Communication Studies at UNB Saint John

02/19/2026

Upcoming event to learn about Arts programs including Communication Studies

All students, by the end of their second year, should be signing up for their Majors (or Double Majors! or Honours!). This is an event to ensure students get the advising they need!

07/09/2025

🎉📚 Congratulations to Dr. L. Dugan Nichols, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies, on the publication of his latest dual book review!

In this thoughtful piece, Dr. Nichols explores two recent works on the media industry: Media Industries in the Digital Age by Lotz and Havens and Work in the Digital Media and Entertainment Industries by Mirrlees. His review highlights the contrasting perspectives of corporate innovation and worker struggles in today’s ever-evolving media landscape.

👏 A great read for anyone interested in media, culture, and communication. Check out the full review here: https://doi.org/10.1177/15274764251350081

06/13/2025

🌆 Once erased from the history books, the women of Sheffield Street are finally having their stories told — and it’s thanks to the powerful work of Dr. Gemma Marr, part-time instructor in Department of Humanities & Languages and coordinator of The Lorenzo Society here at UNB Saint John.

Teaming up with local artist KC Wilcox, Dr. Marr is turning her postdoctoral research on Saint John’s early red-light district into a stunning graphic novel titled 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬. Based on archival records, jail logs, and imaginative reconstruction, the novel breathes life into the lives of eight women whose names were once only known to the institutions that punished them.

This is communication in action — transforming dry institutional data into a vivid, human story that challenges how we remember the past.

We’re incredibly proud of Dr. Marr’s innovative storytelling and the heart she brings to this project. Keep an eye on this one — it’s reshaping how we share history.

Read more: https://bit.ly/44d0A4H

03/18/2025

📢 New Publication Alert! 📢

Dr. Lawrence Dugan Nichols’s latest article, "Generational Deêtctives: Documentary Noir, Millennials, and Conspiracy on Netflix", explores how generational detectives uncover hidden truths in a world shaped by neoliberal precarity and unresolved conspiracy. A must-read for fans of noir and contemporary media studies!

🔗 Read more: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9045-5329

01/27/2025

🎉 Big news!�

Our Professor Dann Downes was featured on CBC, sharing his thoughts on how social media and politics are shaping each other. It’s an important and fascinating conversation you won’t want to miss!�

📖 Read the article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/instagram-1.7437667�

We’re so proud to see UNB voices making an impact! 💙

01/27/2025

🎥 Check it out!
Our Professor Dann Downes speaks with CBC about Meta's fact-checking decision will affect Canadians 🌟

📺 Watch the full interview here: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6615435

01/25/2025

🎥 Check it out!
Our Professor Dann Downes speaks with CBC about Meta's fact-checking decision will affect Canadians 🌟

📺 Watch the full interview here: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6615435

01/08/2025

🌟 Attention COMS Majors, Double-Majors, and Sociology students! If you’re curious about the world around you, you’ll love SOCI-4503 with Dr. Joseph Galbo! This course focuses on the everyday things we see and experience—like music, movies, and social media—and explores their deeper meanings. 🎶🎬

You’ll explore how these cultural artifacts shape our lives and connect us as a society. Plus, you’ll get a solid background on the history of popular culture and engage in exciting discussions about mass culture and postmodernism.

Whether you’re a culture buff or just looking to understand the world better, this class is a must! Don’t miss your chance! 📚✨

12/26/2024

🔍✨ Ready to take your research skills to the next level? Join COMS-4001 Research Seminar in Communication Studies this Winter 2025! This upper-level course is a must for Communication majors and double majors. You'll have the chance to explore a topic that interests you and conduct your own research in a collaborative setting. 📝💡Sign up now!

12/26/2024

🏅📺 Explore Sports and Media! Join COMS-3105 for this Winter 2025! This brand new upper-level course looks at how sports are represented in the media, from big events to Canadian hockey. Some important issues like race, gender, class, and nationalism in the sports spectacle will be discussed. Whether you love sports or want to learn more about media, this class is for you!

12/26/2024

🔍✨ Level Up Your Research Skills with COMS-3003 Electronic Research! Learn how to conduct web-based research and use important online tools. This upper-level class is required for Communication Studies majors and double majors! 📚💻 Get ready to tackle research projects with confidence. Don’t miss your chance—sign up now! 🌟

12/26/2024

🎥✨COMS-2119 is a popular choice this Winter 2025, attracting students from all majors, not just Communication Studies!

This hands-on course offers a unique opportunity to focus on New Media Production. You'll learn to create interesting digital narratives through lectures, lab work, and real filming and audio recording experiences. Whether you're a budding filmmaker or just love storytelling, this class is for you! Don’t wait—sign up now!