“Social Media and Public Protest,” the role of social media in the political revolutions in the Middle East, was the subject of a colloquium Feb. 22, 2011, in Florida State University’s School of Communication.

A panel of Communication faculty and doctoral students with research experience in politics and/or social media discussed the implications of the use of Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media in overthrowing repressive political regimes. Panelists were Dr. Steve McDowell, Phipps professor and director of the School of Communication; Dr. Jeanette Castillo, assistant professor; and doctoral candidates Ginevra Adamoli and Joseph Clark , who is also an associate in online course development at FSU. Moderator was Audrey Post, a doctoral student and the College of Communication and Information’s director of communications.

The School of Communication holds colloquia throughout the semester in which faculty, students and visiting scholars share their research and discuss current issues in Communication. Attendance is required for PhD students but anyone may attend.

View the photo gallery from the Social Media and Public Protest colloquium.