The Lear Center is heading to Cannes! đŹđđŽđ„
On Monday, Lear Center Managing Director @mojojohanna will join panelists from @worldbankgroup and @uofpenn for Entertainment as Catalyst: How Storytelling Drives Measurable Social Impact, hosted by @impactloungeofficial .
Drawing on global research spanning more than 200,000 films across 20+ countries, the panel will explore how storytelling can shape social norms, influence health outcomes, and drive scalable social impact.
More details via the link in our bio!
#becausestoriesmatter #CannesFilmFestival #Storytelling #NarrativeChange #socialimpactentertainment
Can entertainment companies stay âneutralâ in todayâs political climate?
In a new @get_status article on Disney, Jimmy Kimmel, and political pressure campaigns, Lear Center Director Marty Kaplan argues that the stakes have fundamentally changed: âYes, it used to be that you didnât want to alienate half your audience⊠Now, thereâs more of a sense that the stakes are so high for democracy that not taking a stand is not acceptable.â
The story explores how media companies increasingly find themselves pulled into broader political and cultural battles, and the growing challenge of balancing brand protection, public trust, free expression, and consumer expectations.
Kaplan also notes that consumer-facing brands are especially vulnerable to todayâs nonstop political and cultural storms.
Read more via the link in our bio (paywall).
The Pitt shows whatâs possible when storytelling is grounded in research.
Kate Folb, Director of our @hollywdhealth program, shares how the showâs accuracy and nuance are raising the bar:
âBecause The Pitt is so incredibly accurate⊠other shows feel like they have to up their game.â
Read the full Higher Ed article via the link in our bio.
#becausestoriesmatter
If climate stories only show disasterâŠdo we start to believe nothing can change?
Director of Research Erica Rosenthal shares how storytelling can move audiences from fear to action at the @sierraclub symposium.
Full talk via the link in our bio.
#earthday #climatestories #climatestorytelling #becausestoriesmatter
Thereâs been almost no research on how Black journalists are portrayed in popular culture.
A new special section of the IJPC Journal begins to change that, offering one of the first in-depth looks at representations across film, TV, and literature.
From silent film to global perspectives, these articles explore how storytelling shapes visibility, power, and perception.
đ Learn more via link in bio
What makes âThe Pittâ resonate with healthcare professionals?
It shows the reality of care: complex, high-pressure, and deeply human.
Our research found that this kind of realism reflects cliniciansâ lived experiences and helps audiences better understand the challenges behind the scenes.
Read the Medscape article via the link in our bio. Explore our research at learcenter.org/thepitt
Join Lear Center Director of Research, Erica Rosenthal, on April 7 for the Sierra Symposium: Environmental Utopia or Dystopia â The World We Imagine for Our Children.â
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Featuring keynote speaker Nancy Pelosi, this @sierraclub convening brings together leaders across government, culture, science, and climate advocacy to explore climate resilience, environmental justice, and the future we are building for the next generation.â
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Dr. Rosenthal will present new findings on how climate change is portrayed in media, and how these narratives shape public understanding and engagement.â
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đ April 7, 2026â
đ Los Angeles â
â° 1:00â3:00 PMâ
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đ RSVP / Livestream: sierraclub.org/sierra-symposium
The Walter Cronkite Awards added a new category â comedic news and commentary â recognizing @jonstewart of @thedailyshow as a vital voice in political news.
Through The Daily Show, Stewart has redefined how audiences engage with the news â using humor, research, and sharp insight to make complex issues clearer and more accessible.
Watch highlights from his acceptance speech â and more from the 2025 Cronkite Awards:
cronkiteawards.org/2025ceremony.html
At USCâs first Arts + Health Symposium, Noah Wyle and the creative team behind HBO Maxâs âThe Pittâ shared how the show brings medical realism to the screen.
It isnât by accident. With the support of our Hollywood, Health & Society program, creators connect with expert health professionals to ensure storylines are medically sound, while being dramatically compelling.
Itâs a perfect example of how research-informed storytelling can deepen audiencesâ understanding of health and healthcare, fostering empathy in meaningful ways. Read the recap via the link in our bio.
Thank you to @uscvandv , panel moderator @joshdkun , and @hollywdhealth director @folbkate for helping kick off the event and bringing âThe Pittâ crew to campus!
#becausestoriesmatter
TV can entertain and educate!
Now premiering: our new video featuring producer/writer/actor Noah Wyle, actor Katherine LaNasa, and producers/writers Dr. Joe Sachs, Simran Baidwan, and R. Scott Gemmill discussing the power â and responsibility â of portraying emergency medicine with accuracy and care.
The video highlights our recent research on HBO Maxâs âThe Pitt,â which found that authentic storytelling â developed with support from Hollywood, Health & Society (/company/hollywood-health-society/) â can resonate with audiences, validate frontline health professionals, and drive real-world attitudes and behavior change.
...also featuring our Director of Research Erica L. Rosenthal, HH&S Director Kate Folb, and Lear Center Director Marty Kaplan.
Watch the full video and read the research at /thepitt
âIn this unrelenting flood of everyday news, how do we tackle the big things?â
Democratic norms under threat
Rule of law being reinterpreted
Press freedom under attack
Even after federal funding was cut, @PBS@newshour âOn Democracyâ stepped back from the dizzying onslaught of daily news to offer an in-depth look at the impact on democracy of government actions.
Watch co-anchors @amnaonpbs and @geoffrbennett speech highlights. You also can see all acceptance speeches and the full awards at cronkiteawards.org (link in our bio)
