. Read the full Q&A.

“Democracy in the Balance: The Essential Role of Journalism in Advancing Civil Discourse,” a timely conversation about journalism’s role in strengthening democratic dialogue, was presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Exchange: Pluralism in Practice on March 5. The event featured veteran media executive and journalist Andy Lack in conversation with SJMC Director Kathleen Bartzen Culver. Read highlights and watch the full interview.

Calling all journalists! Join the Public Tech Media Lab this May for the Digital Investigations Bootcamp, a first-of-its-kind hands-on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) training program designed specifically for journalists, OSINT practitioners, editors and newsroom researchers. This two-day, in-person event will be held at Morgridge Hall in Madison, WI and offers two sessions to choose from: May 26–27 or May 28–29. Learn more and register today.

Emeritus teaching faculty and women's hockey super fan Pat Hastings traveled to Milan, Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics to cheer on the U.S. Women's Hockey Team. While there, she caught up with the Winn Bros, who became social media sensations during the Games for their wild, patriotic outfits.

Pat shared her experience with SJMC Communications Manager Kara Rheingans who posted a photo and video to the SJMC Instagram account. After only a few days, the post received 1,834 likes and was seen nearly 27,000 times – a viral SJMC moment!

We are so proud of what our alumni go on to accomplish once they leave Vilas, and we want to brag about it to current students and visitors. Please submit this form to be highlighted on one of the screens in our 5th-floor lobby.