Since our launch in 2005, the Urban Communication Foundation has provided awards and grants to dozens of distinguished scholars, researchers, and journalists to recognize and support provocative work that contributes in significant ways to the discourse around urban communica-tion issues.
While most of our recipients hail from academia and journalism, we also encourage submis-sions from other practitioners whose work will lend new insights into the discipline, raise broader awareness of related socio-political, economic, and cultural concerns, or influence public policy.
Current Grants include:
UCF Research Assistance Grants
James Carey Grant Urban Communication Grant
Michael Brill Grant in Urban Communication and Urban Design
Applied Urban Communication Grant
UCF/IAMCR Urban Communication Research Grant
Gene Burd Grant for Research in Urban Journalism Studies
Media Ecology/UCF Student Research Grant
While most of our recipients hail from academia and journalism, we also encourage submissions from other practitioners whose work will lend new insights into the discipline, raise broader awareness of related socio-political, economic, and cultural concerns, or influence public policy, including:
To learn more about the Foundationʼs grants and awards, as well as our current and past recipients and their work, click on the links below or contact us at info@urbancomm.org.
This program provides funding for projects seeking $3,000 or less. The purpose is to fund projects that are small in scale, need seed-money or are short term. Funding priority is given to organizations and individuals with a record of sharing a mission consistent with core funding interests of the Urban Communication Foundation. The UCF provides support for innovative research projects that advance urban communication research and/or initiatives.
Deadline: Grants are evaluated and awarded twice a year. The next deadline is June 30, 2025.
These grants are generally not renewable.
Allowable expenses for funding may include:
▪ Stipends for research or creative assistants
▪ Stipends for human subjects to participate
▪ Research related expenses (e.g.copying fees)
▪ Survey related expenses
▪ Production related expenses (e.g. video editing, filming expenses )
▪ Fees for publication rights,
▪ Transcription, library fees, media (film, cds, paper, etc), printing and copying.
▪ In selected cases, equipment rentals may be funded although the UCF does not usually fund equipment-related expenses.
▪ Research related travel
▪ Training and staff development
Funds may not be used for the following:
▪ Equipment (e.g. desktop computers; laptops; computer tablets)
▪ Salary or for release time from teaching for the purpose of writing and
research.
▪ Conference related travel.
▪ Contributions to other organizations
Application Proposals should include:
▪ Proposal detailing the topic and purpose of the research project, including the form of any partnership with other researchers or organizations (maximum 750 words).
▪ Projected timeline, research/project goals, and future plans.
▪ CV/contact details, and the names of any other team members.
▪ Budget statement for the overall project and for the use of the funds requested.
▪ Statement on how the project for which funds are requested fits into any longer project and how partial funding would operate within the larger project where applicable.
Submit application materials to submissions@urbancomm.org. Submissions should be submitted before each bi-annual deadline.
Review Process:
▪ A decision on Research Assistance applications can be expected within 4 to 6 weeks.
▪ Grantees are required to submit a report of project accomplishments on or before the project end date.
▪ Awarded recipients are announced on the Foundation website and social media.
Previous Recipients of Research Assistance Grants
2024
Sarah Constant & Austin Hestdalen
The Pennsylvania State University & Purdue University Northwest
"From Communication to Collapse: The Pruitt-Igoe Public Housing Disaster"
Jaime Vargas Villafuerte
University of Lima, Peru
"The discursive (re)production of territorial stigmatization in marginal
neighborhoods in Callao, Peru"
2023
Annika Lundkvist
Anthropos Doctoral School
"Mobility Behaviour’ and the ‘Psychology of Mobility Choice’ of city inhabitants, with the focus being locals here in Warsaw."
Eileen Avery
University of Missouri
"Residential Experiences with Gentrification in a Small Rocky Mountain City"
2022
Hannah Widmer
University of Lausanne
"Encounters Between Strangers and Diverse Interactions in Everyday Public Squares"
The James Carey Urban Communication Grant supports research that advances knowledge on the consequences of urban communication in and across urban societies. The grant is awarded by the Urban Communication Foundation (UCF) and co-sponsored by the Ethnicity and Race in Communication Division; the Health Communication Division, and the Popular Media & Culture Division. We welcome applications for research that will engage different urban actors and which will support civic engagement and equitable access to communication opportunities in the city. The $2,500 grant is designed to facilitate research in progress or in the planning stages. It gives priority to projects that feature innovation and creative approaches to studying the transformation of urban communities and urban public life, especially at times of local and global change. Proposals from the Global South are particularly welcome and proposals that address issues of racial and/or racial justice are encouraged.
