Excited to announce that our public relations program has once again been named the PRWeek Outstanding Education Program for 2026! This year, public relations student Sophie Schaked was also named PRWeek’s 2026 Outstanding Student. Congratulations to our incredible faculty, staff and students who continue to shape the future of public relations from #ASCJ. Read more about our program and what sets USC Annenberg apart at the link in our bio.
Photos by Erica Berger. #PRWeekAwardsUS
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Last week we had our annual Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium. It was an amazing evening that would have not happened without our incredible student staff!
They have worked hard for months to make sure we had the best event possible, we don’t know what we would do without them!
Can’t wait for next year ❤️💛
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Big wins, bold ideas, and a look at the future of PR.
During this year’s Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium at #ASCJ, we celebrated the @usccenterforpr Purpose Award, accepted by Jon Banner and Joanna Sabato on behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities, highlighted USC Annenberg’s PRWeek Award wins, and unveiled the center’s latest Global Communication Report on polarization’s impact on the field.
From industry leaders to rising pros, the conversation was all about what’s next in public relations. Grateful for Jon and Joanna’s insights into Ronald McDonald House’s mission, vision and impact, our panelists from across the industry — Bill Imada, David Tovar and Janet Clayton — who shared about the future of purpose communication, and our partners for making it all happen!
Speaker Spotlight 🎤
David Tovar, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Ford Motor Company, will join us at the 2026 Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium, “Purpose Under Pressure.” He oversees media relations, corporate PR, financial communications, and reputation management for one of the world’s most recognized brands.
Previously, Tovar held senior leadership roles at Grubhub, McDonald’s USA, Sprint Corporation, Walmart, Altria Group, and Kraft Foods, bringing decades of experience in corporate communications and reputation strategy.
📍 March 26 | USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
RSVP in our bio!
Speaker Spotlight 🎤
Bill Imada, Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Connectivity Officer of IW Group, will join us at the 2026 Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium, “Purpose Under Pressure.” A leader in multicultural and multigenerational marketing, he has spent more than three decades helping brands like McDonald’s, The Walt Disney Company, Johnson & Johnson, and Walmart connect with diverse communities.
A pioneer in engaging Asian American and Pacific Islander audiences, Imada has co-founded six national organizations and was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame and PRWeek Hall of Fame.
📍 March 26 | USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
RSVP at the link in our bio!
Speaker Spotlight 🎤
Janet Clayton, two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning former editor at the Los Angeles Times, will join us at the 2026 Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium, “Purpose Under Pressure.” With deep expertise in strategic communications, she has held leadership roles at Edison International and Southern California Edison, guiding corporate communications at the highest level.
Now a senior strategist at Vectis Strategies and board member at CalMatters, Clayton brings a powerful perspective on media, leadership, and the evolving role of communications.
📍 March 26 | USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
RSVP at the link in our bio!
Speaker Spotlight 🎤
Jean Guerrero, contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, will join us at the 2026 Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium, “Purpose Under Pressure.” Covering politics, U.S. Latinos, and the American West, her work explores some of the most pressing issues shaping today’s communication landscape.
She is the author of Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump and the White Nationalist Agenda and the award-winning memoir Crux: A Cross-Border Memoir, and previously served as an opinion columnist at the Los Angeles Times.
📍 March 26 | USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
RSVP at the link in our bio!
Speaker Spotlight 🎤
Joanna Sabato, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities Global, will join us at the 2026 Kenneth Owler Smith Symposium, “Purpose Under Pressure.” She leads the organization’s global marketing and communications strategy, driving awareness and support for families around the world.
With a background spanning roles at Legends, Cleveland Browns, Hearst Television, and Cox Media Group, Sabato brings deep expertise in storytelling, brand building, and fundraising at scale.
RSVP now at the link in our bio!
