The Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication hosted its inaugural Summer Residency Program at the Annenberg School for Communication. 

The program aims to cultivate a hub for global media and communication studies in West Philadelphia. Over the course of one week, six early-career scholars immersed themselves in research, writing, and collaborative discussions at the CARGC office in Annenberg. 

The residency seeks to provide a welcoming space for scholars who may face resource or time constraints while pursuing their research. 

The first cohort studied topics such as the role of Moroccan independent news sources in the Arab Spring and second-generation South Asian American representation in American media.

Participants in this program were Tilottama Karlekar of Temple University, Youngrim Kim of Rutgers University, Annemarie Iddins of Fairfield University, Madhavi Reddi of York College of Pennsylvania, Fernanda Rosa of Virginia Tech, and Celeste Wagner of the University of Florida. 

CARGC — led by Aswin Punathambekar — is focused on connecting academic studies with the general public and applying research to important global matters. 

"West Philly is, and always has been, a location shaped by global flows and forces," Punathambekar told the Annenberg School. “With its vibrant migrant communities, diverse student populations, cultural institutions, and international culinary influences, West Philadelphia serves as an ideal backdrop for exploring the complex dynamics of global media.”

During their week-long residency, the scholars were free to use CARGC's office space as needed. Apart from their independent work, they enjoyed daily group lunches with Punathambekar, CARGC Program Coordinator Anastasiya Miazhevich, and Senior Research Manager Eszter Zimanyi. 

In addition to the summer residency initiative, CARGC also offers postdoctoral, doctoral, undergraduate, and faculty fellowships to nurture scholars’ early careers.

"The CARGC summer residency will bring together media scholars — and down the road, artists and activists as well — whose work explores how global dynamics shape communities in this region and, by the same token, how people who live and work here re-imagine their social, cultural, and political horizons," Punathambekar told the Annenberg School.