MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing
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MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing
@mit-cmsw.bsky.social
CMS/W’s studio and workshop curriculum combines approaches from the humanities, arts, social sciences, and science communication to teach its graduates how to work and interact with contemporary media.
Mini-forests!

MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing student Ashley D’Souza reports on the challenges of growing trees in urban neighborhoods like North Brookline, Mass., where they're not tied in to their native ecosystems.

Her story starts at 9:14: brookline.news/brookline-ne...
Brookline.News Podcast Episode 10: Gerald Alston's legacy, a Verizon arrival, and the sound of mini-forests - Brookline.News
On Episode 10 of the Brookline.News Podcast, editor Sam Mintz and Brookline Interactive Group executive director Jessica Smyser talk about the latest news in Brookline, including the death of former f...
brookline.news
November 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Thank you to everyone who've followed along with us as we share these wonderful pieces from Angles. We wrap up these shares with "More than Nonsense: Language Acquisition and Identity in Through the Looking Glass" by Carl Osborne, '28:

cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025/...
» More than Nonsense: Language Acquisition and Identity in Through the Looking Glass Angles / 2025
selected essays from introductory writing subjects at MIT
cmsw.mit.edu
November 19, 2025 at 4:57 PM
In the latest from CMS/W professor Nick Montfort:

"Today’s large language models are very different from both automated reporters and storytelling systems."

cmsw.mit.edu/generating-r...
November 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
“I would go to one fire and I would cover it, and it would be the same script that I wrote on another fire a week ago.”

www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/18/b...
Boston’s broadcast journalists are departing TV news in droves. Why? - The Boston Globe
Big names including WBZ-TV’s Jon Keller and WHDH-TV’s Kim Khazei are just the most recent examples of the accelerating flight of broadcasters from the airwaves.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Tonight on the 5:30 WMBR 88.1FM Nightly News, we get to hear the latest from a student in our MIT Graduate Program in Science Writing, covering Harry Allen's mission to fling hip-hop into space on its own golden record.

Great work, Laura Martín Agudelo!

wmbr.org/www/sched
WMBR 88.1 FM at MIT
WMBR is the awesome little radio station broadcasting from deep within the basements of MIT in Cambridge, Mass.
wmbr.org
November 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The latest review from CMS/W lecturer Chris Featherman:

"Together, these two books reveal the urgent challenge of combating harmful speech and propaganda – and the real violence it leads to – in our polarized political moment."

blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofb...
Why propaganda, hate and political extremism thrive in the attention economy - LSE Review of Books
Dogwhistles & Figleaves by Jennifer Mather Saul & Safe Havens for Hate by Tamar Mitts explore how extremism thrives online & the limits of content moderation.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
November 14, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"How many women, I wonder, are kept from communicating with their doctors by their abusers, and without other interpreting options can’t even speak for themselves?"

cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025/...
» Please Hold for an Interpreter: When Miscommunication Endangers Patients Angles / 2025
selected essays from introductory writing subjects at MIT
cmsw.mit.edu
November 13, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Reminder, tonight, with your host Professor Ian Condry!
spatialsoundlab.mit.edu/events/
November 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
"Here at MIT, people seem to understand something: to quote the late Colorado Congresswoman Pat Schroeder, “You can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time.'” cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025/...
» Transfer Orbit: A Space Veteran’s Pivot to Climate Action at MIT Angles / 2025
selected essays from introductory writing subjects at MIT
cmsw.mit.edu
November 12, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Today we share a piece by Marlo Cyanovich, '28 -- rediscovering the value of curiosity, connection, and being fully present.

cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025/...
» Rekindling Intrinsic Passion: Healing My Alienation Angles / 2025
selected essays from introductory writing subjects at MIT
cmsw.mit.edu
November 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Today’s Angles 2025 feature: “The Vault of Past Regrets.”

It's reflective essay about fear, forgiveness, and learning to release the small mistakes that follow us for years.

Read it here: cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025/...
» The Vault of Past Regrets Angles / 2025
selected essays from introductory writing subjects at MIT
cmsw.mit.edu
November 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The MIT Spatial Sound Lab, led by Professor Ian Condry, hosts composer and sound artist Mariam Gviniashvili for a demo, talk, and performance -- “Doing Spatial Music with Ambisonics” --on Wed., Nov. 12 at 5:15 p.m. in W20-429.
Details: calendar.mit.edu/event/mariam...
Mariam Gviniashvili: demo, talk and performance for doing spatial music with ambisonics
calendar.mit.edu
November 6, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Today’s Angles 2025 feature: “Her Grit.”