The grant is driven by James W. Carey’s scholarship and values. Carey, who was committed to the study of urbanity and community, famously noted: “I think all education, all scholarship is ultimately an aspect of citizenship”. He was committed to understanding the social and cultural consequences of technological and media change in cities and urban communities.
The winner(s) are announced each year at the annual ICA conference. Award winners are expected to participate in the ICA conference and are required to report to the UCF on the progress of their research the year following the receipt of the award.
The next award will be presented in 2025. To apply send current vita and a statement that includes the following to submissions@urbancomm.org:
- A brief description of the proposed research
- The significance of the work to urban communication
- Methodologies to be employed
- Funding Needs
Deadline for submission is April 30, 2025
2024
Brett Halperin
University of Washington
"Mujeres Atrevidas: Design Documentary as Participatory Inquiry Into Urban Gig Work"
2023
Steven Yidong Wang
University of Kansas
"A Media Ecology Approach to Understanding Queer Urbanity"
2022
Satarupa Dasgupta
Ramapo College of New Jersey
"The impact of mobility and visibility in urban spaces on stigmatization and healthcare seeking behavior among non-brothel-based transient sex workers"
2021
Burcu Baykurt
University of Massachusetts Amherst
"Pandemic Dashboards: How Cities Craft Knowledge of COVID-19"
2020
No Award
2019
Adriana A. de Souza e Silva
North Carolina State University
2018
No Award
2017
Germaine Halegoua and Jessa Lingel
University of Kansas and University of Pennsylvania
“Invisibility and hypervisibility: Failures of imagination in urban broadband networks”.
2016
Sarah C. Bishop
Department of Communication Studies, Baruch College, City University of New York
“(Un)Documented Media Makers and the Search for Connection Online”.
2015
Charles T. Salmon, Thanomwong Poorisat, and Franklin J. Boster
Nanyang Technological University and Michigan State University
“Public Will and the Problem of Urban Homelessness”.
2014
Nancy Chen, Andrea Wenzel, and Nan Zhao
Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, University of Southern California
“A research project designed to lead a new media news platform serving the city of Alhambra, CA”
2013
Leyla Nasibova
Aalto University, Finland
“Collaborative Design & Action Framework for Social & Urban Transformation in Cape Town.”
2012
Yong Jin Park
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
“Online News Frame, Deliberation, Engagement.”
2011
Erin D. McClellan
Department of Communication at Boise State University
“A Study of Boston’s City Hall Pla-za.”
2010
Stephen Ostertag
Department of Sociology at Tulane University
2009
No Award
2008
Yong Jun Shin
Doctoral Candidate, Urban Communication, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison
“Interaction Between Urban Politics and Communication Ecology: With the Case of a Local Low-Income Housing Policy.”
The Michael Brill Award for Urban Communication, Design, and Human Behavior supports innovative research that seeks to enhance the quality of community life by examining human communicative behavior in the context of the technologies and the physical environments in which those interactions occur. This research should address and connect theoretical perspectives from the fields of communication, design and the social sciences. Research supported by the Brill Grant may focus on how physical community places influence the mode, nature, and content of human communicative behavior OR use a communication lens for examining community places and human activity.
Grant amount: $3,000 per grant
Eligible participants must be EDRA members to apply for and receive this grant. Each complete application should include: (a) a statement or research proposal in no more than two pages describing the nature and significance of the project in relatively non-technical terms; anticipated schedule (expected completion time); plans for dissemination of the project results; and a budget, (b) an appendix of up to two pages for bibliography, photos, figures, etc. may be included, and (c) a copy of the applicant’s current CV or resume.
For updates and inquiries about this research grant, go to the EDRA website.
Previous Recipients of the UCF/EDRA Michael Brill Award:
2024
Yasaman Gholami
PhD Student in Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology
2023
Ruth Barankevich
Graduate Student, University of California Irvine
2022
Anna Domlesky
Director of Research, SWA Group
2021
Pablo García de Paredes
Doctorant en architecture, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
PhD Candidate in Social Sciences, University of Panamá
2020
Prof. Kyoungmee Kate Byun
Northern Arizona University
2019
Chester Harvey
University of California Berkeley
2018
Miyoung Hong
Indiana University Bloomington
2017
Georgia Lindsay
University of Colorado Boulder
2016
Nastaran Tabyanian
Pennsylvania State University
2015
Seunghae Lee and Paul Platosh
Oregon State University
2014
Dr. Shalini Misra
Assistant Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech.
