Q&A with Aswin Punathambekar, Associate Dean for the Master’s in Communication and Media Industries

Aswin Punathambekar is professor of communication at the Annenberg School for Communication and director of the Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication. He is also Associate Dean for the Master’s in Communication and Media Industries (MCMI). We sat down with him to learn more about the program.

Q: Why launch a Master's program now?

Media and communication industries are among the most powerful institutions in the world today, shaping virtually every aspect of social, cultural, political, and economic life. Rapid technological advances are transforming how media are produced, distributed and consumed. Global interconnectivity has expanded both opportunities and challenges, from transnational collaborations to global propaganda and misinformation networks. At the same time, industries need professionals who can navigate evolving ethical, social and economic pressures. Launching an MA program now responds to this critical moment, preparing leaders to shape, not just react to, today’s communication landscape.

Q: Who should consider joining this new program?

This program is designed for aspiring and mid-career professionals who want to lead in media, communication and related industries. We would love to work with recent graduates seeking advanced preparation, practitioners aiming to deepen their expertise, and those transitioning from fields like business, political science and public policy, literature and film studies, and arts and nonprofit leadership. Put simply, anyone driven to understand and shape the social, cultural and technological forces transforming media and communication today will find this program invaluable.