Call for Applications
The Emerging Scholars of Media and Politics (ESMP) program seeks applications for its inaugural cohort. Designed with the goal of creating a more diverse graduate research community interested in the study of political communication, the ESMP supports and mentors U.S.-based racially and ethnically underrepresented undergraduates and MA students who wish to continue their studies in this area. Working with faculty mentors at the students’ home institutions, the program provides these emerging scholars with an opportunity to present their work and receive feedback from experienced scholars in the field, with an eye toward developing strong undergraduate and graduate research projects and graduate-school applications.
The program welcomes applications from students interested in a broad range of topics and questions: political communication and social media; journalism; political attitudes and behaviors; campaigns and elections; social movements; policy-making and governance; and, the effects of media and communication on public life more broadly.
Acceptance into the ESMP requires a six-month commitment. Upon admission into the program in late spring, students develop a research proposal and presentation over the summer and early autumn, and participate in weekly seminars during the fall semester where they present their work. These seminars will include these proposal presentations as well as information sessions related to graduate-school applications, funding expectations, working with professors, and other topics related to graduate study. The timing of the ESMP is intended to help students prepare for graduate applications for doctoral and masters programs toward the end of the calendar year. Seminars will be held virtually during the fall of 2021.
Application process
Students interested in the ESMP must submit, by May 19th, an application that includes: (1) a cover letter explaining their interests in political communication; (2) a 500-word description of their prospective study; and (3) a letter of support from a faculty member at the student’s home institution (letter to be emailed directly to Daniel Kreiss at dkreiss@email.unc.edu). The link to submit application materials can be found here:
This faculty member agrees to serve as the primary local mentor, helping the student develop the abstract as needed and overseeing the research proposal. The faculty member is expected to participate in some of the online panels and the letter must speak to the student’s potential for political communication research.
Outcomes
Students will receive a signed letter confirming their research proposal presentation and attendance at the ESMP (this can become a feature of their graduate applications.) They will receive feedback on their ongoing research projects from experts in the field. They will be encouraged to think theoretically and methodologically about their research interests. They will make connections with a number of scholars in the discipline, potentially including professors at departments to which they intend to apply. Students will also have the possibility of interacting with professors who might provide a letter of recommendation for graduate applications. By attending panels, and through the fostering of an active online community, they will also be connected with other students with similar interests and objectives. Just as important, the ESMP will allow students with an interest in and aptitude for graduate school to learn what it is like. The basic logistics of applications, funding, and job prospects will be a focus of conversation – alongside research proposals, of course. All of these factors hopefully will increase the diversity of successful applications for graduate work in political communication.
ESMP Executive Committee (2021-22)
Deen Freelon, University of North Carolina
Sarah J. Jackson, University of Pennsylvania
Daniel Kreiss, University of North Carolina
Charlton McIlwain, New York University
Patricia Moy, University of Washington
Dhavan Shah, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Stuart Soroka, University of Michigan
Talia Stroud, University of Texas – Austin