2013
Sheila Gobes-Ryan
Adjunct Instructor at Hillsborough Community College
2012
No Award
2011
Joongsub Kim, PH.D., RA, AIA, AICP
Associate Professor, Coordinator: The Detroit Studio + Community Outreach Program
The Applied Urban Communication Research Grant is an annually funded prize given to foster and promote significant, inter-disciplinary communication research contributions that extend the boundaries of “applied research” by investigating real-life communication phenomena affecting urban communities. The prize is to be awarded to fund the development of original research that meaningfully centralizes the concerns of everyday citizens and their struggle to define, identify with, and/or construct “spaces” for discourse and/or engagement within cities.
The recipient of the prize will receive a medal and a $2,500 grant-in-aid to be awarded to fund communication research related to urban communication. Nominees will be evaluated based on the potential impact of their work as well as the quality and rigor of their contribution. Nominees must be members of ECA. The award is be presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Communication Association.
For information on applying for this grant see the Eastern Communication Association website:
https://www.ecasite.org/aws/ECA/pt/sp/convention_awards-nominations#AppliedUrban
2025
No Recipient
2024
Megan L. Pietruszewski Norman
The Pennsylvania State University
2023
Benjamin Bates
Ohio University
2021
Max Renner
Malloy College
2020
Rachel Clancy
University of Pittsburgh
2018
Caitlin Bruce
University of Pittsburgh
2017
No Recipient
2016
Rebecca Townsend
Manchester Community College
2015
Susan Carr Mancino and Hannah Cherico Karolak
Duquesne University
2014
Kristin Scott
New Century College at George Mason University
2013
Allison Burr-Miller
Christopher Newport University (CNU)
2012
Douglas J. Marshall and Mary L. Kahl
Duquesne University
2011
Erik Garrett
Duquesne University
2010
Alfred G. Mueller II
Penn State Mont Alto
2008
Lewis Freeman
Fordham University
Urban Communication Awards 2025
The International Association for Media and Communication Research -IAMCR- invites applications for the 2025 Urban Communication Award. This thematic award is organised in collaboration with the Urban Communication Foundation (UCF).
The selection committee will award three papers that develop and explore innovative approaches to urban communication. Media/communication researchers with an interest in the intersection of the urban with communication are encouraged to apply, from all fields of media and communication studies and all career stages. Interdisciplinary collaborations are encouraged. Awarded papers will be acknowledged with a USD $750 grant.
For application information contact IAMCR: https://iamcr.org/
2024
Hongyu Zhu & Zizhing Zhang
Tsinghua University
"Revitalizing City Branding Through Concerts? Cultural Circut, Fandom, Urban Public Relations in Xi'an: A Case Study Regarding TFBOYS Ten-Year Anniversary Concert"
2023
Sandra Jeppesen
Lakehead University, Canada
"Urban Data? Block Sidewalk Resistance to Smart City AI Data Exploitation in Toronto"
Mingjun Zhao
Tsinghua University
Yongliang Liu
Tsinghua University
"Branding a City Through Sport Event News: Evidence from Beijing's Two Olympic Games"
María Isabel Norena Wiswell
Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios - UNIMINUTO, Bogotá
Maria Helena Botero Ospina
Rosario University, Bogotá
"Stories and Experiences about the Urban Conformation of Self-organized Communities: Two Case Studies"
The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication has partnered with the Urban Communication Foundation to create the Gene Burd Grant for Research in Urban Journalism Studies. The purpose of this annual grant is to stimulate research that explains, enlightens, inspires, and improves the practice and study of journalism and communication in order to advance our understanding of journalism in urban environments.
Application Information: https://www.aejmc.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Burd-Award-for-Research-in-Urban-Journalism-Studies.pdf
2024 - 2025
Newly Paul and Mezabahnur (“Meza”) Masum (University of North Texas)
2023 - 2024
Gyo Hyun Koo (Howard University)
2022 - 2023
Kelsey N. Whipple (University of Massachusetts – Amherst)
2021 - 2022
Dr. Ayleen Cabas-Mijares (Marquette University) & Dr. Joy Jenkins (University of Tennessee)
The Media Ecology Association invites proposals for a research grant in the amount of $2500 sponsored by the Urban Communication Foundation. Proposals should be grounded in a theoretical or philosophical approach associated with the field of media ecology and should address topics of media ecological concern regarding the study of cities and urban environments as they relate to human communication, social interaction, technological mediation, and cultural change and continuity. Proposals concerned with identity and affiliation in relation to race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and other differences that make a difference are encouraged.
