Join Renee Hobbs and Neel Chanda for an open, conversational webinar exploring media literacy across different contexts and perspectives. Together, they’ll discuss how people can make sense of news, social media, AI, and digital media in a changing information environment. Designed for students, faculty, and anyone interested in media literacy, the session will be an interactive dialogue—with questions and conversation rather than a formal lecture.
DATE: Friday, November 6, 2026
TIME: 7 AM EST | Bangalore
LOCATION: Online. Google Meet https://meet.google.com/quz-ugvz-fri
This event is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
About the Presenters
Renee Hobbs is an internationally-recognized authority on digital and media literacy education who has worked to advance the quality of digital and media literacy education in the United States and around the world. She is Founder and Director of the Media Education Lab and Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Rhode Island (USA), where she co-directs the URI Graduate Certificate in Digital Literacy, a 12-credit graduate program for teachers, faculty, librarians and media professionals. She has published 12 books and over 200 articles in scholarly and professional journals. Recent book titles include: Media Literacy in Action: Questioning the Media (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025); Mind Over Media: Propaganda Education for a Digital Age (W.W. Norton, 2020); The Library Screen Scene: Film and Media Literacy in Schools, Colleges and Communities (Oxford University Press, 2019); and the edited 2-volume title, The International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy, with Paul Mihailidis (Wiley, 2019). Renee Hobbs received an Ed.D in Human Development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, an M.A. in Communication from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. with a double major in English Literature and Film/Video Studies from the University of Michigan.
Renee Hobbs is an internationally-recognized authority on digital and media literacy education who has worked to advance the quality of digital and media literacy education in the United States and around the world. She is Founder and Director of the Media Education Lab and Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Rhode Island (USA), where she co-directs the URI Graduate Certificate in Digital Literacy, a 12-credit graduate program for teachers, faculty, librarians and media professionals. She has published 12 books and over 200 articles in scholarly and professional journals. Recent book titles include: Media Literacy in Action: Questioning the Media (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025); Mind Over Media: Propaganda Education for a Digital Age (W.W. Norton, 2020); The Library Screen Scene: Film and Media Literacy in Schools, Colleges and Communities (Oxford University Press, 2019); and the edited 2-volume title, The International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy, with Paul Mihailidis (Wiley, 2019). Renee Hobbs received an Ed.D in Human Development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, an M.A. in Communication from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. with a double major in English Literature and Film/Video Studies from the University of Michigan.
Neelatphal Chanda is an expert in media literacy education. He holds a Master's degree from Assam University and a Doctorate in Media Education from the same institution. His research focuses on Media Literacy, Technology-aided Communication, with notable publications in national and international journals. He also contributes opinion pieces to India Today, NE NEWS NOW, and The Assam Tribune. Before joining academia, Dr. Neelatphal worked in the broadcast media industry with Etv News (News 18 Group). He has presented research at renowned institutions like Oxford University, IISC, IIT Madras, and Sterling University, UK. His work has advanced education, skill development, and research, offering new collaborative methodologies in teaching. Since 2021, Dr. Neelatphal has been part of Christ University, Bangalore. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Media Studies.