A powerful essay about persistence, strength, and quiet courage in unexpected places.

Read it here → cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025/...
» Her Grit Angles / 2025
selected essays from introductory writing subjects at MIT
cmsw.mit.edu
November 6, 2025 at 4:33 PM
A wonderful event ahead featuring Alan Lightman, whose Einstein’s Dreams continues to inspire new ways of thinking about time and consciousness. He’ll join Daniel Pillis at the MIT Museum for readings and conversation on November 14. mitmuseum.mit.edu/programs/ein...
mitmuseum.mit.edu
November 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing
How can we know if a law or policy has chilled people’s free expression? Can we use science to find out?

Excited to join @penney.bsky.social, author of a new book on Chilling Effects, & @katygb.bsky.social on Dec 10th to discuss the science of civil liberties

knightcolumbia.org/events/the-s...
The Science of Chilling Effects
knightcolumbia.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Today’s Angles 2025 feature: “Works by Hand”, by Hannah Odland, '28.

A thoughtful look at how making things with our hands shapes how we think and connect -- especially in an age of automation.

Read: cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025/...
» The Works of a Hand Angles / 2025
selected essays from introductory writing subjects at MIT
cmsw.mit.edu
November 5, 2025 at 1:21 PM
And up today, let's celebrate a piece called "Hard Work Soup" by Rafy Yoo, '28:

"My mother and I would take turns scouting the richness of the soup—both of us understanding we had a duty to make it just right."

cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025/...
November 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
And up first is "Food of the Kings" by Dhruv Shah!

cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025/...

"My pompous self would love to claim that adding star anise was a stroke of absolute genius, but because I am very humble, I will not say so."
November 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Over the next few weeks, we’ll share essays from Angles 2025, showcasing how MIT students write and think through personal, scientific, and social questions.

Read the full collection here: cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2025
Angles / 2025
selected essays from introductory writing subjects at MIT
cmsw.mit.edu
October 31, 2025 at 1:21 PM
From our professor Justin Reich:

"New education technologies are only as powerful as the communities that guide their use. Opening a new browser tab is easy; creating the conditions for good learning is hard." goodmenproject.com/featured-con...
What Past Education Technology Failures Can Teach Us About the Future of AI in Schools
New education technologies are only as powerful as the communities that guide their use.
goodmenproject.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing
MIT's response to the Trump admin's proposed "compact" is excellent and should be a model for other universities. orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
October 10, 2025 at 2:14 PM
"New education technologies are only as powerful as the communities that guide their use. Opening a new browser tab is easy; creating the conditions for good learning is hard." theconversation.com/what-past-ed...
What past education technology failures can teach us about the future of AI in schools
It can take years to collect evidence that shows effective uses of new technologies in schools. Unfortunately, early guesses sometimes go seriously wrong.
theconversation.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Latest from Professor Justin Reich and Jesse Dukes:

"At a moment when unprecedented sums are being invested in AI development — including many billions devoted to AI powered education technology — teachers wonder if our priorities are in the right place."

www.teachlabpodcast.com/the-homework...
The Homework Machine Ep 7: "Break the Teacher"
Generative AI has added more strain to an already frayed education system.
www.teachlabpodcast.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Dissolve Music @ MIT 2025 is coming up next week! Professor Ian Condry and friends with the MIT Spatial Sound Lab presents two-nights of immersive music and an afternoon of talks, free and open to the public.
spatialsoundlab.mit.edu/events/
Events – MIT Spatial Sound Lab
spatialsoundlab.mit.edu
September 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
We're so excited to welcome back Vincent Anioke, ’17, a multiple-time winner of our annual Ilona Karmel Writing Prizes, for a reading from his collection of short stories from Arsenal Pulp Press.

We hope you'll join us and Vincent on campus on Thursday, October 16 @ 7pm cmsw.mit.edu/event/vincen...
Vincent Anioke, '17, Reads from "Perfect Little Angels"
Anioke, '17, returns to MIT to read from his book of short stories, Perfect Little Angels, published to acclaim last year by Arsenal Pulp Press.
cmsw.mit.edu
September 23, 2025 at 1:56 PM