USC Annenberg School for Communication Dean Ernest J. Wilson III announced eight project recipients of his 3-I’s Fund, which is supported by a $1 million donation from USC trustee Wallis Annenberg and designed to advance research related to the new “innovation, internationalization and impact” initiative at the school.

“Our first call for proposals this spring generated an impressive number and variety of proposals, making the selection a challenge,” associate dean for planning and strategic initiatives Carola Weil said. “We are very excited about this first step in our effort to translate the 3-I’s into concrete programs.”

This is the first round of recipients. Another round of proposals is due from USC Annenberg faculty and center directors by Sept. 8.

USC Annenberg faculty and center staff presented brief research proposals that would advance the goals of the fund by further incorporating student participation, inter-disciplinary and school integration, and opportunities for the use of new media and distance education.

“I am thrilled that USC Annenberg is making these paid research opportunities available for students in the master's in communication management program,” said communication professor Janet Fulk, who received a grant to explore new course options for the global communication master’s degree program. “This grant offers a very beneficial learning experience for these students.”

Journalism professor Joe Saltzman, whose proposal involved further research into the social standing of war correspondents in popular culture, said: “Currently there is no research in this field. This would offer researchers and scholars around the world basic research and would be the first research and visual evidence of the image of the war correspondent in popular culture done on the subject.”

3-I’s Fund recipients:

• Sandra Ball-Rokeach, Bill Celis and Willa Seidenberg for “South Los Angeles Project”
• Janet Fulk for “New Course Development for the Global Communication Master’s Degree Program”
• Tom Goodnight, Laura Castañeda and Coleen Keough for “Support for the Investigation and Creation of a School-wide Undergraduate Honors Program”
• Margaret McLaughlin, et al. for “Plan for Developing the ASC Health Communication Program”
• Lawrence Pryor for “Seed Funds for Development of Tools for Environmental Journalism”
• Phillip Rodriguez for “Sí Se Puede?: The Battle for Latino Votes”
• Joe Saltzman for “The Image of the War Correspondent in Motion Pictures and Television”
• Stacy Smith and Alison Trope for “A Revamping of Communication 465: Gender in Media Industries and Products.”