The University of Illinois College of Media is focused on the study and exploration of media – how to develop content that is informative, accurate, strategic, persuasive, entertaining, creative, targeted and sharable through any media platform. They are student-centered in their approach to learning and scholarship. Their faculty members are scholars and researchers exploring the impact of media and messaging.  

College of Media alumni are journalists, editors and producers with communications companies around the globe; they develop strategic advertising for agencies and corporations large and small; they teach in colleges and universities worldwide. Many return to the College to lecture in classes. They invite students into their companies as visitors, interns and employees. Illinois connections run deep through the industries the College serves.

Since 1999, the College of Media has presented Ebertfest as an annual event at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois.  In 2009, Roger and Chaz Ebert provided an endowment for the Roger Ebert Program in film studies within the College of Media. The Roger Ebert Program in film studies houses the annual film festival, as well as other programming throughout the year.