The Pockrass Lecture was named after the late Professor Robert M. Pockrass, a member of Penn State’s journalism faculty from 1948 to 1977. Pockrass, who specialized in public opinion and popular culture, served as the graduate officer and taught radio news writing.
Upcoming
Mar
19
2026
"Online Hate: A Prosocial Explanation for AntiSocial Communication"
Date & Time: March 19, 2026, 6:00 pm–7:30 pm
Location: 112 Walker Building
Previous Lectures
Nov
06
2025
Pockrass Memorial Lecture
Brooke Erin Duffy. ('02), Cornell University
Date & Time: November 6, 2025, 4:00 pm–5:15 pm
Location: 112 Walker Building
This event has already occurred.
Mar
24
2025
"Platform Power and the Manufacture of Public Trust"
Emily West, University of Massachusets
Date & Time: March 24, 2025, 6:00 pm–7:30 pm
Location: Carnegie Cinema (113 Carnegie Building)
This event has already occurred.
Oct
18
2024
"Family Media Moments: How Parents and Children Navigate Identity"
Marie-Louise Mares
Date & Time: October 18, 2024, 1:30 pm–2:45 pm
Location: 121 Sparks Building
This event has already occurred.
Mar
11
2024
Sound/Off: Data, Persuasion and Regulation
Jasmine McNealy, University of Florida
Date & Time: March 11, 2024, 4:30 pm–6:00 pm
Location: Kern Auditorium (112 Kern Building)
This event has already occurred.
Apr
14
2022
"Voice & Representation"
Erica Ciszek
Date & Time: April 14, 2022, 5:30 pm–6:30 pm
Location: Zoom
This event has already occurred.
Nov
10
2021
"Material Access Still Matters"
Dr. Teresa Correa, Universidad Diego Portales
Date & Time: November 10, 2021, 5:30 pm–6:30 pm
Location: Zoom
This event has already occurred.
Apr
26
2021
"Spectacularized and Branded Digital (Re)presentations of Black People and Blackness"
Francesca Sobande
Date & Time: April 26, 2021, 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Location: Zoom
This event has already occurred.
Mar
25
2021
"Gamers' Behaviors and Gaming for Social Good"
Vivian Chen
Date & Time: March 25, 2021, 9:00 am–10:00 am
Location: Zoom
This event has already occurred.
Feb
28
2020
"#Trending: The Business of Trends in Consumer Culture"
Devon Powers
Date & Time: February 28, 2020, 3:30 pm–5:00 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Sep
23
2019
“Online Experiences of Marginalized Individuals”
Jesse Fox, Ohio State University
Date & Time: September 23, 2019, 5:30 pm–7:00 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Feb
28
2019
"Confronting the Misinformation Society"
Date & Time: February 28, 2019, 5:30 pm–7:00 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Oct
10
2018
Who's the Bully and Who’s the Victim in Masterpiece Cakeshop?
Rhonda Gibson
Date & Time: October 10, 2018, 5:30 pm–6:30 pm
Location: Foster Auditorum, Paterno LIbrary
This event has already occurred.
Apr
09
2018
Pockrass Lecture
Robin Nabi
Date & Time: April 9, 2018, 5:30 pm–7:00 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Sep
18
2017
"The Projectilic Image: Islamic State’s Digital Visual Warfare and Global Networked Affect"
Date & Time: September 18, 2017, 6:00 pm–7:30 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Apr
12
2017
"Capitalist Kermit and his Chubby Cousin"
Helle Standgaard Jensen
Date & Time: April 12, 2017, 4:30 pm–6:00 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Oct
28
2016
“The Promise and Peril of Political Humor as a Rhetorical Device”
Dannagai G. Young
Date & Time: October 28, 2016, 1:00 pm–2:30 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Apr
04
2016
"The Awakenings of the Filtered"
Christian Sandvig
Date & Time: April 4, 2016, 5:00 pm–6:15 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Sep
28
2015
"The Science of Stories and the Stories of Science"
Melanie Green
Date & Time: September 28, 2015, 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
Location: HUB-Robeson Center, Freeman Auditorium
This event has already occurred.
Apr
13
2015
"ESPN Culture"
Travis Vogan
Date & Time: April 13, 2015, 4:30 pm–5:30 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Oct
06
2014
"The World Wise Web?"
Eszter Hargittai
Date & Time: October 6, 2014, 3:30 pm–4:45 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
Apr
11
2014
“What Story Survives?"
Carolyn L. Kitch
Date & Time: April 11, 2014, 3:30 pm–5:00 pm
Location: Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
This event has already occurred.
