PHILADELPHIA- The Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania will receive a $10 million endowment from the Annenberg Foundation of St. Davids, Pa.  The funding is in support of The Project for Global Communication Studies, which was established in 2004 at the Annenberg School, to expand and coordinate its work in international, global and comparative communication research and studies.

"The University of Pennsylvania has become ever more committed to fostering exchanges of ideas among an internationally diverse community of scholars that lead to deeper understanding and effective solutions to the pressing global issues of our time," Penn President Amy Gutmann said. "The Annenberg Foundation's ongoing support of communication research has propelled Penn to eminence in cross-cultural contacts and analysis. This extraordinarily generous gift from the Annenberg family will play an essential role in expanding our innovative work in global communication studies at the Annenberg School while also strengthening the University's global perspective."

The Project for Global Communication Studies conducts and facilitates research; coordinates faculty and student exchanges; organizes conferences; provides consulting and advisory assistance to academic, non-profit and governmental institutions; and builds formal and informal networks among individuals and organizations working in global communication.  Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the role of new information technologies and communication policies and practices in emerging and established democracies.  PGCS also offers research and internship opportunities in cities across the world, including Beijing, Budapest, London, Oxford and Moscow.

"Once again the Annenberg School for Communication is deeply indebted to Mrs. Leonore Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation for their generous support," Dean Michael X. Delli Carpini said.  "Like most aspects of social life, understanding the impact of communication in the 21st century increasingly requires thinking globally.  My goal is nothing short of making the Annenberg School a world leader in teaching and research in this emerging field.  The Annenberg family has given us the opportunity to make this a reality."

"With this gift," PGCS Director Monroe Price said, "We can deepen and broaden our vision.  Each day, a hundred times, we see the importance of media systems and communication policy.  Political processes, individual dreams, the growth of trade- all of these are tied inextricably to global communication."

The Annenberg Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989.  It exists to advance the public well-being through improved communication.  As the principal means of achieving its goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.

Additional information about the Annenberg School for Communication is available at www.asc.upenn.edu.  Information about PGCS can be found at www.pgcs.asc.upenn.edu.