Center for Media & Social Impact

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Center for Media & Social Impact The Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI) is an innovation lab and research center that studies, s

The Center for Media & Social Impact at American University, formerly the Center for Social Media, is an innovation incubator and research center that creates, studies, and showcases media for social impact. Focusing on independent, documentary and public media, the Center bridges boundaries between scholars, producers and communication practitioners across media production, media impact, public policy, and audience engagement. The Center produces resources for the field and academic research; convenes conferences and events; and works collaboratively to understand and design media that matters. The Center’s activities include:
INCUBATING creative and cutting-edge media projects that address issues of misrepresentation, identity, and social change. INNOVATIVE RESEARCH to answer key questions underlying social impact media. RESOURCES to facilitate impact through media: issue briefs, fact sheets, blog, and models for documentary and impact campaign production. CONVENING issue experts, social scientists, technology specialists and producers to discuss and track trends, lessons learned, and new models for public engagement in media. As part of the American University School of Communication, the Center offers research assistantships, screenings, master classes and volunteer opportunities to SOC students. The Center also has fellows associated with funded projects, but has no stand-alone funding for fellows.

Whew, what a whirlwind! Over the past two weeks, we’ve screened The Great American Punchline Tour across the country in ...
10/07/2026

Whew, what a whirlwind! Over the past two weeks, we’ve screened The Great American Punchline Tour across the country in the communities where it was filmed back in the summer of 2024.

It has been incredibly gratifying to bring the film back to these communities that welcomed our roving band of comedians as we travelled the country to find out: is the solution to America’s polarization problem . . . jokes?

Making this film, reconnecting with these community partners, and seeing the impact it has on live audiences leaves us a little more hopeful that we can bridge our divides if we all just sit down and have a good laugh together.

Thank you to The Fayetteville Film Fest, Common Market, Mike Martin, Shannon Ross and The Beginning, Tim Deaton and Appalachian Arts Alliance for being partners in every sense of the word.

Stay tuned for what’s next for The Great American Punchline Tour!

Saving one of the best for last! The Great American Punchline Tour will close out its community screening run in Hazard,...
09/29/2026

Saving one of the best for last! The Great American Punchline Tour will close out its community screening run in Hazard, KY this Thursday.

📅 October 1
🕕 6:30 PM
📍 Hazard, KY at The Grand with Appalachian Arts Alliance

We’re so excited to bring the film back to Hazard and reconnect with all of the fine people at Appalachian Arts Alliance . After the film, stay for a Q+A with co-director Bethany Hall, moderated by Tim Deaton.

Join us for a night of film, comedy, and community. RSVP at the link in bio.

09/29/2026
We won a thing! Thank you for the amazing screening of The Great American Punchline Tour and for the Best Documentary ...
09/25/2026

We won a thing! Thank you for the amazing screening of The Great American Punchline Tour and for the Best Documentary Feature Award.

It was so powerful to watch the film with an audience and get to practice what we’ve been preaching – that comedy, joy, and play can bring people together and bridge divides.

We’re excited to bring The Great American Punchline Tour into communities across the country.

Milwaukee, get ready for a fun one!Catch The Great American Punchline Tour on Friday, September 25th followed by an enli...
09/22/2026

Milwaukee, get ready for a fun one!

Catch The Great American Punchline Tour on Friday, September 25th followed by an enlightening panel featuring co-director Bethany Hall, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Columnist & WTMJ radio host Kristin Brey, and Marquette Professor Robert Smith moderated by Shannon Ross, founder of The Community.

📅 September 25
🕕 5:30 PM
📍 Milwaukee, WI at Diercks Hall, MSOE with The Beginning

The Great American Punchline Tour: In a painfully polarized America, a group of comedians journey through the middle of the country in the uneasy summer of 2024 to ask and answer one key question: Can comedy bring us together across our divides? From the heart of Appalachia to cheese curds in Milwaukee and Americana in Muncie and beyond, seven comedians embark on a bumpy bus tour to play and discover common ground—and the great American punchlines that bring us together. Featuring Negin Farsad, Chris Gethard, Corey Ryan Forrester, Yasmin Elhady, Dylan Adler, Maggie Crane and Ali Sultan

Free snacks! Comedy! Community!
Don’t miss it - RSVP at the link in bio.

Muncie, Indiana . . . we’re coming for ya!We’re bringing The Great American Punchline Tour back to the communities where...
09/22/2026

Muncie, Indiana . . . we’re coming for ya!

We’re bringing The Great American Punchline Tour back to the communities where we filmed it, and we can’t wait to head back to Muncie, Indiana for the screening at the Common Market . Such a special place with the kindest, most welcoming people.

📅 September 24
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Muncie, IN at the Muncie Common Market

Hope to see you there! RSVP at the link in bio.

It’s that time of year again, Back to School for the little ones in our lives! To celebrate, we’re taking a look back at...
09/18/2026

It’s that time of year again, Back to School for the little ones in our lives! To celebrate, we’re taking a look back at some of the groundbreaking children’s content that we’ve covered on We Disrupt This Broadcast!

These shows & movies are not only entertaining but they prove that entertainment can bring joy, education and depth to our screens as well as teaching kids that it’s never too early to be a disruptor! 

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

We Disrupt This Broadcast is a co-directed co-production of the Peabody Awards and the Center for Media & Social Impact, distributed by PRX.

✨ Lineup Update!Shaan Choppala () has been added to the comedy show following The Great American Punchline Tour Screenin...
09/16/2026

✨ Lineup Update!

Shaan Choppala () has been added to the comedy show following The Great American Punchline Tour Screening at

We’re thrilled to kick off screenings of The Great American Punchline Tour this Friday at the Fayetteville Film Festival!

📅 September 18
🕖 7:30 PM
📍 The Event Center, 401 W Mountain St, Fayetteville, AR
🎟️ Link in bio

Watch The Great American Punchline Tour, the documentary that asks: Is the solution to America’s polarization problem…jokes?

Then, stay for a Q+A with filmmakers Caty Borum and Bethany Hall followed by a comedy show hosted by John Schwert () and featuring Shaan Choppala (thecajindiancomedian), Jennica Schwartzman () and our frequent collaborator David Perdue ().

Can't wait to see you, Fayetteville!

We’re thrilled to kick off screenings of The Great American Punchline Tour this Friday at the Fayetteville Film Fest!📅 S...
09/15/2026

We’re thrilled to kick off screenings of The Great American Punchline Tour this Friday at the Fayetteville Film Fest!

📅 September 18
🕖 7:30 PM
📍 The Event Center, 401 W Mountain St, Fayetteville, AR
🎟️ Link in bio

Watch The Great American Punchline Tour, the documentary that asks: Is the solution to America’s polarization problem…jokes?

Then, stay for a Q+A with filmmakers Caty Borum and Bethany Hall followed by a comedy show featuring John Schwert (), Jennica Schwartzman () and our frequent collaborator David Perdue ().

David Perdue is an Atlanta based comedian, actor, writer and podcaster. David is a member of the Climate Comedy Cohort created & directed by Generation180 & the Center for Media & Social Impact’s Good Laugh Initiative. David co-founded “Comedy & Conversation” a live show combining comedians with subject matter experts using humor to engage audiences & have impactful conversations around difficult topics such as food insecurity, politics, mental health just to name a few.

Can’t wait to share this film with you, Fayetteville!

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