Research Month: Annenberg Honors Program Research Day Panel - Framing the Shift: Race, Representation, and the Boundaries of Free Expression

Join the Annenberg Program at the Cathy Hughes School of Communications for a timely and thought‑provoking panel discussion examining how media representations of Black and Latino communities are evolving amid contemporary social and political change.

Focusing on news, entertainment, and digital media, this session explores how portrayals are constructed, challenged, and reimagined across platforms. Panelists will examine the forces shaping these narratives—from journalistic practices and institutional norms to creative decision‑making and audience engagement.

Central to the discussion is the relationship between media representation and principles of free expression, including key First Amendment considerations. Panelists will address how media organizations navigate the rights and responsibilities of speech, how public discourse influences visibility and framing, and how creators and audiences are driving new approaches to storytelling in an increasingly complex media landscape.

This event offers valuable insights for students, faculty, media professionals, and anyone interested in the intersections of communication, culture, and constitutional principles in today’s media environment.

Panelists:

• Tatiana Allen, Junior Annenberg Honors Scholar
• Loren Saxton-Coleman, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, Culture & Media Studies 
• Dr. Mesi Bakari Walton, Assistant Professor, Department of World Languages and Culture
• Beylul Russom, Ph.D. Candidate, Annenberg Honors Program Assistant
• Professor Jennifer Thomas, Annenberg Honors Program Director and panel overseer
• Pamela A.G. Clarke, MSc., Senior Director, Research Development Office of Research