College of Information and Communications

2020 News Archive

7 things to know in the fight against 'fake news'

If you’ve ever come across a story or image or video online and thought to yourself, “There’s no way this is real,” there’s a good chance you were right. Two researchers in the College of Information and Communications discuss what ‘fake news’ is, how it works and what can be done to address it.

A pipeline and pathway to success

UofSC formally signed an agreement establishing a new 4+1 pathway partnership with Claflin University. The collaboration will offer students the opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree from Claflin and a graduate degree from the CIC in just five years.

Support local — especially when it comes to news

Newspapers have been plagued by declining circulation numbers and shrinking newsrooms for the past 15 years, and nearly a quarter have shuttered. Dean Reichert advocates community and individual support for local newspapers, which are catalysts for change and champions for transparency and truth.

USC's Insights Lab looks at social media response to the presidential debate

USC's Social Media Insights Lab was monitoring all the reactions, and broke down what South Carolinians were saying online."I think there was sort of a chaotic energy to the debate last night and I would say social media reflected that," Kait Park said.

Giving back

For alumni Jack Bryan and Lou Kennedy, helping those who have supported them has been standard operating procedure. They are valued donors to the CIC through time, talent and treasure. In this article, they share the reasons why they continue to support the college.

Researchers at the University of South Carolina are using social media conversations to understand COVID-19 outbreaks

Among its recent findings, the Social Media Insights Lab was able to foresee a possible COVID-19 outbreak in Myrtle Beach around the July Fourth holiday.

Better with biometrics

The CIC now has a fully operational Biometrics and User Experience Lab which uses cutting-edge sensors to track facial expressions, eye movement, sweat gland stimulation and neuro-electrical activity.

Table talk with Andrea Hickerson and David Lankes

With collaborations and new programs coming to the College of Information and Communications, what might the future hold for its two schools? Andrea Hickerson and David Lankes discuss this and more.

Read InterCom online

Online is the new normal — at least for the foreseeable future — and that's why this issue of the CIC's alumni magazine has gone digital.

Professor cautions students on consequences of social posts

Your opinions matter and you have a right to express them. But how do you exercise this right responsibly? Media ethics instructor Randy Covington shares five things to keep in mind before you post.

Students monitor social media buzz during SC Democratic primary

As voting closed for the South Carolina Democratic primary, student assistant analysts at UofSC’s Social Media Insights Lab monitored and analyzed the publicly available buzz and sentiment surrounding the candidates.

Trump White House goes 300+ days without a press briefing – why that’s unprecedented

It’s been nearly a year since the last White House press briefing. Former White House correspondent and former CIC Dean Charles Bierbauer weighs in on this for The Conversation.

College announces 2020 Digital Media Academy

Students from diverse backgrounds are invited to apply for the week-long video storytelling camp, which will prepare them for a spectrum of media careers. The second annual Digital Media Academy: Advancing Diversity in Digital Media will be held from May 18-22, 2020, at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Social media lab taps into national conversations

The College of Information and Communications' Social Media Insights Lab is able to analyze sentiment and identify emerging trends that are occurring in real time on sources from Twitter to YouTube to blogs.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.