Proposals will be evaluated via anonymous review, and in addition to the stipend, the author(s) will receive complimentary membership in the Media Ecology Association (including subscription to Explorations in Media Ecology) for the year of the award and registration at our annual convention. A program session at the annual convention will be devoted to the research study, and when completed, the study will be published in Explorations in Media Ecology (which would not preclude publication elsewhere). The competition will be open to graduate students registered for degree programs and who have been Media Ecology Association members for at least one year.
For application information go to: https://www.media-ecology.org/UCF-Grant
Previous Recipients:
2024
Nina Kelly
Wayne State University
2023
No Award
2022
Bernadette “bird” Bowen
Miami University
2021
Austin Hestdalen
Duquesne University
The Gary Gumpert Grant is awarded at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Previous Recipients of the Gary Gumpert Grant: The State of the Field of Urban Communication
2014
Gary Kreps
Dept. of Communication, George Mason University
“State of the Field 2015: Research in Health Communication”
2010
Giorgia Aiello
Institute of Communication Studies, University of Leeds
“The Local, The European and the Global: The Visual Material Communication of Urban Space in the European Capital of Culture Scheme.”
Caitlin Bruce
Rhetoric and Public Culture Department of Communication, Northwestern University
“Community Mural Arts, Urban Polemic, and Political Tourism: Place-Based Strategies in Media Space.
2009
Ece Algan
Dept. of Communication Studies, California State University, San Bernardino
“Transformations in the Media Environment and the Cityscape of Şanlıurfa (Turkey).”
Shannon C. Mattern
Dept. of Media Studies and Film, the New School
“Cities Before Cinema: Mediating Urban Space and Experience Before the Mechanically Reproduced Image.”
2007
Eric Gordon
Dept. of Visual and Media Arts, Emerson College
“Hub2: Using Emerging Technologies to Strengthen Community and Civic Identity in Boston.”
Laura Forlano, Ph.D
Candidate, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University
“Generation Mesh: Understanding the Users of WiFi Networks in Urban Spaces.”
Erin D. McClellan
Dept. of Communication, Denison University
“Rhetorics of Place and Space in the Public Squares: Savannah, Georgia.”
2006
Lee Humphreys, Ph.D.
Candidate, Annenberg School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania
“Mobile Social Networking in Urban Environments.”
Tim Simpson
University of Macau, China
“Transnational Urban Spaces and Post-Socialist Consumption in Macau.”
2005
Matthew Matsaganis, Ph.D. Candidate
Annenberg School of Communication, University of Southern California
“The Role of Communication Space in Building Social Capital.”
Casey Man Kong Lum
William Patterson University
“Outdoor Advertising and Urban Communication: A Study of Outdoor Signs in and Across Contested Urban Landscape in China.”
White Paper Grants are awarded at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The next award is planned for 2021. Details to be announced.
2015
Dr. Irene Ponzo, Dr. Andrea Pogliano, and Dr. Qian Lu are the 2015 winners of the White Paper Proposal for their work on their paper “The Politics And Policy Of Migration In Europe And North America”
2013
Dr. Lan Ni, Dr. Beverly J. Gor, and Dr. Zhi-wen Xiao are the 2013 White Paper Proposal winners.
Dr. Lan Ni, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Valenti School of Communication at the University of Houston. Focusing on the identification of publics, relationship management, and conflict management, her research examines how public relations in intercultural settings can both benefit organizations and empower publics, especially immigrants and minority groups.
Dr. Beverly J. Gor is a Staff Analyst with the Houston Health Department (HHD) working in the Director’s Office in the Office of Program Planning and Development. She and her col-leagues design and evaluate public health programs coordinated by HHD. Beverly is a native Houstonian and a co-founder of the Asian American Health Coalition and its HOPE Clinic, a federally qualified health center.
Dr. Zhiwen Xiao is an Associate Professor in Health Communication and a faculty affiliate of women’s studies at the University of Houston.
2012
Dr. Laura Forlano and Prof. Anijo Punnen Mathew of the Illinois Institute of Technology are the 2012 recipients of the UCF White Paper Award on “Designing Digital Networks for Urban Public Space”. They began their work this Fall.