Studying & Shaping the Impact of Entertainment & Media on Society. Based at @USCAnnenberg. See also: @mediametrics (research) | @hollywdhealth (outreach)

Los Angeles, CA
Joined February 2009
Music bridging divides. Pop Music Project Director @JDKun and DJ/producer @jperiodBK launched The Art of the Crossfade in LA with a live mixtape exploring music, democracy and belonging as America marks 250 years. Watch the full Grand Performances show: youtube.com/watch?v=NNh0hcRs…
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At #ComNet26 Lear Center Research Director Erica Rosenthal and @HollywoodHealth Director Kate Folb shared HBO Max's The Pitt as a case study in how authentic entertainment storytelling can illuminate complex health issues and drive narrative change. More: learcenter.org/thepitt
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Heading to #ComNet26? Join Erica Rosenthal and Kate Folb, with Julia Layman of Synchronicity Collective, for Creating Meaningful Narratives: The Pitt. 📅 Thurs., Oct. 1 ⏰ 11:15 AM comnet26sd.org/
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We are delighted to announce the 2026 Norman Lear Awards where we will be celebrating 10 TV shows whose storytelling makes a difference across critical health and social issues. This year's ceremony is hosted by Jay Pharoah on Oct. 29 in Beverly Hills! hollywoodhealthandsociety.or…
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Lear Center Director @martykaplan joins author and filmmaker Jon Boorstin to discuss 'The American,' a new book exploring family, history, identity and the stories that get left out. At its heart is what it means to be American. 🎥 Watch: youtu.be/aoxXeLM81Tk?si=WJtd…
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What happens on screen can shape conversations about death off screen. On What About Death!?, @HollywdHealth's Kate Folb + Director of Research Erica Rosenthal discuss how we work with creatives to inform authentic end-of-life stories and research their impact on audiences.
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Television may be one of our most powerful and overlooked public health interventions. In Forbes, de Beaumont Fnd President Brian Castrucci highlights @HollywdHealth for supporting storytellers who bring accurate health information to the screen. forbes.com/sites/briancastru…
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In a new Forbes interview, 'The Pitt' executive producer Simran Baidwan highlights our recent study on the show's real-world impact, including findings that show's organ donation storyline inspired viewers to learn more about becoming donors. forbes.com/sites/markhughes/…
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Norman Lear Center retweeted
🚨 The data is in. Our 4th TV Impact Study with USC’s @LearCenter uncovers how immigrant representation on TV is evolving and where work remains❗ ⬇️ Explore the key takeaways The full report: defineamerican.com/research/… #ChangeTheNarrative
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In this @BBC profile on reality TV star Spencer Pratt's LA mayoral campaign, Marty Kaplan reflects on modern political campaigns and the competition for attention in an entertainment-driven media environment. bbc.com/news/articles/c775x8…
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In accepting the Walter Cronkite Award, CBS News's @ScottPelley offered a powerful defense of journalism and its role in serving the public. Today, perhaps more than ever, his remarks are worth hearing. #Journalism #PressFreedom #Media #Democracy
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Our @HollywdHealth Director @Katefolb joins this panel at @ATXFestival on the real-world impact of medical accuracy on TV. The conversation explores how storytelling shapes audience understanding of health, healthcare, prevention & trust in medicine. atxtvfestival.eventive.org/g…
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Expert-informed narratives strengthen storytelling and raise standards industry-wide, says Kate Folb, @HollywdHealth Director: “Because [The Pitt] is so incredibly accurate, other medical shows ...feel like they really have to up their game." insidehighered.com/news/facu…
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If climate stories only show disaster…do we start to believe nothing can change? Director of Research Erica Rosenthal shares how storytelling can move audiences from fear to action. The full talk can be found here: youtube.com/live/y0XqBFAGhSM…
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If climate stories only show catastrophe, do audiences feel powerless? Our Director of Research Erica Rosenthal shared our research on climate storytelling at the recent @sierraclub symposium, exploring how stories can shift narratives and drive action. youtube.com/live/y0XqBFAGhSM…
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There’s been almost no research on how Black journalists are portrayed in popular culture. A new IJPC Journal special section begins to change that, offering first-of-its-kind analysis across film, TV, and literature. Read more: ijpc.org/page/journal.html
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The Walter Cronkite Awards introduced a new category recognizing comedic news and political satire — honoring Jon Stewart as its inaugural recipient. Watch the full event at cronkiteawards.org/
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At @USCVandV’s Arts + Health Symposium, Noah Wyle and The Pitt team revealed what makes the show feel real: medical accuracy. With support from @HollywdHealth, writers collaborate with health experts to ground every storyline. Read more: today.usc.edu/inaugural-arts…
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