Q: How would you describe yourself?
A: I would say I’m a pretty organized and curious person. I like to get information from a lot of different sources and be updated on what’s going on, not necessarily directly related to my field or what my main interests are. My friends would always joke that I’m like an encyclopedia of random knowledge!
Q: What is your typical day like as an Annenberg student?
A: It’s mainly attending class and doing my readings, which are pretty heavy. The last couple semesters, I was interning at the USC Shoah Foundation Institute as a communications and outreach intern, so that also took a lot of my time.
Q: What interests you most about the field of communication?
A: I would say, media industries as a very powerful tool to reach people. They have tremendous potential to spread information, and that is something I find really interesting, because I come from a country has taken over a large part of the media to promote a political project, I see firsthand how powerful it is, and to an extent, how dangerous it is.
Q: What will potential employers find appealing about your degree from Annenberg?
A: A degree from Annenberg says that you come from a very well-rounded school. You’re able to get exposure to so many different areas - I’ve taken classes in the social sciences, entertainment, economics, so when you go into an interview and you’re able to touch upon so many different subjects, I think people are impressed by that, especially the economics side, because it is so important to business.
Q: Would you recommend courses in the Media, Entertainment, and Economics curriculum to others students? Why?
A: I would absolutely recommend that, and have done so with friends I have in Annenberg right now. The M{2e} classes have given me a great advantage for future job prospects, and as a responsible citizen, you should have an understanding of these things to make informed decisions.
Q: Tell me about your experience in Comm 207.
A: I liked the class, I had the great fortune of taking it with Dean Wilson, so having the opportunity to interact with him was something I found very valuable. It was a very good introductory course to the subject and has helped me with other classes, like Jour 499 - Money, Markets, and Media, taught by Professor Gabriel Kahn.
Q: Can you tell me a bit about Professor Kahn’s Jour 499 course?
A: I really enjoyed taking Money, Markets and Media with Prof. Kahn. I think it is different from other courses because it goes beyond concepts and deals with current issues, helping students understand economics in a very practical sense. Personally, I feel that it gave me a better understanding of the global economic crisis, something that will help me make better career decision in the future and be more savvy with my own finances.
Q: You’re taking a course called “American Media and Entertainment Industries.” What is that course about?
A: That class looks at the TV industry and analyzes how it’s changing. Being a comm student right now is very exciting because we’re studying an industry that’s changing rapidly. It’s up to the new generation to integrate digital and Internet into the industry. Having a space to talk about these issues and exchange ideas with other students is really useful.
Q: What are your career ambitions post-graduation? How do you envision your experience at Annenberg and the M2E curriculum helping to further your cause?
A: I would like to work in either advertising and marketing, but not sure if it will be the agency side or the company side, but I feel my experience at Annenberg has prepared me for whatever job I apply to. You get exposure to so many different issues and types of teaching. Having a background in economics also helps.
Cynthia Wang is a PhD student in the Department of Communication at the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism.